Meet the Pastors-Jun

--PASTOR JUN--


                                       



                                                         
         

This is Pastor Jun and his wife, Annie. I meet them both in 2016 during my first trip to the Philippines. He is the founding pastor of New Life Christian Church in Bagong Buhay, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. The church was started in 1996. Soon a building was in place.  Since then the building has been renovated twice and then destroyed in 2015 by Typhoon Nina. The people are very poor and had no capacity to reconstruct so other arrangements were made. On December 23, 2017 the church celebrated its 22^nd anniversary and the completion of the new facility.

Pastor Jun coordinates a needs ministry to local pastors, leads various ministries to a Mangyan tribe, hosts/leads many pastor’s conferences, and manages medical/feeding/clothing clinics for the local community.

Annie is his very supportive wife. She recently experienced a stroke and is recuperating very well.

Missions Update..Philippines Mission 2018

(I guess this site now has a gitch...too much space in-between lines.)

Missions Update:

Simplified Mission 2018 Goals for the Philippines:

1. Speak in four churches

2. Lead four one day seminars

3. Connect with available known pastors

4. Help pastors as needed

5. Assist the ministry in the Chinese General Hospital

6. Visit an orphanage east of Manila

7. Fund the building of ten houses

8. Fund the Jollibee outing for children

9. Fund the Mangyan Tribe feeding

10. Continue promoting the need for cinder blocks for building a church in Haiti.

Brief Info on Each Goal:

1. Each year I meet new pastors and enjoy our time together. I know six pastors now. Churches always have their own calendars of activities but I would like to get into at least four churches.

2. Hoping to lead four day seminars on “Church Health: What Does That Look Like?”

3. The pastors that I will not be in their churches I would like to have lunch with all of them or meet at their churches. I want to keep updated on church happenings/needs so I might learn what I might be able to assist with.

4. Usually while I am there I have some one-on-one time with pastors, go with them to visit the sick, make evangelism visits, or visit members who have not been attending.

5. I learned of a mission project that happens at a Chinese Hospital involving providing medical, food, and clothing. This is a one day event each month. I would like to assist in this event.

6. I finally found an orphanage east of Manila and have been in contact with the administrator. Hoping to make a visit to mingle with the kids and see what future needs might be.

7. During the Typhoons and flooding many of the Mangyan tribe families lost their homes. They are attempting to rebuild at this time. I will see how many have been completed before I go. They can build for 3500 pesos or $65 per home.

8. In 2016, I visited the children from Squatter’s village. The group has grown to about sixty. Hoping to take them to Jollibee’s (our McDonald’s) for an outing and a meal.

9. One of my highlights last year was the feeding of the Mangyan tribe, roughly about 200 adults and children. This included providing a meal, a bag of clothing, a bag of food, and a gift for the children. This is where I was the first white man they had seen and the first to be in their village.

10. An interpreter I had has started a church and needs to begin a church building project. They have over half of the cinder blocks needed so they need the remaining blocks as well as the bags of cement.

This is much to accomplish. We have a MIGHTY God to provide for MULTIPLE needs through the help of MANY people who have hearts for MISSIONS. Pray for God’s provisions for this trip. I will be sharing more as the trip begins to materialize.

Thankful at Christmas Time....

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to

EVERYONE

*****

 A SPECIAL thanks to

all who PRAYERFULLY

and

FINANCIALLY supported 

this unique and much needed

ministry to special people.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

MY LAST BLOG UNTIL...

(For some reason there are extra lines between paragraphs. Have no clue how that happened after it was published online. It is not in the draft.)

This will be my last post until I start making plans for my next trip. This is just some assorted trivia I wrote down during this last trip.

In 2013, I traveled with my daughter to Ethiopia to get her second adopted child from that county. What I have noticed around most airports is a fairly well-kept neighborhood but also includes some form of poverty and a noticeable suffering economy. This airport in Addis, Ethiopia was a good size as it is in most capital cities. I don’t really remember all of the neighborhoods that were close by. What I do remember is that two blocks from the airport were nice commercial buildings with one empty lot in between. For many years the lot had been void of any building. In the field was a man herding a flock of sheep. He appeared to be a poor shepherd probably caring for and herding another man’s sheep. In the middle of a good economic zone of business buildings was an uncared for field with sheep.

That was a good picture of all third-world countries…rich and poor economies in close proximity. It was also a good picture of the Philippines. Major cities may have good economies but poor neighborhoods are close by.

While I was in the Philippines I was on several different provinces. I noticed these blending economies. These different economies affected what you would pay for items. Here are some examples of costs in the Philippines compared to the costs in the USA. Prices of items are always subject to the currency exchange.

