“I’m willing to let you shed my blood right now! Ask any of these village people if we have taken advantage of them,” replied Julius, a Laymen Ministries missionary. “I am ready to die right now. But you, who claim to be protecting these people, need to stop your illegal dynamite fishing.”

The NPA leader was shocked at this bold reply. “OK. We will stop the fishing in the harbor,” he conceded.

“Before you and your men leave, I have a gift for you,” smiled Julius, as he handed the leader a set of Amazing Facts Bible lessons! This very tense moment happened one year ago in the village of Pinagbayanan.

This year, while making our annual administrative visit, Julius reported that he had just hosted a marriage in his village. Who was getting married? The NPA leader! And who was he marrying? One of our SDA minority members! This man recently came to Julius and said, “I am sorry for the threats I made against you last year. I have been reading the Bible, and I now believe in God.”

Julius reported to us that he is trying to gain amnesty with the government for this former guerilla leader so he can live at peace! This is just one example of the challenges these missionaries bravely face while on duty in these remote areas.

Fish in the Bay

The result of the NPA stopping dynamite fishing in the harbor is already impacting the village. Ann Betoya, Julius’s wife, was recently awakened in the night by loud knocks on their door. “Ma’am, we need salt from the co-op,”one of the village men informed her. The villagers were in the surf catching fish in empty rice sacks. They had enough fish that they would be able to dry and salt cure some for future use. It had been many years since these villagers had been able to catch any fish at all in the bay.

The native leaders were quick to recognize that this blessing was not a fluke, but the result of enforcing the laws of their village. Most exciting of all was the fact that the natives could be heard expressing thanks to God for the improvements in their lives!

What a Contrast!

While visiting our villages, Jim Webb suggested we go to a village that is not part of a Laymen Ministries project. We climbed up a steep, heart-pounding trail, nearly to the top of a large mountain on the west side of the island. We found the charred remains of what was once a village. Knowing the traditional, destructive slash and burn methods of farming, we guessed that one of these fires had burned the small village to the ground—that is, except for four dwellings located some short distance away.

As we approached these dwellings, we were shocked at the sight—dirty children with extended bellies (a sign of intestinal parasites), and fungus growing on their faces. Dirt was embedded between their little fingers, and their clothing—what was left of it—was not fit for grease rags. Our hearts yearned to help these people find a better way of life—life that Christ can give through understanding of truth that brings health and healing to mind, body, and soul. (The photos on these pages tell the story better than words!)

As we compared these with the clean children in the villages where Laymen Ministries is working, we thought, yes, the work is hard; there are constant battles with weather, culture, and daily operations of trying to keep the ministry running—but it is worth every drop of sweat, and every obstacle Satan may throw at us. To see, as our mission coordinators Jim and Moni Webb put it, “the lights turned on” in the minds and hearts of these nomadic people, is a great reward. The children are clean, and are speaking and reading English and Tagalog. At the school in Pinagbayanan there are 72 students, and even when school is out the kids are often found there reading their Bible lessons and favorite stories. Their young minds have discovered the possibilities opened by the world of learning.

The villages are now clean. Each family has an outdoor toilet and a small garden. Acres and acres of new rice paddies have been carved out of the mountain, with irrigation diverted from a nearby stream, all dug by hand. Most exciting of all—the churches are full every Sabbath! What a contrast to those who still live in filth and ignorance! Leaders from other villages now come and ask us to send missionaries. We are currently working in five villages, doing a thorough work to set an example of what might be done through Christ and dedicated missionaries. We teach independence, not dependence, through incentives and education.

A Graduation

Melkie Tobias, a native Mangyan girl, began her schooling about three years ago. She started from scratch, unable to read or write. She was quick to learn and soon found herself, with the help of Laymen Ministries, in an SDA church school in a small town not far from Jim and Moni’s home. This summer she graduated from the 6th grade! At 21 years of age, her academic abilities are higher than many Filipinos the same age living in small towns and villages. Her English is very good, and she is hoping to go on to college to become a teacher or a nurse to her own people. To say the least, we are all really proud of her. This is the hope and dream of our work with these people—that they can become missionaries to their own people.

