(bright inspirational music)
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- Hello, and welcome
to Jesus for Asia Now.
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I'm Natalie Wood and my
husband Jon is with me today
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as we bring you to some
new uncharted territory.
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Hello, love.
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- Hi, darling, how are you?
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- I'm doing fine.
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- Very good.
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- I'm excited to see
where we're going today.
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I have been praying for
this for a long time, yes.
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- Okay, so where are we going?
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- Okay, well, I have to
describe a little bit about
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the geography in that
area because it's hard to wrap
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your mind around that
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like if you take
United States it's one
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piece of Earth 'cause you
got Hawaii in Alaska, Yeah.
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Right and then you
take like South America,
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it's one piece of Earth.
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You know, even Thailand, India,
most countries, Australia,
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one piece of Earth,
you take the Philippines.
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It's like 7000 pieces of earth.
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And then Indonesia is
another 17,000 pieces of earth.
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And you go and actually
the Philippines and Indonesia,
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Malaysia is all one,
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and New Guinea.
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I all the way down to Australia
is one big bunch of islands.
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And so, this where
we're going today is,
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the southern most
tip of the Philippines.
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- Okay.
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- and it's actually
islands out in the ocean,
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on the way to Indonesia.
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So it's like it this,
this archipelago sweeps down
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from the Philippines all
the way down to Indonesia,
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Australia and everything.
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And so this is like,
like, there's an arbitrary line
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between these
islands and Indonesia.
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And it's called Tawi-Tawi.
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- Tawi-Tawi, okay.
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- And it's a group of
several hundred islands,
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like 300 Islands.
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- Wow, Not all of them
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are inhabited, but
it's a vast region.
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And I found out about
this a couple years ago
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and was impressed with the
work that's going on there.
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And with the need that's
still there, the opportunities,
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the doors that are being
opened by a special group.
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It's a Filipino group,
missionary group called the
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SULADS. - Okay,
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Who are the
SULADS, what do they do?
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They are based from what
I understand mainly out of,
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Mountain View college, which
is in Mindanao, the southern
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most Big Island in the
Philippines, and it's our
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evidence college there in
the center up in the in the
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mountains. When I visited there,
the President took me around he
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says that on every Sabbath,
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about 600 young people,
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leave the campus and
conduct Sabbath School,
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church services in
the surrounding mountains.
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And there's this volunteer
organization called the SULADS
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now I can't tell you
what SULADS stands for,
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but it's an acronym.
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- Okay. We'll probably
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put it down here
so people can see what
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it stands for, but
I don't remember it.
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But anyway, it's a volunteer
organization of volunteer young
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people, they take a year out
and they go volunteer and they
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go up into the mountains, they
go out to remote places, and
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they just spread the
word of God through teaching.
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And this group has been working
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in Tawi-Tawi for several years
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and it's amazing
what has taken place,
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and what they've
been able to accomplish.
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So we've got some really
cool videos that we're gonna be
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showing you today.
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And I think you'll
feel transported, also.
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- Yeah, so shall we
show the first video?
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- Yeah, absolutely.
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- Okay.
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(calm inspirational music)
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- [Pastor Ranny] Tawi-Tawi
is situated at the far end
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of the tip of the Philippines,
very close to Malaysia
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and it is composed of
three hundred islands, roughly,
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some are
inhabited, most are not.
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These are small islets,
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but then they span
about 300 all over.
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The people are
relatively Muslims in religion.
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There are now approximately a,
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population of Christians
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in the
mainland, which is Bongao.
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However, in the stretched
out islands there are no other
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religions or Christians that
are able to enter the islands
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except the
Seventh Day Adventists.
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(calm relaxing music)
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We have about,
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40,
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volunteers called SULADS.
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SULADS stands for
Social-Economic Uplift Literacy
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and Anthropological
Developmental Services.
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Their main work
is to teach children,
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but because this is a
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Muslim area, we cannot
openly to preach the gospel.
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However the SULADS
employ the use of IFL,
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which is Integration
of Faith and Learning.
