Article submitted by John Williams, MVAustralia Director
The Mangyan – an unreached people group
Late last year, I was with Pastor Danny, our field coordinator in the Philippines. He works amongst the Mangyan tribal people on Mindoro Island running a feeding program.
“Mangyan” is the collective name of seven tribal groups on Mindoro. The Mangyan are very poor, uneducated and unreached – they have never heard the Gospel of Christ.
Pastor Danny’s feeding program – the Gospel in action
During my trip, I visited a small, two-roomed school with 70 Mangyan children, aged 5-12. The children sat in this earthen-floored school for their lessons.
After honouring us with a special program, the children lined up as part of the weekly feeding and nutrition program run by Pastor Danny.
Each child took a bowl filled with a rich rice, vegetable and chicken soup. The children, and some parents, came back for seconds. Pastor Danny shared out lollipops to the children for dessert, which created many squeals of joy. Jesus loves the Mangyan people!
I noticed most of the children did not have slippers (we call them thongs) to wear. I wince at the thought of them doing the 3 kilometre walk through lush jungle to get to school.
Their clothes were old and ill-fitting, if not dirty. Some children had tropical ulcers on their legs and scabs on their heads. While eating their meals, the girls would groom their friends’ hair looking for lice.
I felt overwhelmed that God had allowed me to visit this community. I feel privileged to witness how Pastor Danny was doing God’s work through this feeding program. And it was amazing to see how he was reflecting His image amongst the Mangyan people.
He’s given everything he has… but more funds are urgently needed
The following day I talked to Pastor Danny and heard his concerns.
What I witnessed the day of my visit was just part of a broader program for some 700 children and families.
But Pastor Danny has run out of funds. He didn’t know where the money would come from to maintain the feeding program in 2013. Pastor Danny has given everything he was able to give. But he urgently needs more resources.
Upon listening to Danny, I could see the love he had for these beautiful people. But I could also see a feeling of helplessness as he wondered where the next meals for the Mangyan would be coming from. Where could he get the support that was so urgently needed?
I was so moved by Pastor Danny’s ministry and his heart for the people that I decided to email and ask for a gift from you for these incredibly poor people.
A gift from you would be such a great blessing to Pastor Danny. It means he can keep feeding these families and their children throughout 2013. It means YOU would play a key part in ensuring the Gospel of Christ in action can continue for the Mangyan.
I’d like to ask you for $50 to help keep the feeding program going for the Mangyan people. If you can’t afford that, any gift would be gratefully received.