More Changes

With the school year ended, some of the national missionaries felt the need to move on. Replacements have come, and it was a delight to see the old and the new missionaries exchange ideas and experiences.

Right now, in the village of Hinugasan, we have a new couple, Sharlene and Roy Betoya, replacing Jasper and Gina Libalib. When they looked over their new home, I am sure they had a feeling of “what have we gotten ourselves into?!” They were told how, a few years ago, two pythons were found living under the stairway in the house. Soon after settling into their new mission post, the Betoyas were visited by nine NPA guerillas. Although shaking with fear, God gave them the strength to be friendly and hospitable. The soldiers left with Christian literature to read! Life in the mission field indeed comes with many challenges.

Analyn Cole, who just graduated with a teaching degree, will be assisting Julius and Ann as a student missionary in their village of Pinagbayanan, as they have over 72 students enrolled. She spent time training with Jim and Moni before being placed in the village.

Noli and Neneng Betoya replaced Mercy and Buddy Berdonar in the village of Agbalite. This is one of our most remote villages, but has tremendous opportunities because of the workable soil and free flowing water source.

Rene and Emily Rimandiman continue their work in Aglimasan. They recently received a new addition to their family. Their school is growing, and the villagers are happy with the stability and improvements their presence provides.

In the small village of Magnot we have a new teacher, Louffe Benavidez, working with a group of minority children. She is the sister-in-law of our fulltime translator, Eleanor Benavidez. By the way, a special thanks to AFM (Adventist Frontier Missions) and the Holbrooks for donating solar panels, a regulator and an inverter so Eleanor could have lights and power for her laptop computer. (The Holbrook family has raised up three churches and trained elders among the Alangan minority people.) Jon Peoples, who was traveling with us as photographer on this trip, gave a “Computer 101” crash course so the translation work could go directly into a computer instead of onto paper. Eleanor continues to translate quality literature for outreach purposes.

Ronnie Salas has been selling Amazing Facts Bible lessons door to door in Metro Manila with good success. He has faced many challenges, but the Bible lessons and booklets have been placed in the hands of many interested people.

Danger in the Seeking

You may have noticed that some of the missionaries share the same family name. That is because they are family! Knowing we needed replacements for those who were leaving, Julius recruited two of his brothers with their wives to come and help. They are all from Mindinao in the southern Philippines. You may have heard in the news about Muslim extremists in the southern Philippines. What you hear and what is truly happening are two different things. There is more fighting and killing in the southern regions than most realize. Even those living in the northern Philippines hear little about the fighting in the south. Here is what Julius shared about his recent recruiting trip:

God’s Timing

“Being a missionary in a remote jungle village here in the Philippines, means being on duty 24 hours a day. One is expected to deliver breach babies, stop TB hemorrhaging, treat pink eye, abdominal parasites and head lice, and deal with communist guerrillas. All these duties must be worked around full time teaching and soul winning. This is made more difficult as no one in the village has ever been to school, and many live in fear of spirits and are in bondage to superstitions.

“I share this with you to help you better understand the challenges and stresses on missionaries. Sometimes, after one or two years of this intense work, a couple feels a need of change and a return to ‘normal life.’

“March is the end of the school year in the Philippines, and two of the couples working with Laymen Ministries needed such a change. I flew to Cotabato, Mindinao, and God blessed, as my two brothers and their wives were willing to relocate to Mindoro to take these positions. We praise God for those who answer the call to share His love.

“I am a person who hates delays and likes to be well organized. Upon arrival at Cotabato airport, I got into a tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar) to go to the bus terminal. As the driver was Muslim, I was somewhat alarmed when he took the longer, mountainous route through a sparsely populated area. Constantly praying for divine protection, I finally arrived at the bus terminal. Most of the people waiting there were Muslim also, and I was uncomfortable as they continually stared at me. With my driver taking the long route and the many people waiting in front of me, I missed the bus. I was irritated, with no choice but to wait for the next bus.