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That is where we are
able, to spread the gospel,
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through the stories and
lessons from everyday life.
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- [Translator] Ministry to
the Muslims is quite different.
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It's not preaching
or public evangelism.
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I am just a layman and I
know we have to use a different
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approach here
and it's difficult.
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- [Translator] Before the
arrival of SULADS in Tawi-Tawi,
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fighting was commonplace.
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With people often
shooting each other.
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[Pastor Ranny] Tawi-Tawi
is known to be a Notorious
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province, where killings
happen almost every single day.
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And so everybody has a weapon.
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Everybody has a gun.
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At least one in every household.
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This is the
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characteristic of
the people of Tawi-Tawi.
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We especially the Tausugs.
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They call their
weapons their second wife.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator]
When SULADS came in,
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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The inhabited islands
gradually became peaceful.
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They became peaceful because
the SULADS were able to show
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them the value of
the life of each person.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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(calm inspirational music)
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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We have plenty of
children in this community.
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The school where we used
to send them is very far,
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and it was very
difficult for us to visit them.
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It would cost 1000 pesos or
$20 for gasoline to go there
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and back which was very hard
for our financial capability.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator] It was very
hard for the children to go to
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school before
the SULADS were here,
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because the nearest school
was located on another island.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- Before they
could reach the school.
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They needed to go
through areas with big waves,
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because it can only be accessed
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through a 10 minute boat ride.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- When the teacher would arrive.
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While the boat was
still a long way off,
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you could see the children
eagerly waiting on the shore.
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They are so happy to
have a teacher arrive.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator]
Right now, by God's grace,
00:08:13.92\00:08:15.66
the fighting has ceased.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator] The
people here say that the SULADS
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are different, not only in
teaching but also in attending
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to the needs of the children.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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We heard in their testimonies
that because of the presence
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of the SULADS,
because of their teachings,
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the island has been
transformed by God's grace.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator] I always
say that the presence of SULADS
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teachers here has a
huge impact on the community.
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They are not only
teaching, but they also care.
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They take care of my people.
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Even those who are sick.
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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- [Translator] We are
very grateful for the SULADS,
00:09:02.87\00:09:05.04
the missionaries,
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- [Translator] They made a
lot of sacrifices just for us.
00:09:06.51\00:09:09.41
No words could express how
much we are thankful for them.
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- So it's our way
of saying thank you.
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We don't just treat them as
teachers of our children here.
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But also as part of our family.
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We treat them as our
brothers and sisters.
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(bright upbeat music)
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- So you can see how
the SULADS have integrated
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into the society and
uplifted the society.
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- Yeah, that's
wonderful that they do the,
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you know, the caring part.
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- [Jon] Yes.
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- That just opens doors
and people see the difference,
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because they care
not because they have to.
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- [Jon] Right.
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- They care because they care.
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- [Jon] Yes.
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- And I've been watching this
for many years and I see how
00:09:56.62\00:09:58.79
the progress from it, this
is a dangerous place to be too.
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Now they're
accepted, they're loved.
00:10:02.76\00:10:06.00
They're considered
part of the community.
00:10:06.00\00:10:08.17
And the kids are so excited
to see them and have them there.
00:10:08.17\00:10:12.34
(Jon laughing) - Yeah,
00:10:12.34\00:10:13.44
that's really wonderful,
00:10:13.44\00:10:14.88
- And all those towns, you
know, on stilts over the ocean.
00:10:14.88\00:10:18.58
- Yeah.
00:10:18.58\00:10:19.78
- It's like what
an exotic location.
00:10:19.78\00:10:21.78
But there's some
challenges that go along
00:10:21.78\00:10:23.59
with that kind of situation.
00:10:23.59\00:10:25.92
- Right, and I
think the next video is
00:10:25.92\00:10:27.52
one of those challenges.
00:10:27.52\00:10:28.79
- Yes, definitely.
00:10:28.79\00:10:29.96
- Okay, let's play that now.
