Hi everybody,
The most recent development in the Lamane project is that I will be going to visit Pops for the second full week of April (April 11-20). This trip has come up for a number of reasons and actually came on my heart during conversations I had with him before he left. At that time the missions director of Pops' church was strongly considering going to see the work in Lamane while Pops was there for this trip. The director had been looking for another individual to accompany him who could perhaps eventually take over some of the mantle of this work. However, due to a personal emergency his trip was made impossible and that became the catalyst for me to begin seeking God in earnest concerning the possibility of making the trip myself.
Tanya and I prayed audibly at the beginning of this process that the Lord would make His will clear to us by making everything simple if he desired me to go. Well, I do not believe that I have ever had more clear direction than in this case. Every element of this trip has simply fallen into place with almost no effort on our part at all. Though even now I would be lying if I said that I do not feel a little daunted by the responsibility, I believe that God has a purpose and am anxious to see how He plays it out. I should be in Lamane for five full days and hope to be an encouragement and asset to Pops while I am there. Please pray that God would give me a clear and calm mind in order to accomplish the goals that we believe He has put on our hearts. As always, thank you for your continued prayers, support and interest. God bless,
Tim
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Two Weeks
A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. Pops has held and attended numerous meetings with the Lamane church elders and others in the community and these have been mostly encouraging. At the first church meeting he was present for Pops refused to speak publicly with the idea of simply observing and trying to get a feel for how healthy the teaching and leadership is. He was very blessed and encouraged saying that the worship was good and that one of the elders delivered a very good message. Likewise the results of numerous Bible studies have been very uplifting and encouraging both to him and the local leaders--he has likewise taken a backseat at some of these meetings in order to get a better feel for how they are doing without his input and they have shown themselves well founded and versed in Scripture.
Another encouraging factor has been that a few individuals in the community have repeatedly stood up to negative elements there. In one disturbing but revealing instance there was apparently a public altercation at a meeting concerning mine royalties where someone publicly denounced the "disappearance" and squandering of royalty money. Other instances have involved repeated private confrontations concerning expenditure accountability and there has been subsequent public disclosure of these wrongs whenever they are not redressed. These events have thus shown that there are at least a few individuals in the community who are willing to work hard to maintain public honesty and accountability even in an environment where that is difficult.
However, on the other side of things, Pops has discovered that relations between the mine and the affected indiginous people have become very strained. This is largely due to complications that have evolved from/since the transfer of royalty money and from the fact that the mine has undergone National scrutiny caused by a local scandal that became public. Much of the money released to date has been spent on projects or items that local leaders say "will not last more than 5 years." This, combined with the expected increase of "partying" in several of the areas and a general attitude of lethargy and isolationism has been very disheartening for all of us. Pops can specifically use your prayers at this time that God would use him to help motivate the Lamane leadership to both exemplify Christ before their peers and to challenge those about them to do likewise.
One of the greatest desires and goals of Pops life and ministry with these people has been that they would use the example he has been to them in order to reach the communities that surround Lamane. While several of the communities in this area have had churches planted in them, some of these have faltered and many other regions are still completely awash in Animism. It has been no little disappointment for Pops to find that so many of the people he has worked with have grown complacent and unmotivated to reach out to their neighbors with the Good News of Christ. He has been encouraging and challenging them toward this end over the past couple of weeks but it is difficult to predict what results there will be--particularly due to the increased societal complexities that the mine and its windfall profits have brought.
Thank you all again for your continued interest and support. This trip has been a sustained challenge for Pops in spite of his preparation and experience. Please continue to remember him and the Tagbanwas in your prayers. God bless,
Tim Mewmaw
Another encouraging factor has been that a few individuals in the community have repeatedly stood up to negative elements there. In one disturbing but revealing instance there was apparently a public altercation at a meeting concerning mine royalties where someone publicly denounced the "disappearance" and squandering of royalty money. Other instances have involved repeated private confrontations concerning expenditure accountability and there has been subsequent public disclosure of these wrongs whenever they are not redressed. These events have thus shown that there are at least a few individuals in the community who are willing to work hard to maintain public honesty and accountability even in an environment where that is difficult.
