"Show Me The Gospel"

Lanao del Sur, Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, Philippines – Traveling 2 hours north of Cotobato City, some thoughts are running through my mind as what I will end up with in this small municipality. We were met in Cotobato City airport by a group of men in 4x4 vehicles who came from the estate where we have a business meeting with the owners of a plantation in the area. The place is so remote that a 4x4 vehicle is the most suitable piece of equipment. There are public jeepneys that ply through the area and dozens of Philippine Marines checkpoints. Its an adventure in itself!

Then at the last end of our trip is a military detachment and a most unlikely steel bridge going to the plantation of 3,500 hectares of cassava and natural/ organic tropical fruit trees. In the midst of virgin forest and huge plantation, there stood a compound that reminds me of Baguio City of old. It is like a small American town in the 1940’s. It is the compound of almost 600 Christian and Muslim workers employed by one of the largest producers of cassava starch in the country. It is almost of complete town in itself. There are housing projects for all workers, a preschool, primary and secondary school, a hospital and a commissary that makes their own organic bread and ice-cream, jams and other kinds of produce. It also has other grocery items and school supplies. It is powered by its own hydroelectric plant and has its own water plant. It is a self-sustained community. The owners, devout Christians, have also feeding centers for the malnourished children in the community especially the for Muslim community nearby. The school can be considered one of the best in the country with 98% success rate in college entrance exams in nearby private colleges and universities. Compared to the public school, each class has only 25 students maximum, has a computer room and a library. I never really imagined that in such a remote area there is a little piece of paradise.

The land is so rich and they have found out that Bible commands regarding planting can be scientifically true. Example are of which is they lay some of the land unplanted every 7 years so that the land will have time to self-nourish itself (Lev. 25:1-4). We visited the fruit trees that are organically grown. We tasted the fresh coconut that has pandan flavor in it. We interviewed people from different faiths and how they appreciate being able to be given employment opportunity despite their differences in faith.

Many times, I reflected on the how I can “show” the gospel to those who see the divine in a different way. And what I saw is exactly what I was looking for. This is a place that has become a beacon of light in this region. People in this area are professionals but they have chosen to live here because this is where they get their source of income and sense of fulfillment. In a place like this wherein you have all you need, who needs to live in a concrete jungle with all the stress and pressures that are most of the time unnecessary or are caused by external environment. This place is paradise – fresh, naturally grown produce, fresh air, fresh spring water and a wonderful view of the ocean. My task is to create this into a healthy organization and to make the company sustain all its efforts for the community. Its desire is to serve the community by providing employment and a uplift their plight. The best way to “demonstrate” the gospel without necessarily “preaching” it.