00:10:29.96\00:10:31.56
(Sea waves sound)
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(engine roaring)
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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(sea waves sound)
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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(sea waves sound)
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(sea waves sound)
00:12:10.69\00:12:13.53
(Jon sighs loudly) - Wow.
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- They survived.
00:13:42.58\00:13:44.05
- Yeah.
00:13:44.05\00:13:44.99
- And they have good attitudes.
00:13:44.99\00:13:46.45
- Yeah.
00:13:46.45\00:13:47.72
- To live is
Christ and to die is gain.
00:13:47.72\00:13:49.19
- Right.
00:13:49.19\00:13:50.43
- And it's good
to learn to swim.
00:13:50.43\00:13:51.79
- Yeah, it's very
important to learn to swim.
00:13:51.79\00:13:54.30
- Wow.
00:13:54.30\00:13:55.53
I've seen when we've
gone to the Philippines
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and we've ridden in the
boats from island to island,
00:13:57.50\00:14:00.04
I've seen everybody making sure
00:14:00.04\00:14:01.70
everything's in those dry bags.
00:14:01.70\00:14:03.27
And it's like you can see why.
00:14:03.27\00:14:05.44
- Yeah,
00:14:05.44\00:14:06.68
- Because that was one
of the ones that didn't
00:14:06.68\00:14:08.18
have the outriggers, a
lot of them have outriggers,
00:14:08.18\00:14:10.55
which helps them to
be stable in large waves.
00:14:10.55\00:14:12.55
But they still
can capsize, - yes
00:14:12.55\00:14:14.48
stuff can break, the
water's merciless sometimes.
00:14:14.48\00:14:17.29
- Yeah.
00:14:17.29\00:14:18.52
- Wow, floating for
over three hours and,
00:14:18.52\00:14:20.36
- Yeah, so this is
one of the challenges
00:14:20.36\00:14:23.89
that SULAD
missionaries face in reaching,
00:14:25.23\00:14:28.16
just getting to
their mission post.
00:14:28.16\00:14:30.33
- Right And of course,
00:14:30.33\00:14:31.87
being in an island, they have
to bring in a lot of supplies.
00:14:31.87\00:14:34.44
So it's dependent
on the shipping lines
00:14:34.44\00:14:36.87
or the building lines.
00:14:36.87\00:14:39.14
- Alright, so
00:14:39.14\00:14:40.34
Right and to go
from island Island.
00:14:40.34\00:14:42.58
You have to use a boat.
00:14:42.58\00:14:43.81
- Yeah, so
00:14:43.81\00:14:44.98
- And previously,
before the SULADS came,
00:14:44.98\00:14:46.82
the kids had to go
across that open expanse,
00:14:46.82\00:14:50.42
to get to school.
00:14:50.42\00:14:51.95
And they were in the previous
video, he's talking about
00:14:51.95\00:14:54.69
costing, you know, $20.
00:14:54.69\00:14:57.16
That's a lot of
money, - For fuel,
00:14:57.16\00:14:58.43
- If you don't make much at all.
00:14:58.43\00:15:00.53
so bringing - right
00:15:00.53\00:15:01.56
the school to that island
00:15:01.56\00:15:04.10
was a huge blessing - right
00:15:04.10\00:15:05.83
for the local community.
00:15:05.83\00:15:07.10
- Right, wow.
00:15:07.10\00:15:08.60
Well, I know they
experienced a lot of challenges
00:15:08.60\00:15:10.74
and our next video talks about
some more of the challenges.
00:15:10.74\00:15:13.94
- Yes. Okay.
00:15:13.94\00:15:14.94
(calm relaxing music)
00:15:16.54\00:15:19.71
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.12
- [Translator] The
challenges I see on this
00:15:27.12\00:15:28.66
island are different.
00:15:28.66\00:15:30.03
Every mission field
has different struggles.
00:15:30.03\00:15:32.59
In urban areas, it is different
00:15:32.59\00:15:34.30
and here in the
islands it is different.
