A few weeks ago we chose to cancel the upcoming Mobile school because we didn't have enough students. Although I was very disappointed that the thing I had been looking forward to was not going to happen, I chose to trust that God had something incredible coming. After canceling the school and praying about what the next step should be, we decided to look seriously at the invitation we had received from Christian Missions to the Unreached to run a CDTS in Palanan, Isabella.
Through 10 years of sending our outreach teams to Palanan, the strong, trusting relationship between CDTS and CMU has been a beautiful thing to watch God grow. Our teams have seen first hand the work that God is doing to bring His gospel to the people of the Palanan valley and beyond through the missionaries of CMU. We have been blessed every year by CMU and their hearts for the people.
Last May when our CDTS team was there speaking in a youth camp, 20 youth went forward to dedicate their lives to serving God. Afterwards the leaders of CMU asked Duane to run a CDTS in Palanan. A few weeks later an 18 month Bible school was formed using the ISOM curriculum. It is now running with 17 students, 3 days a week. Because God has cleared our schedule, and CMU has agreed that now is the time for the Palanan CDTS, we are starting a school there on September 16, 2008.
Doctora Mona, the current president of CMU says, “… Palanan is a remote town, one of the poorest municipalities of the Philippines, situated behind the Siera Madre mountains , where there is no existing road and can only be reached by air through small 6-seater planes or by motorboat ,more often through the rough sea. Palanan is the home of about 15,000 people, some 1-2 thousand of whom are Agtas, an indigenous peoples group, the rest of whom are lowlanders; each group has a distinct language.
The Lord's work started in this place way back in the 1980s, initially through bible translation and later a church was born. From a handful of believers then, the church has grown to about a thousand believers and there are about 17 local churches all in all, Agta and lowland. We believe God has called us to disciple the Palanan believers and we believe too that God has led us to ask help from your group in the discipling of this people group.
Presently, there are about 30 , who would like to enroll in the school if it would be held in Palanan, half of them are young people who are presently enrolled in our bible school and the other half are church leaders, church workers and members of our group. It is also a mixed group of Agtas and lowlanders. I have been informed that in your school, the students are required to attend school five days in the week. I would like to request for some modification regarding this matter; that is that the five days be reduced to 3 days since most of them have to work in the fields, or have to go out to fish and hunt or some other means of livelihood so that they could have food in their homes.”
I am so excited to tell you that we have decided to run a full course CDTS in Palanan starting on September 16 and finishing on December 8. It will be 12 weeks, and we will be inviting speakers to come in and share on topics like Identity, Fatherhood, Sonship, Pride and Humility, Hearing God's Voice and Fear of the LORD. For the other weeks our staff will be teaching...which means that I may end up teaching a bit....
Duane and I will be co leading the school, and most likely be going in and out of Palanan for a break. The other staff will be Semi and Laura, who came originally for the Mobile school, possibly Tom for a while.... AND our 4 graduates of CDTS who are from Palanan. Duane and Lois and I will be heading into Palanan on the 22nd of August for staff training and planning for the school. Then we'll be back in Baguio for a few weeks before heading back to the jungle....
I am THRILLED with this...but absolutely terrified....in a good way....in a God way...in an "I can't do this myself, God please be the one to do it" kind of way....
Please pray for us, for the students, for the weather (let's just say it could get really interesting...), for the speakers, for the food, for health and wellness and for peace in the midst of all that's going on... (If as you're praying God gives you a verse or a word, please email me or post a comment...)
For a reminder of what Palanan looks like you can click on the link to my ministry videos on the right and select the Palanan video from the list. :)
Thank you for your prayer. For your love. For your support. For your relationship. For you. :)
