A current picture of children in Batotitik.
In the mid 90s, a Filipino Bible college graduate went to live with the B’laan people in southern Philippines. He wanted to learn their language and culture so that he could share Jesus with this unreached people group. After spending a year with them, and building a small bamboo house, he brought his bride to live with him in the village. They worked hard and eventually the Gospel took root and a church was planted. In 1997, World Hope International was approached about the need for education among the children in the village. So I was sent to do an evaluation of whether our organization might be able to partner with such a project.
Because of the threat of reprisal from rebels in the area, twenty-eight of the children came to meet me in General Santos City at the Wesleyan Church. They began their program singing, “Welcome to the Family” from the musical Psalty.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
We are glad that you have come
To share your life with us,
As we grow in love,
And may we always be to you
What God would have us be,
A family always there,
To be strong and to lean on.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I listened. A seven year old girl sang, “How Big Is God.” Later in the program, her 9-year-old brother joined her singing harmony to another number. A small group of primary children began singing, “Angels Watching Over Me.” A 4-year-old, dressed in white and standing above them on a chair represented an angel. Later the 4-year-old sang a solo in her tribal tongue and recited a Bible verse for me in English. My heart was touched to the core by the sincerity and giftedness of these children! All of the children were so precious! I was overwhelmed by the fact that just a short time earlier, these children had no idea who Jesus was and now they were singing their hearts out for Him!
Lunch for these children was a huge treat. Fried chicken, heaping plates of rice, and a banana were far more than any of them were accustomed to. Meals typically are leftovers after adults have eaten and children are fortunate to get a small helping of rice with perhaps some vegetables, but rarely much if any meat.
During the meal, my hostess and the local pastor approached me. Would I like to visit Batotitik, the village where these children lived? I assured them that I would be delighted to visit their village. I had been told prior to my trip that visiting their village was out of the question due to safety concerns. However, if my hosts were asking, surely it would be fine.
After lunch, I was amazed how quietly and orderly the children played in the yard. I found one of the little girls in the church with a rice broom sweeping out the sanctuary. After the adults had eaten, the boys began drumming on an old plastic jug that had held oil. The bottom had been removed and the boys struck different rhythms on it with a stick.
The brother and sister who had sung together in the program, now in traditional dress, began to dance.
By mid-afternoon, a pick-up truck had been located and several pastors plus my hostess and I loaded up to visit the village. The people were excited that I had agreed to actually travel to Batotitik. Perhaps I was a bit naïve not realizing the danger I could be putting myself and others in, but I was excited to now get to see the actual village where the children lived.
Later in a meeting with the national church leader in Manila, Dr. Pablo shared that the week prior to my visit, the Lord impressed upon him that I really needed to see how the children lived, not just meet them in General Santos City. He asked the Lord about the danger of my going to the village and the Lord said that he should trust Him for my care. “But what if she’s afraid to go?” Dr. Pablo prayed. “Just ask her if she wants to,” the Lord instructed him. And of course I did.
Following my trip, World Hope donors gave resources to build the first classrooms in the village. We set up a child sponsorship program that enabled children in Batotitik to enroll in school. Eventually grades and classrooms were added until now 255 children are enrolled in Kindergarten through grade 9. In addition, 25 students are enrolled in 10th through 12th grade or college. Of the 105 alumni of the sponsorship program, 35 are professionals working in their various fields.* Several graduates have returned to their own people group as pastors and teachers to continue the ministry to the B’laan begun by Pastor Edwin Cabrido over twenty years ago.
What a joy for me to have had a small part with the Wesleyan Church of the Philippines to reach this unreached people group with the Gospel and to be a part of Jesus’ Great Commission to “Go into all the world and…make disciples.”
*statistics provided by those on the field.
(Reflections from trip to the Philippines in November 1997)