Gopez, Samson L.

Mindoro Report

Before I go to Mindoro mission, I research and ask missionaries who knows and
went in the Mangyan people group. I found out the there were 8 tribes of Mangyan
in Mindoro, that there are Animistic. The word ‘mangyan’ came from the Filipino
root word ‘majika’ which means magic. But as we went to Mindoro and encounter
the Mangyan, there are not fully tribal as I expected. There are wearing shirts and
the children are studying, though there are still living in bare foot - mostly without
slippers. I was a bit scared because some of them are carrying a big knife. There are a
lot of children, youth, parents and babies. I was moved by compassion as I talk to
them individually, they are starving and living a hard life. There are malnourished
and with a lot of sickness. They are illiterate and poor. I was overwhelmed with their
needs.
As I talk to them individually, one of them is carrying a baby, and I asked how old
the baby, he said that the baby is 5 years old. I was shocked because the child is
obviously malnourished. One of the old lady has a lot of body pain. Many of them
don’t talk with us because they are two tribes, with two different dialect, and the
tagalog is our common language - in which their tagalog is poor.
As I share the good news to them, I can see and feel that they are hungry for the
Word of God. They are very attentive, even the children are listening carefully. I can
see that they are oral learners, though they cannot read and write, they can listen to
long stories and can memorize the stories. I remember one of the missionary I talked
with before going to Mindoro, he said that the mangyan can even listen to 2 hours
preaching. Though during preaching we are under the heat of the sun light, majority
of them are standing, starving and carrying things - they are still able to listen
carefully to the love of God in Christ Jesus.
They really need help spiritually and physically. As we went to the village, we are
able to listen to their stories. They said that some of their houses were wipe out by
the typhoon. The typhoon also wipe their fruits, trees, harvest and animals. Some of
them also share to me that they are struggle in adultery. Though some are already
following Jesus Christ. I also met one Mangyan Pastor, he is Pastor Gideon, he is with
his worker who are also serving the Lord in the Mangyan tribe. Pastor Gideon told
me that he was helped by American Missionary before, but now, the missionary left
him. Some still gather as a Mangyan Church every Thursday and Sunday. There are
more than 300 mangyan people with only 1 mangyan pastor that I saw. Though they
are now open to the gospel, the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. (Matthew
9:37)
My prayer is that God will continue to bless their physical needs - food, health,
shelter and education. And that God will raise up more pastors and workers within
their tribes. I pray that God will continue to send outside missionaries to help them
become a strong church. I pray that their beautiful culture, language and tradition
will not be wipe out from missionaries, but they may learn to know Jesus in their
own language, culture, and tradition. I pray that God will protect them from
typhoon. I pray that they may pray more and have a deep intimate relationship with
God.
I thank God for those who support through financial and prayers, I pray that God
will bless the donors more to become more blessings to others. I pray that God will
continue to move the heart of the Church in the cities, that they may have a greater
burden for the lost and the unreached people group. I pray that the church will pray
“Lord, use me!” “Lord, send me!” May all the nations will know the gift of God - the
new life and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.