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.

Life Under the Mango Tree

Life here in the Philippines is in many ways similar to that of life back home in Alberta –and in many ways very different as well! I have been accepted with great hospitality and patience into the home of Ate. Amy. It has quickly become a home away from home. The roosters crowing in the morning are now a welcome wakeup call, and the mangoes thudding onto the roof in the middle of the night are a reminder that there will be fresh fruit in the morning.
I have spent some time getting to know the people in the UCCP national office, who are all very patient with me as I struggle with the first steps in my Cuebueno lessons.
I was received by the UCCP National church and commissioned to my work in the Negros conference by the General Secretary Bishop Pascua himself! I was sent off with a stole, Cuebuen bible, history books, Malong and tsinelas (sandals).
Never have I felt more at home here though, than in worship. It is amazing that no matter what language is being spoken, praising God feels like home. I may not understand the prayers, or the hymns, or the majority of the sermon, but that seems to matter a lot less than I had thought it would. The Spirit moving in and through these congregations is palpable even without the language.
I had the opportunity one Sunday to worship at Ellenwood United Church – the very first UCCP church where the basis of union was signed. And the church geek in me rejoiced!

...To a Missionary

Week two was spent with a dramatic difference. This week was spent on exposure activities. The first of these was a trip to Smokey Mountain. This is a site in Tondo where the UCCP church of Tondo has its outreach program, a daycare/school. What makes this school so different is that Smokey Mountain is a dump. The community being served is the village of people that live on the dumpsite. They survive by scavenging for bits of plastic and metal that can be sold to a middleman and then a junkshop. All members of the family undertake this work. Because of new bi-laws, the dumping is now taking place directly on barges, and so those scavenging must go out onto the barges as well. When Tondo church asked the community what they needed, the response was a daycare/ school. So that is what was set up. Thanks to this initiative there are now other NGO’s and church groups setting up health centers, schools, and providing building supplies to strengthen homes, as well as a source of water.
My second exposure activity was at the SINAG center. This is an inner-city ministry set up to serve disadvantaged and exploited women and children. This is a ministry of love. To show the women that they are loved and beloved children of God and there is another way – an alternative. Finding that actual alternative is a challenge - working with women in extreme economic difficulties trying to support families. It is challenging and heartbreaking work done with extreme care and love.
My third trip was to visit the Nestle workers. These are the union workers who had gone on strike 8 years ago when contract negations fell apart over retirement funding. While on strike they were all laid off. They have been fighting for their rights in and out of court and on the streets ever since. Even after their Union leader was killed, they continue their struggle.
Between these three exposures I have begun to see the other face of the Philippines, and the other face of globalization at work. It is challenging and heartbreaking and maddening to see the injustice after injustice being faced with grace and opposition. And it has been extremely humbling to see the Spirit moving and working and struggling in and amongst the people. God has heard her children crying out.

From a Tourist...

My first two weeks in the Philippines were spent in Manila. Here I began my introduction to the Filipino culture and lifestyle and to the works of the UCCP. My first week was spent in a mix of class lessons and tourism type experiences. I made it to the major spots in Malate Manila, including Luneta Park – home of the Filipino national hero Rizal. His statue can be found throughout the Philippines, in town squares, parks, and the like. Luneta Park is the home of his execution site and contains his burial location as well.
I also made it to IntraMuros (The Walled city) where I visited Fort Santiago which was used by the Spanish, The Americans, and the Japanese at differing times for the holding, torture and execution of Filipinos. This is where Rizal was jailed leading up to his execution. I also visited the church of an order of St. Augustine. It has since been converted into a gorgeous museum telling of the history of the order and Christianity in the Philippines. I also visited basilica De Manila – a catholic church that has had to be rebuilt 7 times because of earthquakes and wars.
While touring I have been making use of the wide variety of transportation methods. The pedicab (a bike with side car attached), the jeepney, the LRT, the taxi, and the tricycle (motorcycle with covered side car). With all of the traffic in Malate Manila, I hope I never have to drive while I am here!
The tourist in me has rejoiced at the opportunity to see some of the city and its history and to begin an acquaintance with the way of life here. I am eternally grateful that the UCCP especially Ate. Amy and Ate. Joyce have taken me under their wing in order to begin my introduction to the city with an easing into things

The Initial Gust

Well I am sitting here in the Toronto Airport awaiting my flight to board, and I can't help but reflect on the journey that has gotten me to this point. Despite the fact that I have not actually left the country yet... it has been quite the trip. For the past two weeks I have been housed at the Scarborough Mission Center by the Canadian Churches Forum for an orientation on global ministry. There were moments of inspiration, doubt and occasionally surprise. The most memorable moment, however came on the very last morning. I had gone to mass and was late for breakfast. So rather than sit with the other program participants as I usually had, I sat with one of the residents (a retired priest form the missionary order). It turned out that this man had spent fifteen years in the Philippines. I was blown away! What a great way to end the two weeks with some practical and humorous advice. Looks like God is really looking out for me. So I accept this initial gust of breath from the Spirit and allow it to hearten me as I prepare to board the longest flight I've ever been on and bid Canada goodbye.