00:15:34.30\00:15:37.13
One of the struggles we
have here is the language,
00:15:37.13\00:15:39.30
because we are not
knowledgeable in conversing
00:15:39.30\00:15:41.54
in Tagalog and Sambal.
00:15:41.54\00:15:43.47
(engine roaring)
00:15:44.44\00:15:47.24
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:15:47.24\00:15:50.58
- We didn't grow up here,
00:15:50.58\00:15:52.05
where we are surrounded by sea.
00:15:52.05\00:15:54.12
So one of the
challenges is traveling.
00:15:54.12\00:15:56.42
It's far and you have to
travel from island to island
00:15:56.42\00:15:59.85
and then ride a pump
boat with all those waves.
00:15:59.85\00:16:02.49
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:02.49\00:16:05.29
There are huge in small
waves that to get used to.
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.70
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:09.80\00:16:11.03
Here in this mission
field rainwater is our,
00:16:11.03\00:16:14.57
It's what we call life, water.
00:16:14.57\00:16:16.77
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:16.77\00:16:18.54
Because there is no
source of water here.
00:16:18.54\00:16:20.61
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:20.61\00:16:25.25
and the rain here
is not consistent.
00:16:25.25\00:16:27.65
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:27.65\00:16:29.15
If there is no rain,
then there's no water.
00:16:29.15\00:16:32.09
If there's no water
then there's no bathing,
00:16:32.09\00:16:35.02
no water for cooking.
00:16:35.02\00:16:36.62
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:36.62\00:16:41.26
- The weather
here is really hot.
00:16:41.26\00:16:43.57
And then the water
here, we're experienced
00:16:43.57\00:16:45.83
taking a shower
using two liters of water.
00:16:45.83\00:16:48.60
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:48.60\00:16:50.47
We see water as
precious as gold.
00:16:50.47\00:16:52.54
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:16:54.18\00:16:56.68
Sometimes there is
no rain for two weeks.
00:16:56.68\00:17:00.05
The last option is to buy
water from a neighbor who sells.
00:17:00.05\00:17:04.02
But there are times when
they run out of water too.
00:17:04.02\00:17:06.99
That's when we
really depend on God.
00:17:06.99\00:17:09.56
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:17:09.56\00:17:13.63
- Sometimes our drinking
water contains mosquito larva.
00:17:14.96\00:17:18.07
But since we don't have any
choice, we just have to remove
00:17:18.07\00:17:21.04
the larva and drink
the water and pray to God,
00:17:21.04\00:17:24.34
"Lord, please
sustain our life here.
00:17:24.34\00:17:27.04
Don't allow us to get sick."
00:17:27.04\00:17:28.61
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:17:29.51\00:17:31.55
So water is the
primary need here.
00:17:31.55\00:17:33.88
And the food which
our Muslim Brothers give.
00:17:33.88\00:17:36.35
Our Tausug tribe brothers
do their best to help us.
00:17:36.35\00:17:40.22
But the rain,
it's solely from God.
00:17:40.22\00:17:43.43
our neighbors won't
be able to provide that,
00:17:43.43\00:17:45.29
because they run
out of water too.
00:17:45.29\00:17:47.40
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:17:48.70\00:17:49.96
- [Translator] When
we checked our container,
00:17:49.96\00:17:50.77
the water was low.
00:17:50.77\00:17:51.70
doves often land on our roof.
00:17:52.83\00:17:55.17
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:17:55.17\00:17:59.47
and of course leave their feces.
00:17:59.47\00:18:01.58
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:01.58\00:18:03.41
Sometimes the rats
play in the gutters.
00:18:03.41\00:18:05.75
So we're assuming that they
will leave their waste also.
00:18:05.75\00:18:08.65
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:08.65\00:18:13.39
When I was at home I
would just drink water,
00:18:13.39\00:18:15.39
without giving thanks to God.
00:18:15.39\00:18:16.99
Here we entirely
depend on God and trust him,
00:18:18.16\00:18:21.56
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:21.56\00:18:25.57
Lord bless this water."
