On the Road to Peace

On February 25th I was able to participate in one of the most exciting processes I have ever encountered. Dialogue Mindanao.

One of the regions of the Philippines, Mindanao, is the site of the most conflict within the country. It is here where the recent massacre occurred, and where most of the unlawful arrests and extra Judicial killings occur. This is where the highest military presence is found, and where foreigners are told to not go. It is also the home to many. There are many peaceful farmers, teachers, pastors and citizens who get caught in the middle of the struggle between a few rebel groups and the National Government.

One conflict that has been continuing for decades is between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This is a group that has been struggling for independence for 500 years. Peace talks between these two groups have been going on and off for 50 years. With this current round, the voice of the people is to be included. This means that leaders form various sectors, media, journalists, churches, NGO’s, as well as youth, are being invited to forums taking places in different regions to discuss the options, hear the issues and offer any insight that they might have.




At Silliman University there is a Justice and Peace Center run by the divinity school. It was through this school that I received an invitation to attend one of these forums. Our trip to Bacolod could not have better represented the overall peace process! We were an odd group that gathered in that van, youth, pastors, a journalist, and academics – but we were all trying to make it to the same place. Along the road we certainly hit our share of bumps. We had a flat tire – and then later than broke down altogether at about the halfway point. So we had to find another way to make it to where we were going. And we did. With the help of several other individuals we made it to the bus and eventually to the peace talks.



I don’t know if this round of peace talks will be the one that finally succeeds – but in that room with over 300 participants of different ages and beliefs coming together to try to find a way without violence there is hope. The still small voice of God is being heard. God has heard Her people crying, and there are leaders from all over trying to answer the call. I am sure there are many more bumps to go – but we are on the road to peace.

Life Around the Well

For ten days I went up the mountain. Literally. I took a bus to Santa Catalina and then a Jubble-Jubble up the mountain – to darn near the top. The view was inspiring, and the trip a bit terrifying! Once there I was integrated into the community. This is a very poor community of mostly farmers. They have very little land on which to grow anything – and it is not very close to town. So, in the family I stayed with, Nemrod and his wife went to work and their kids (seven of them) stayed with his father in town in order to go to school – a real privilege. No one up there spoke much English, and my Cuebueno is still in baby stages so communication was extremely difficult. But even without language I quickly learned that the center of the community it town was the water pump. Here the women would gather to wash clothes and young children, the older kids would do their own laundry and visit and bath after school to cool themselves in the heat of the day. There was visiting and gossip and a chance to catch up and get to know one another as the work of the morning and day was done.

It was very hard for me to try to fit into this community. I was the only Caucasian person most of them had ever - or would ever - see outside of in movies. It was a little like being a celebrity or having the plague – as I was watched and stared at and tended to develop a following of small children wherever I went – but everyone was very shy and did not want to try to talk to me or to get too close.




Except at the water pump. Here I also took my bathes, washed my clothes and helped to wash the younger children. Suddenly all of the texts about gatherings at the well were coming alive. When Jesus met the woman at the well, or when Jacob met Rachel, or Abraham’s servant went to find a wife for Isaac and encountered Rebekah. Suddenly I could see it all unfolding before my eyes. Life happened right there at the well – and in Cakha, life was lived around the town water pump. Life was much simpler up there. When there was work, everyone pitched in – and when there wasn’t everyone gathered to visit and stay in community. If a movie was playing, all the children who heard it starting would come on in to watch. The gunfire in the distance mattered less when everyone they cared about was sleeping right next to them.

I was blessed to have been a part of such a tight-knit and loving community and family – even for ten short days.

Fishers of Men

In my first week in Negros conference I have begun to settle in at Tanjay. I have once again been welcomed with great hospitality. Here I have met the family I am staying with, Pastor Jerome, his wife Ate. Jean and their two young sons Abyan and Dasig. I have also met some of my new roommates – the lizards that eat the mosquitoes – so yay for the lizards! Their home will be my home base for the next four months as I move about the conference getting to know the people and the work that is being done here.
In addition to attempting to help me with my Cuebueno Pastor Jerome and Ate. Jean have also been helping me to become better acquainted with the situation of the local community. So we spent a morning down at the beach. Here we got to take in the beautiful scenery and the ocean and the sight of Cebu across the straight. We also met some of the poorest congregants of UCCP Tanjay, the fisherman and their families who live on the beach – as squatters. We even went out with one of the fisherman in his boat to get a bit of a feel for the work that he does, and the conditions under which they are done. Never has the passage in which Jesus asks the fisherman to leave their nets in order to follow him struck more deeply. The cost of that decision to the lives and families can be seen here among these people and the children and youth who come to help the fishermen bring in their catch and then take it to sell at the market. It is more than just their job – it is the lifestyle and livelihood of the entire family. To become fishers of men is a humbling and awe inspiring image here.



In addition to the trip to the beach we took a trip up the island to see the harvesting of the sugar cane. I even had my first taste of the sugar cane. It was very sweet – and very hard on my jaw! We saw the loading of the truck and moved further up the island where we saw the sugar cane mill and what unregulated production can look like. It was a painful and discouraging sight to see the pollution entering the air with the gorgeous backdrop of the mountain behind it.
I have also been introduced to some of the members of UCCP Tanjay congregation – and am getting to know this loving and welcoming community, which is in many ways more like a family than simply a church congregation. I am looking forward to further journeying with them over the next four months.
In addition to the trip to the beach we took a trip up the island to see the harvesting of the sugar cane. I even had my first taste of the sugar cane. It was very sweet – and very hard on my jaw! We saw the loading of the truck and moved further up the island where we saw the sugar cane mill and what unregulated production can look like. It was a painful and discouraging sight to see the pollution entering the air with the gorgeous backdrop of the mountain behind it.
I have also been introduced to some of the members of UCCP Tanjay congregation – and am getting to know this loving and welcoming community, which is in many ways more like a family than simply a church congregation. I am looking forward to further journeying with them over the next four months.