SULADS STORIES

Opening of a New School in Kabalansihan

by Fred L. Webb

On April 8, 1996, Datu Tang-ao (Alex Panes) took two student missionaries out to Kabalansihan in response to a request from the leaders at the Manobo Tribal Headquarters. 

When Several of the leaders of the SULADS attended the funeral of the Supreme Datu Gawilan in November of 1994, the leaders of the tribe became aware of the SULADS program among the Manobos.  They were interested for the SULADS to establish a school in their area.  They were told that the SULADS would not be able to do anything until at least April and probably not until June. 

At the close of the school year in March of 1996, the SULADS were able to train two students to go as missionaries for this task.  On April 5, representatives from Kabalansihan visited Mountain View College requesting that the new school be established in their village.  In response, Mr. Panes was able to open the school.

Upon arrival, it was learned that there had at one time been a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kabalansihan but it had died out due to backsliding until only one old lady was attending on Sabbaths.  She wept when she saw the student missionaries and realized that her days of worship alone were at an end.  Many villagers are backsliders and readily identified with the student missionaries.  One student chosen to work in Kabalansihan is a gymnast.  When a few of the people had gathered after their arrival, Bobby did a handstand and walked around a bit on his hands.  The villagers were duly impressed.  Bobby told the villagers that in order to be able to do this type of thing, they would have to live very healthy lives to have healthy bodies.  To accomplish this, they would have to leave off smoking.

We are praying that these backsliders in Kabalansihan will be quickly reclaimed and put to work in winning the rest of the village for Jesus.