00:18:25.57\00:18:26.90
Every time we
drink, we say that prayer.
00:18:26.90\00:18:29.07
"Lord, please bless this water."
00:18:29.07\00:18:31.67
It has become my habit to pray
00:18:31.67\00:18:33.24
and ask God to
make the water safe.
00:18:33.24\00:18:35.41
It is nice to go through
this experience and still have
00:18:36.81\00:18:39.18
a healthy body
despite the unsafe water.
00:18:39.18\00:18:41.92
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:41.92\00:18:43.69
Put in God's
hands through prayers,
00:18:43.69\00:18:45.49
even this has become a blessing.
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.12
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:48.12\00:18:52.76
- [Translator] As SULADS
missionaries, we left our home
00:18:52.76\00:18:55.30
where we had a good life.
00:18:55.30\00:18:57.13
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:18:57.13\00:19:01.27
And we came here.
00:19:01.27\00:19:02.40
Because
00:19:03.64\00:19:04.47
the Word of God motivated us.
00:19:05.77\00:19:07.74
And because they have the
right to the tree of life.
00:19:09.21\00:19:11.95
They have the
right to go to heaven,
00:19:13.68\00:19:16.18
and to meet the one who
created them, and saved them.
00:19:16.18\00:19:19.82
What motivates me is
that I want them to see,
00:19:20.96\00:19:24.06
not only through the
missionaries, and through our
00:19:24.06\00:19:27.20
teaching, but for them to see
Jesus personally, when He comes.
00:19:27.20\00:19:31.87
(calm inspirational music)
00:19:31.87\00:19:35.47
- Yeah, that's those
are some of the challenges.
00:19:40.84\00:19:43.18
- Yes.
00:19:43.18\00:19:44.11
- And the big one is the water.
00:19:44.11\00:19:46.11
I mean, that's really hard.
00:19:46.11\00:19:47.72
- Yeah.
00:19:47.72\00:19:49.25
- And for, I mean, it's
one thing if you live in a cold
00:19:49.25\00:19:51.35
country, you don't
take a bath very often,
00:19:51.35\00:19:52.99
but it's another thing
when it's very warm and hot
00:19:52.99\00:19:56.46
and you can't take a bath,
00:19:56.46\00:19:57.73
you start to feel pretty yucky.
00:19:57.73\00:19:59.86
So as the hand sanitizer,
00:19:59.86\00:20:01.63
the hand the wipes
to clean themselves.
00:20:01.63\00:20:04.30
- Wow.
00:20:04.30\00:20:05.77
- So is there, maybe we can,
find out somebody that can look
00:20:05.77\00:20:09.54
into a
desalination plan or something?
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.51
- Yeah.
00:20:12.51\00:20:14.01
- To give them fresh water
there because that's really,
00:20:14.01\00:20:15.71
I mean, they
could collect rainwater.
00:20:15.71\00:20:17.68
But if it doesn't
rain, then they have nothing.
00:20:17.68\00:20:20.32
Yeah, that's a really good idea.
00:20:20.32\00:20:21.95
And I wonder if they
drill a well in the middle
00:20:21.95\00:20:23.75
of the island, I guess some
islands might work that way.
00:20:23.75\00:20:27.36
And some wouldn't, - Yeah,
00:20:27.36\00:20:28.29
but a desalination plant,
00:20:28.29\00:20:30.39
machine.
00:20:31.26\00:20:32.69
But a desalination.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
00:20:32.69\00:20:35.43
- Yeah, we'll have to
see what we can find out.
00:20:35.43\00:20:37.47
But it's
definitely a need to pray for.
00:20:37.47\00:20:39.50
- Yes. Yes, for sure.
00:20:39.50\00:20:41.20
- Right.
00:20:41.20\00:20:42.77
So we have one more
video and this is talking about
00:20:42.77\00:20:44.14
more on the spiritual side,
00:20:44.14\00:20:45.64
because what we were
talking about before was mostly
00:20:45.64\00:20:48.64
education and the
water situation and yes,
00:20:48.64\00:20:52.18
and the waves - Yes.
