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.