-Haircuts were the same price as a blizzard 48php or $.94. In the USA, a small blizzard is $3.69

-Bread rolls or croissants were 2p or $.04. In the USA, a single croissant may cost $.60 and up.

-Cookies were 2p or $.04. At Subway, cookies are 3/$1.00

-A 12 oz. coke was 75p or $1.47 at a Manila Restaurant. In Subic at the 7/11, a 12 oz. coke was 25p or $.50. In the USA, $.50 and up. At a food/convenience stand beside the road in Mindoro, 10 oz. coke was 15 p or $.30.

-In Angeles City, a two-burner propane stove was 2500p or $49.30. In the USA, around $100.

-The Samsung J1 cell phone was 3000php or $59.12. In the USA, around $80.

-A Children’s school bag on rollers, which included a lunch box, was 2000p or $39. In the USA, $50.

-A ticket to enter a well-developed Waterpark was 240p or $4.75. Whitewater in Branson, MO. costs $42.

-To rent a Cabana for the day was 1500p or $29.55. At Whitewater, the price is $75.

Last year, I paid 2500p or $48 for a hotel room which included a pool. Way too expensive. This year, I paid 1800p or $35 for a comparable hotel. Then I found a beachfront resort with nice rooms 1337p or $26. So that is where I stayed. In the USA, a nice hotel with a pool would cost around $60 up. A beachfront hotel in the USA would be super expensive comparably.

I had my laundry done several times. 15 pieces of laundry washed/dried/folded/delivered was 129p or $2.50. Not sure what that would cost in the USA but far more than $2.50.

Some food costs at restaurants would include:

-Chicken or beef with potato/rice for 295p or $5.75. In the USA, the same would probably be $8-$12.

- At a Mom/Pop side stand, I bought 2 Tilapias (comparable to a nice size Blue Gill) with rice for 180p or $3.49. Maybe in the USA, this might cost $9-$15 depending on where you eat.

-A cup of rice was 40p or $.8 In USA, $.21 and up.

-A meal of Veggies/meat/rice was 90p or $1.75.

-In Jollibee (A restaurant combination of McDonalds and KFC) you could buy one piece of chicken, fries, rice, soda…or burger, fries, rice, soda (A combo meal) for 90p or $1.75. In the USA, this would cost $5.49.

-At the market, an Apple was 40p or $.8 In the USA, this would cost $.20

-At the market, an Orange was 50p or $.10. In the USA, this would cost $.40

-Close to an Airport hotel, at a side stand, BBQ Chicken Intestines on a stick (yes you read that right) was 6p or $.11. This was very popular food. None in USA that I know of.

-Another popular food was an egg (called a Balot) that had not been removed from under the chicken soon enough and the fetus had formed. The egg would be cracked open at the end, the juice would be sucked out, and more shell taken off to get to the inside. Once inside there would be a black blob (the dead fetus) and the rest of the egg which would be eaten as a tasty delicacy. These eggs cost 16p or $.31. None in USA that I know of.

-The Philippines is totally a coke product culture. Coke is on many billboards. All restaurants and motels had only Coke products. No Pepsi products in the Philippines except in a 7/11 store and in grocery stores.

As far as wages, in Manila and other large cities, a High School teacher with a Masters made 1000p per day or $19.50 per day. A factory worker with ten years of experience made 700p or $13.64 per day. A lady who cleans houses might make 500p or $9.75 per day. These were city wages and, of course, did not include the wages of the elite. In the provinces, wages for field workers or people working their own side stand might make 100-200p or $1.94-$3.90 per day. What would you think about living on these kinds of wages?

People live day to day, meal to meal. I was in houses with different sizes of refrigerators. Not uncommon for the refrigerator be empty. Meals made that day, whether one or two, would be made from any nonperishables in the house. There would be no leftovers. They literally went to bed hungry.

People just don’t have much extra money. Very common for someone in the family to become sick and need to go the doctor, buy medicine, and not have the money. What do they do? Borrow from family or friends. Some will take jewelry or something else to the pawn shop. This makes people in debt most of the time. As soon as they get their items back from the pawn shop, something else would come up to need money. Just a continuous cycle.

Last year, a man needed a new roof as a result of a vicious Typhon. He borrowed from all that he knew and then he owed 31,000p or $604. Of course, a roof in the USA would not just cost $600. Average replacement cost in the USA for a roof is $12,000 using asphalt shingles. I think mine cost $4000.

Money does go further in the Philippines if you have the money.

People in the Philippines see me as a rich white American. LOL I told them that in the USA is just like the Philippines. There are the rich, the poor, and those in between. Not every American has a lot of money. Most have to work hard and some have to borrow to get by.