00:20:52.18\00:20:53.72
So let's learn a little
bit about the spiritual side.
00:20:53.72\00:20:57.52
- Yes.
00:20:57.52\00:20:58.32
(calm music)
00:20:59.32\00:21:01.89
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:21:01.89\00:21:03.39
- [Translator] Because
of the presence of SULADS,
00:21:03.39\00:21:04.46
because of their teachings,
00:21:04.46\00:21:05.79
these people are able
to know about Isa Al Masih,
00:21:05.79\00:21:09.23
their name for Jesus.
00:21:09.23\00:21:10.93
Muslims are
afraid of the judgment,
00:21:10.93\00:21:12.83
because there's
no one to save them.
00:21:12.83\00:21:14.87
So when they learn
about Isa Al Masih,
00:21:14.87\00:21:17.27
they say that He is the
one they were searching for.
00:21:17.27\00:21:20.21
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:21:20.21\00:21:21.68
We've noticed that
through word of mouth,
00:21:21.68\00:21:23.71
the news is reaching
other islands about the SULADS.
00:21:23.71\00:21:26.88
So that now we already have
a SULADS presence in a number
00:21:26.88\00:21:30.39
of islands because of the
testimony of those who are
00:21:30.39\00:21:33.02
influenced by the SULADS.
00:21:33.02\00:21:35.56
- We were
talking with the mayor of
00:21:35.56\00:21:38.63
one municipality,
00:21:38.63\00:21:40.63
a few days ago.
00:21:40.63\00:21:42.26
And she is even asking
for more SULADS because
00:21:42.26\00:21:46.50
all other villages are
asking for, for educators.
00:21:46.50\00:21:50.51
Unfortunately, we
have none to give.
00:21:50.51\00:21:53.48
You know we can only do so much.
00:21:53.48\00:21:55.98
The work is so huge.
00:21:55.98\00:21:57.61
Because imagine if
we can do all this,
00:21:57.61\00:22:00.35
even our whole lifetime.
00:22:00.35\00:22:01.78
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:22:03.79\00:22:04.99
That's why we don't
want to stop this work,
00:22:04.99\00:22:07.26
because there are many people
who are influenced by SULADS
00:22:07.26\00:22:10.29
to know about Isa Al Masih.
00:22:10.29\00:22:13.09
They are confident now to face
God in the time of judgment.
00:22:13.09\00:22:16.60
Why?
00:22:16.60\00:22:17.83
Because they know
Jesus, Isa Al Masih.
00:22:17.83\00:22:20.70
(calm inspirational music)
00:22:21.94\00:22:25.07
SULADS has no money.
00:22:25.07\00:22:26.68
In terms of stipend, we
give a very very meager stipend.
00:22:28.54\00:22:33.05
It's only like, what $50
a month, that's all they get
00:22:34.52\00:22:38.82
For many a
SULAD, they don't care.
00:22:40.49\00:22:43.59
How much they receive.
00:22:43.59\00:22:45.33
They don't care what
living conditions they have.
00:22:45.33\00:22:48.76
All they care about, is advance
00:22:48.76\00:22:50.63
the work of God on this earth.
00:22:50.63\00:22:53.13
- We are very thankful for,
00:22:53.13\00:22:54.54
We are very thankful for SULADS,
00:22:54.54\00:22:56.27
because they came to our aid,
00:22:56.27\00:22:58.21
especially at
the time when we had
00:22:58.21\00:23:00.11
a scarcity of teachers here.
00:23:00.11\00:23:02.18
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:23:02.18\00:23:05.58
Though they come from afar.
00:23:05.58\00:23:07.02
They came here and
gave importance to us,
00:23:07.02\00:23:08.78
because they love us.
00:23:08.78\00:23:10.22
The people of Tawi-Tawi.
00:23:10.22\00:23:13.46
(calm inspirational music)
00:23:13.46\00:23:16.99
- [Pst. Ranny] Brother's and
sisters, if you have the heart,
00:23:16.99\00:23:20.53
to reach the Muslim people,
00:23:21.83\00:23:24.37
come and help us.
