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.