-At the airport I had my shoes shined/cleaned for 200p or $3.90. In the USA, $8-$25

-A Caramel Latte was 160p or $.31 In USA, the cost is $2.39 and up.

Yes, these were airport prices. Probably higher than other places.

OTHER ITEMS: I saw very few stop signs at which no one would stop anyway. The few stop lights I saw had a box in the middle of the traffic lights that had a numerical countdown showing how long until the lights would change. Interesting. That would lower some anxiety in the USA. LOL

Most understand English. Some just cannot express the language. I was in one church where the Pastor told me his people could understand me but could not speak English. Another pastor said he needed to interpret for me but I ask the people a question and they raised their hands. So most can dialogue with you. It is usually the children and the senior adults who have problems communicating.

Well, that is just some trivia I picked up along the way. These trips are very fulfilling and always a learning experience with some great people.

Thanks.

THE GRACIOUS RETURN

One of the great elements of mission trips is the number of friends one makes. All the churches I have been to had very gracious, cordial, and very hospitable people. One of the joys of being in these churches is when they ask you to return.

Last year I spoke at the Alcate Gospel Baptist Church near Victoria, Mindoro. When Pastor Jayson found out I was coming back this year he immediately tried to enlist me for a return visit. By that time my schedule was already full but I thanked him immensely for the honor to be invited back. Well, he would not take “no” for an answer.  So, long story short, I worked to rearrange a few things and was able to come on a Sunday afternoon. The crowd was good, the fellowship was sweet, and the food was delicious….just like last year.

Some interesting things happened that made this visit unique. When I walked into the door, here came a little girl running up to me and said, “Hi Pastor Greg”. I thought “wow, she knows me”. After conversing I found out that she and her two sisters were the two girls I had met last year. We had taken a pic together and that had been my profile pic on Facebook. Now, a year later, they were standing in front of me. A very pleasant surprise. Yes, we took another pic and it is now my profile pic. It was interesting to compare last year’s pic with this year's to see how the girls had grown.  The youngest one stayed with me until time for me to speak. Sweet.

Last year, a couple came up to see me. They were holding a little baby. Now that the baby was born they were on their way to Kuwait to work. Jobs are really hard to find in the Philippines. I ask if I could hold the baby. Then all the cameras came out and started flashing. A Kodak moment!

This year a lady came up to say hello. We talked a little and I asked if she was holding her grandson. She said yes and ask me if I remember holding the little baby of a young couple last year. She said this was that baby now a year older. Wow…more pics.

There was another very interesting person that I met. I was walking around greeting folks and saw this sweet lady standing by the pew. I asked the pastor who she was because her face looked familiar. He reminded me of the lady that we laid hands on last year who had stage four cancer.  He said that she was the one. Her cancer went into remission, her hair had grown back, and she had become very faithful in attendance now that her health was better.

I walked over to her and she smiled real big, gave me a hug, and said she was so glad to see me again. She then told me her story of what God had done for her and the testimony she now shares.

Another pastor came to the service. I led a Pastor/Wives conference at his church last year, spoke on Sunday morning, and spoke at the graduation ceremony of the church’s school. He and his wife took time out of their Sunday afternoon to come and worship with us. I was so glad to see them and get caught up family and church happenings.

And, of course, I can’t finish this post without expressing my gratitude to Pastor Jayson and his wife, Emz. One of the sweetest, most humble couples you will ever meet. Both years they totally went out of their way to make sure I had what I needed, that I was fed well  (no problem there…..lol), and that I was introduced to some new people. One of the neat gestures on their part was their gift to me of a big bag full of little bags of Banana Chips. Hmmmm….so good. Last year, as well as this year, they provided me enough Banana Chips to last a while. I was honored and they were pleased.  And yes, I started eating them as soon as I got back to my room.

Next year, I don’t know what church(s) I will return to but I know the return will be a gracious, high moment for me.

   

Alcate Gospel Baptist Church, near Victoria, Mindoro





     

Three girls in 2016                                 Three girls in 2017




      
  Holding baby in 2016                      Baby one-year later


       

Lady with 4th stage cancer                  Laying on of hands in prayer for lady in 2016





Pastor Alberto and wife Eleanor of the
First Baptist Church of Naujan



   

Pastor Jayson and wife Emz                     Pastor Jayson and his family

PHILIPPINE 2017 ROUND UP

I wanted to round up some final thoughts and trivia and pics about Philippine 2017. I have yet to take a trip abroad that I did not learn many things. Although I know little to no Tagalog I have been fortunate in always finding those who could communicate with English. I spoke to several congregations where the folks could understand English but could not speak English. Fortunately, when in situations where I encountered a non-English situation, someone was with me to intervene. Communication has not been a problem so far.

