Philippines: The Buffalo and the Bible Worker

Psalm 103:2-3—“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.”

Jerry is a farmer living near Lake Sebu in central Philippines. The land is rich and grows abundant fruits and vegetables, and Lake Sebu provides abundant fish for the people.

Jerry and his water buffalo work the fields until about 2:00. Then his buffalo rests and Jerry begins his second job: studying the Bible with his neighbors.

Jerry lives among the T’boli people, a tribe with a unique language and culture. They welcome Jerry to learn God’s message with the tribe. Jerry was trained as a Bible worker by a pastor who led him to Christ 20 years ago and taught him to give Bible studies.

Jerry struggled for years with sharp pain in his side. He went to a doctor who told him he needed surgery, but Jerry couldn’t afford the surgery or the medication he needed. He had only one option: He needed to sell his water buffalo to pay for the surgery. The buffalo was valuable; it helped him work the fields and earn money for his family. Without the buffalo, Jerry couldn’t till his land and feed his family. This saddened Jerry. He saw no other way to conquer the pain and regain his health.

Jerry met an Adventist pastor and decided to turn the situation over to God. When the pastor came to visit him, Jerry asked to be baptized.

“When I came up from the water after baptism, my pain was gone. I haven’t had any pain since then! God healed me,” Jerry said. “I didn’t have to sell the buffalo! I was able to continue farming and providing for my family.”

Since then Jerry became a dedicated Bible student, working with other Bible workers who are eager to share the Adventist message with the T’boli people. The passionate Bible workers grow in number, but they still don’t have enough to meet the need for workers near Lake Sebu. And they need a training center where they can learn as a group the truths of God. There are more T’boli people eager to hear the gospel message than there are trained Bible workers. As you give your regular Promise offerings, please pray for the people living in the Lake Sebu area, as well as the Bible workers needed to teach them God’s truths.