On Friday the 50th Anniversary wound down except for a big church celebration on Sunday evening, so I have turned my attention toward Panabo City Conference about an hour away. I am on the board of directors for the Strength in the Valley Foundation who minister to the poorest of the pastors from the indigenous tribes. These pastors will walk through trails and then ride on a motorcycle taxi for many hours to come hear the word, receive some rice and a few clothes for their children and church.
It has been a privilege for our church to help subsidize the work and the retreat center Mila and Hernani have been sacrificing to construct. I will bring back pictures of their progress. Speaking of the poor, it is very difficult to know who to help and who to not help.
Mila began the ministry several years ago when she and her husband were going through a very difficult valley. As pastors their income was about $10 a month. She remembers standing on a bridge with her hungry child. Her daughter was asking for a banana, but Mila could not afford even that. She was really tempted to jump off the bridge and end her very difficult life. God spoke to her and reminded her of the many blessings she did have, and that others were even poorer than her family. It was at that moment in the valley of the shadow of death, that Mila felt God calling her to care for the poorest of pastors.
Nov. 25, today was a full day at the Strength in the Valley Foundation. After teaching the seminar on Psalm 23, I got to be part of the joyful blessing process. Our church was able to provide food subsidy plus we had sent boxes of clothes that were given out.
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