00:23:25.63\00:23:27.34
(calm inspirational music)
00:23:27.34\00:23:30.94
So this is where,
Jesus for Asia comes in.
00:23:40.88\00:23:43.62
Pastor Ranny has just
last week sent me a request.
00:23:45.05\00:23:47.96
Can we please
have 10 Bible workers?
00:23:47.96\00:23:51.36
And I was thinking that
he would request for SULADS.
00:23:51.36\00:23:55.36
And I asked him, "Are you
sure you need Bible workers?"
00:23:55.36\00:23:58.00
What about SULADS?
00:23:58.00\00:23:59.47
He says, "No we need
pastors, we need Bible workers,"
00:23:59.47\00:24:02.24
they can go in and take
the influence that the SULADS
00:24:02.24\00:24:06.68
have developed, the goodwill
and start to develop that
00:24:06.68\00:24:11.28
into groups of believers that
can follow Jesus all the way.
00:24:11.28\00:24:16.28
- Wow.
00:24:16.85\00:24:17.69
Wow. - So 10 Bible workers
00:24:18.72\00:24:20.69
for over 300 Islands,
00:24:20.69\00:24:23.36
it's a drop in the bucket.
00:24:23.36\00:24:24.66
And he feels very
overwhelmed by the need,
00:24:24.66\00:24:27.36
and the vastness
of the territory.
00:24:27.36\00:24:29.16
And sometimes I
feel like well, you know,
00:24:29.16\00:24:32.03
what is 10 gonna
do among 300 Islands,
00:24:32.03\00:24:34.24
but when it
really boils down to it,
00:24:34.24\00:24:37.04
is I wanna be part of that.
00:24:37.04\00:24:39.07
I wanna be a part, I
know they're doing that work.
00:24:39.07\00:24:42.01
But I wanna be part of,
what God is doing there.
00:24:42.01\00:24:44.81
- Right. I wanna
00:24:44.81\00:24:46.08
contribute my
little bit and even if,
00:24:46.08\00:24:48.72
they win one soul to the
kingdom, even if I get one 10th
00:24:48.72\00:24:52.79
of that jewel, you know,
even a 10th of the jewel,
00:24:52.79\00:24:57.23
that represents a human
life saved for eternity.
00:24:58.46\00:25:02.16
- Yeah,
00:25:02.16\00:25:03.33
- That's an
eternal investment - Right.
00:25:03.33\00:25:05.40
That's an eternal gain.
00:25:05.40\00:25:06.84
- Right?
00:25:06.84\00:25:08.04
- So I really
wanna be part of that.
00:25:08.04\00:25:09.27
- Yeah.
00:25:09.27\00:25:10.41
Well, and to see, you know that
00:25:10.41\00:25:12.61
that heart that
the young people have,
00:25:14.31\00:25:16.78
where they don't really
care, how much they're getting,
00:25:16.78\00:25:19.85
and some of the stories,
they're barely surviving.
00:25:19.85\00:25:22.72
- Yes.
00:25:22.72\00:25:23.99
And on that
little bit that they get,
00:25:23.99\00:25:25.82
but they just
wanna see the gospel go,
00:25:25.82\00:25:28.16
- yes to everywhere it can go.
00:25:28.16\00:25:29.96
- Yeah, and you know,
00:25:29.96\00:25:31.26
10 doesn't seem like
many, among 300 Islands,
00:25:31.26\00:25:34.60
but it's better than none.
00:25:34.60\00:25:36.40
And there are no
Bible workers there now.
00:25:36.40\00:25:38.23
It's just the SULADS working,
teaching and teaching about
00:25:38.23\00:25:41.94
Jesus and so we're
just thankful that we can be
00:25:41.94\00:25:45.27
a part of this and lift
up their hands so to speak,
00:25:45.27\00:25:48.14
- Amen give any
little bit we can.