“Resigned to wait, I found the quietest spot possible and tried to rest. Finally, the next bus arrived and we were soon on the road. Every few kilometers there was a military checkpoint. After being stopped several times, I began to feel more secure with so many military personnel in the area. At the very next checkpoint, we were informed that the bus just before us had been held up and the passengers robbed of all their belongings. Sadly, the driver had also been shot and killed. That was the bus I had planned to be on.

“Suddenly my anger and impatience at missing the bus evaporated. I thought, ‘God’s timing is always perfect, and I am safe in His hands.’

“Yes, my friends, God alone knows what is best for all of us. This is so important to recognize, especially as we are in the end times. While we can, let’s continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ with zeal!” —Julius Betoya, missionary/teacher.

Prisoners of Hope

On our recent trip, we had the blessing of again visiting the 62,500 acre Sablayan Penal Farm where hundreds of inmates are studying the Word of God, Amazing Facts Bible lessons, as well as booklets and tracts translated and printed, thanks to your help.

Laymen Ministries prison missionaries, Luie Benitez, Abel Miralles and Brother Bohboy, along with Pastor Jorge Panghulan, took us around to visit and share with the five different church groups on Sabbath. The men were eager to hear spiritual food shared with them by Jeff Reich. Every year we have the opportunity to meet with them and to have them share with us their questions, hardships, and blessings!

Some of you may remember, from watching the video Keeping in Touch, (video #23), or in a previous report in our newsletters or magazines, about the Pentecostal Catholic group called El Sheddia. Two years ago, we found about eight serious men meeting in the medium security area, faithfully studying their Bibles, while next to them was this El Sheddia group, equipped with loud music and dancing girls, who attracted an attendance of well over 100.

This year when we visited, there were well over 100 serious men waiting, many with Bibles in hand, for us to come and share the Word of God. It was asked of Luie if this was how many now met every Sabbath. He nodded, “Yes!” Through the barbed wire fence, we could see the El Sheddia group with about eight to ten men gathered around. How the Lord changes things! The emptiness of entertainment-styled worship cannot replace a serious study of the Word of God for those who earnestly seek for truth.

Many of these inmates leave the prison equipped to be missionaries. Since this facility houses men from all over the Philippines, the prison is becoming a seminary for training God’s missionaries for the entire country. Jim Webb, together with his wife Moni, openly remind the inmates that this is what it is all about. “We learn to share with others. Each of us is a missionary!”

(Note: As we were going to press with this issue, we received news that God had opened the doors for a baptism in Sablayan prison. 105 prisoners were baptized! Watch for the full story in our next magazine.)

If you would like to hear more about the work in the Philippines, call our office and request the video interview with Jim and Moni Webb (#36). This program includes lots of footage right from the Philippines as Jim and Moni share some of their hair-raising experiences. A new Philippines video is in the making now, too.

Thanks

Julius Betoya, Missionary/teacher, expresses his gratitude: “We, the workers with Christ, through Laymen Ministries in the Philippines, thank you for your support and encouragement. Ps. 34:1-9.”

Julius Betoya, Laymen Ministries missionary to the village of Pinagbayanan, leads an overflowing church in Sabbath services.

Above: Families in unreached villages live in shocking, filthy conditions.

Below: Families in villages where missionaries are working have learned the benefits of hygiene, and the children are learning to read.

Melkie Tobias is the first person in her village to graduate from the 6th grade! Her dream is to become a teacher or a nurse for her own people.

Jasper Libalib (left) welcomes Sharlene and Roy Betoya to the village of Hinugasan.

Top: Noli and Neneng Betoya are the new missionaries in the village of Agbalite.

Bottom: Louffe Benavidez has assumed the job as teacher in the small village of Magnot.

Ronnie Salas has been having good success selling the Tagalog Amazing Facts Bible lessons door to door in Manila.

Five different church groups meet for Sabbath services and study groups during the week in Sablayan Penal Farm. Hundreds of prisoners pray together, share their personal testimonies, and study the Bible. When these men are released, they become missionaries to their own families, home villages, and towns.