Saturday, July 21, 2012

Harvest Time!


My first encounter with Zanzibar happened more than 15 years ago.  I was a young staff then of a local church involved in feeding little children in this street located in Baranggay San Isidro, MakatiMakati City is known as the business district of the Philippines but maybe unknown to many, it is home to many urban poor communities.  Zanzibar is one of them. 

I remember so well how the children would recognize our vehicle as it turns from Batangas street towards them, a 1975 Yellow Ford Fierra.  Young and old alike would then run, grab a bowl and a spoon and line up towards our vehicle.  We would do this week after week – for almost an hour, we would give food and then take some time to share God’s Word to the people. 

I don’t know why I stopped being part of that ministry, but maybe I was assigned to another area or I was given more responsibilities and I had to train and ask someone to take my place.

15 years later, I am back in Zanzibar.  The place looks the same although recognizing a single face is a bit difficult.  The many shanties are still there.  Children roam everywhere at any given time.  The one side of that street that is home to many jeepneys still operates as a garage/repair shop/garden (one man thought of using an abandoned dilapidated jeepney as a plant rack.  He has about ten ornamental plants on top of that jeepney).  There are still those who congregate to kill time in their own unique and special way.  Some would drink and sing while the others play a locally popular game called bingo for some small amount of money.  Others still set up a tent where they can relax and sleep during the heat of the day.

But amidst all of these, something different can be seen.  A young man in his early twenties holds a Bible while his companion happily strums his guitar while leading in singing spiritual songs.  Around them is a group of about twenty, mostly mothers while 2 or three are young people.  Fathers would drop in and out as the singing continues.




The one who holds the Bible and the one who leads the singing are my staff.  Lacking a place large enough to hold twenty people, we have decided to hold our weekly Bible Study on the street.  It encourages me a lot to see them lead the people in studying the Word of God, not minding the noise and the other things happening around them.  It is a good sight indeed, considering that these people used to do what the other people normally do for their past time.

Now, aside from the Bible study, they regularly attend church.  Many of them are already serving in different capacities.  Some are part of the ushering ministry while some are committed prayer warriors.  They are also very much involved in the women’s ministry, advocating what it means to be a godly woman in the house.  The church responds by providing venues for them to grow in the Lord and be productive.  They have a regular fellowship among other housewives of the church as well as out of town special activities, like the Women’s Camp that is scheduled on August 3 and 4.

Moreover, we have set up a livelihood program for them.  Initially, there’s the sewing project where women are involved in making inexpensive wash cloths and pillow casing.  Proceeds from the sale of these help the women earn income as well as some portion go to help fund church ministries.



I realize that the Lord never forgets what He has started.  15 years ago, we started to plant the seeds of the Gospel.  Now we are harvesting.  The Apostle Paul was right when he confidently said that that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  God is so good and faithful indeed!   





No comments: