Chris and Lynne Strange Your missionary connection in the Philippines The Banwaon church has reached out to their neighbors in their time of need. Tragically, twenty seven are now dead from the health crisis and many are still in very weak condition.
People here have graciously given from their annual harvest of rice to help feed the sick and their family members. Several sacrificed time to prepare food for those that were ministering medically to the sick so they would not have to take time away from the patients. Many cooked and served food to the group of over 240 people that flooded the village seeking help. Most of the people have left our area as the crowded conditions were causing recurring sickness in those previously recovered. Now that the health agencies are gone, there are still those daily preparing food for the families that are too weak to leave.
The spiritual battle continues. Rituals and sacrificed animals were desperately performed for their chief before he died. Pray that the lack of power in their belief system will cause them to seek out to believers and ask about the Power that kept them healthy. No one from our village is sick and we pray it will create questions. Pray that they will recognize how God’s love is freely shared to them by the believers here.
The sad task of transporting the dead bodies back to their home areas have fallen on the Banwaon leaders from our village. Eight men have just returned from seven hours hike through the jungle to deliver the dead chief’s body back to his village. They reported that two more were found dead when they arrived and several in severely weakened condition. They also reported that the village has not been able to harvest this year because too many were sick or dead and the rice is rotting in the fields. This is a very dire situation as they only get one harvest each year.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for these that are still suffering.
- Pray for the families who are grieving for their lost.
- Pray for abundant resources growing in the jungle to sustain these families that are left until next year’s harvest.
- But mostly pray that the difficult situation and failed sacrifices will soften their hearts to listen to the Gospel.
- Praise God for how He is working in this situation to increase His harvest among the Banwaon for Christ.
For His Glory,
Chris and Lynne