00:25:48.14\00:25:50.88
To help - Yeah, yes.
00:25:50.88\00:25:52.05
So how much does it cost?
00:25:55.78\00:25:57.12
How much is Pastor
Ranny's estimate an
00:25:57.12\00:25:59.89
actual Bible worker to live
there and work among the people.
00:25:59.89\00:26:03.29
- He's actually requesting $300.
00:26:03.29\00:26:05.46
But he says
that's not a requirement.
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.40
That's just a request,
because it's expensive to travel
00:26:07.40\00:26:11.87
between islands and any
extra that they don't use
00:26:11.87\00:26:16.00
for their personal needs.
00:26:16.00\00:26:18.44
They invest in the local work,
00:26:18.44\00:26:20.38
and other
people that have needs.
00:26:20.38\00:26:21.78
Maybe there's
people that are very poor,
00:26:21.78\00:26:23.68
that may not be able to
make it through the month,
00:26:23.68\00:26:25.65
or provide them food.
00:26:25.65\00:26:26.88
And so it's more like investment
00:26:26.88\00:26:29.55
in the total
ministry in the name of,
00:26:29.55\00:26:31.12
So it's not just their stipend,
00:26:31.12\00:26:33.39
it's stipend and project funds,
00:26:33.39\00:26:35.26
travel funds,
that kind of thing.
00:26:35.26\00:26:36.93
- Yes and so you know, I
trust pastor Ranny very much,
00:26:36.93\00:26:40.80
and I know that they will
use the money for for God's work
00:26:40.80\00:26:44.80
and of course, seeing the
testimony of those SULADS.
00:26:44.80\00:26:47.37
We had one young
SULAD up in Mindoro,
00:26:47.37\00:26:49.94
and he was the one
that says, you know,
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.87
when we can't go
down and get food,
00:26:51.87\00:26:54.84
I get really hungry
and I just go to my hut
00:26:54.84\00:26:57.55
and I sleep off
the hunger pangs.
00:26:57.55\00:26:58.98
- Yeah. It's like,
00:26:58.98\00:27:00.22
this is the mentality.
00:27:00.22\00:27:01.68
This is the heart that
they have for the gospel.
00:27:01.68\00:27:04.09
And so, I feel good about,
you know, it's a lot of money.
00:27:04.09\00:27:08.82
Right? But,
00:27:08.82\00:27:10.19
You know, well,
it's a lot of money
00:27:10.19\00:27:12.66
compared to what we
normally pay a Bible worker
00:27:12.66\00:27:14.93
like in India, they need a
$90 a month, some of them make
00:27:14.93\00:27:18.20
more depending on their
00:27:18.20\00:27:19.80
- Location and travel
requirements and stuff like
00:27:21.27\00:27:23.20
that. - The cost a living, but
$300 a month seems like a lot,
00:27:23.20\00:27:27.98
but could I live
on that, in America?
00:27:27.98\00:27:31.51
- No, - that puts it
00:27:31.51\00:27:32.45
into a different perspective.
00:27:32.45\00:27:33.68
- Right.
00:27:33.68\00:27:34.88
And so I praise God
for these opportunities,
00:27:34.88\00:27:37.29
that we have to, while
we're sleeping, they work.
00:27:37.29\00:27:40.72
- Right.
00:27:40.72\00:27:43.02
Well, if you would like
to help make this history for
00:27:43.02\00:27:45.79
heaven, in Tawi-Tawi, you
can contact us at Jesus4asia.
00:27:45.79\00:27:50.77
p o box 1221,
00:27:51.37\00:27:53.23
Collegedale, Tennessee 37315.
00:27:53.23\00:27:56.77
Call us at (423) 413-7321
00:27:56.77\00:28:00.54
Or visit our
website, at Jesus4asia.org.
00:28:00.54\00:28:04.28
May God richly bless you
until we see you next time
00:28:04.28\00:28:07.28
on Jesus for Asia Now.
00:28:07.28\00:28:09.58
(bright inspirational music)
00:28:09.58\00:28:13.32