However, on the other side of things, Pops has discovered that relations between the mine and the affected indiginous people have become very strained. This is largely due to complications that have evolved from/since the transfer of royalty money and from the fact that the mine has undergone National scrutiny caused by a local scandal that became public. Much of the money released to date has been spent on projects or items that local leaders say "will not last more than 5 years." This, combined with the expected increase of "partying" in several of the areas and a general attitude of lethargy and isolationism has been very disheartening for all of us. Pops can specifically use your prayers at this time that God would use him to help motivate the Lamane leadership to both exemplify Christ before their peers and to challenge those about them to do likewise.
One of the greatest desires and goals of Pops life and ministry with these people has been that they would use the example he has been to them in order to reach the communities that surround Lamane. While several of the communities in this area have had churches planted in them, some of these have faltered and many other regions are still completely awash in Animism. It has been no little disappointment for Pops to find that so many of the people he has worked with have grown complacent and unmotivated to reach out to their neighbors with the Good News of Christ. He has been encouraging and challenging them toward this end over the past couple of weeks but it is difficult to predict what results there will be--particularly due to the increased societal complexities that the mine and its windfall profits have brought.
Thank you all again for your continued interest and support. This trip has been a sustained challenge for Pops in spite of his preparation and experience. Please continue to remember him and the Tagbanwas in your prayers. God bless,
Tim Mewmaw
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Pops back home
Pops has arrived back in Lamane as of yesterday. He left here last Wednesday (March 5) and took a couple of days in Manila and then a day in Puerto Princessa to get oriented, packed and make some connections before heading into the tribe.
One of the connections that Pops made in Manila was with the Grossmans' long time friends Scott and Cindy Nelson. Scott is a physician who has set up a clinic on the outskirts of Manila to provide free medical treatment for poor homesteaders there. One of Scott's hobbies is researching sustainable agriculture and acquaculture in the local climate. He has created a system of producing fertilizer from rabbits that are raised on a nitrogen enriching ground cover. This fertilizer has subsequently been used to grow a great number of varieties of crops that are otherwise difficult to grow in the regional soil. Scott has also created a hydroponic system that runs off of water used to raise tilapia. Pops time with the Nelsons was very encouraging and provided more ideas for sustainable projects that could be duplicated in Lamane.
So far his time in Lamane seems to have been encouraging. He spent most of the day yesterday touching base with some of the Tagbanwas and is preparing to meet the local church elders tonight and with the church leaders from all of the surrounding communities tomorrow.
Pops asks for prayer specifically that he would be given wisdom to share with the people there and that they would have hearts to receive. He could also use prayers to help combat the emotional difficulties of the prolonged estrangement from Ma and outside support. Thank you all for you prayers.
One of the connections that Pops made in Manila was with the Grossmans' long time friends Scott and Cindy Nelson. Scott is a physician who has set up a clinic on the outskirts of Manila to provide free medical treatment for poor homesteaders there. One of Scott's hobbies is researching sustainable agriculture and acquaculture in the local climate. He has created a system of producing fertilizer from rabbits that are raised on a nitrogen enriching ground cover. This fertilizer has subsequently been used to grow a great number of varieties of crops that are otherwise difficult to grow in the regional soil. Scott has also created a hydroponic system that runs off of water used to raise tilapia. Pops time with the Nelsons was very encouraging and provided more ideas for sustainable projects that could be duplicated in Lamane.
So far his time in Lamane seems to have been encouraging. He spent most of the day yesterday touching base with some of the Tagbanwas and is preparing to meet the local church elders tonight and with the church leaders from all of the surrounding communities tomorrow.
Pops asks for prayer specifically that he would be given wisdom to share with the people there and that they would have hearts to receive. He could also use prayers to help combat the emotional difficulties of the prolonged estrangement from Ma and outside support. Thank you all for you prayers.
Some History
Arriving in Lamane by sea
that some of you would probably enjoy seeing some pictures of things the way that they were.
I just thought
that some of you would probably enjoy seeing some pictures of things the way that they were.
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