I have yet to find myself in a situation where I felt unsafe. There have been a few situations where I felt uneasy but that was resolved fairly quick. For example, I was the last person on a bus, the last white person no less, where the bus driver stopped and announced that he was not going any further. So at dusk, I had to get off and quickly look for transportation to the motel. On another occasion when I boarded the bus I asked if they would be stopping at a certain city location.  The location I was referring to was a bus terminal. When the conductor of the bus (the one who collects bus fares) said yes, he was not referring to a bus terminal but a public bus stop.  So there I was in downtown Manila at a bus stop on a major six-lane highway. Fortunately, there were many people at the bus stop and one young man graciously got me on the right public bus which took me to my hotel. This young man even paid for my bus fare.

I never found myself anywhere that people were not friendly and willing to help. There never seemed to be an endless amount of gracious, hospitable people. There is a lot of tipping that goes on for some help. I found that I was anxious to tip those who went beyond expectations. They were grateful to receive the tip as well because some folks don’t tip.

Interestingly, motels/hotels can be as expensive as in the USA whether in Manila or in one of the provinces. Also, to my surprise, many of the beach resorts or hotels with a pool are cheaper than those without any recreational amenities. For example, I stayed at a beach resort for only $26 per night. The beach had gray/black sand, was fairly clean of debris, and the water was swimmable. The restaurant was very fair in price and served good food. I thought the place was a good find.

Conferences, speaking engagements, feeding events, pastor meetings, and impromptu acts of kindness are the norm for all my trips. There is usually at least one, sometimes several, events that rise to be very memorable occasions. This year it was the feeding/clothing of the Mangyan tribe.

Years ago, the Mangyans were some of the original settlers in the Philippines in what was and is the jungle. Some of the tribal communities stayed in the deep jungle while others started moving down the mountains. Currently, the Mangyans still live in the jungle area and have never joined in the populated areas.

The presence of Caucasians in the Philippines is not dominant by any means. White people seem to be more prevalent on the Manila province. Nonetheless, the Mangyan tribes are not accustomed to any white presence. My host pastor talked to the captain of this Mangyan tribe to get his permission for me to come. This tribe not only had never had a white man in their village but they had never seen a white man. This event was a new experience for all of us.

This group of people proved to be as gracious, kind, fun loving, and grateful as any Filipinos that I have met. Very few could engage in an English conversation but they could understand some English. (In the Philippines, the common denominator seems to be an age issue. Young children and senior adults know little to no English. Teens to Median Adults know English because they learned in school.)  They accepted me, loved on me, talked to me, and treated me like they had known me forever. Living in very humble surroundings and by very humble means they were greatly appreciative of the bags of groceries, the bags of clothing, the beef/rice meal, and the kids loved the book/toys.

This was the final list of things that took place:
1. A one-hour musical concert followed by the youth leading in worship.
2. The gospel was shared to 200 Mangyans
3. A huge beef/rice meal was provided for everyone
4. 57 bags of groceries distributed to 57 Mangyan families
5.100 bags of clothing items distributed
6. School supplies distributed to 20 students
7. 100 copies of children books and toys distributed

We were a little sad when the event came to an end. As a matter fact, they said that my host pastor could go ahead and leave. I could stay behind and they would teach me some Tagalog. LOL So, I think they will let me come back.

There are really no words that are adequate to thank all those who have contributed financially to my trips and have bathed all these efforts in prayer. These events/ministries could not have happened without you.

Coming next on this site: Trip trivia and people pics

CHILDREN DO THE GODLIEST THINGS...

In my last post, I mentioned a gift from a young lady who was in my youth group many years ago. She was a gentle, sweet-hearted young lady with an awesome Godly presence about her. NOW THE REST OF THE STORY.  She is an awesome lady with an awesome family. She has two darling little girls. From what I can understand she had told the girls about the sack of groceries projects. That information made missions REAL and tangible in minds of the girls. 

So the mom told the girls "you do some chores and make some money to give towards this mission project and I will match what you make.? The girls worked diligently because they knew their money was going to feed needy people in the Philippines. They also knew that the more money they earned the more food that would be provided for adults and children. 

Well, a heartfelt mission support came to fruition and I received the fruits of their labor. I can't help but believe that these girls will always remember their part in missions and will grow up with a deeper appreciation for mission around the world as well as in their own neighborhood. 

What a neat, inspiring story from the heart and lives of children. 

Gregory T. Bunn
gregorybunn.blogspot.com