My wife Bei and I were having dinner with some friends and one of them commented that their nephew was a teacher at a school for Aetas in the Philippines and were desperate for a chalkboard. I knew nothing about the Aetas and we spent some time learning about these aboriginal people. By the time dinner was finished, Bei and I offered to get the new chalkboard, and the only question was “How much does a chalkboard cost?” Little did we know.
Our first step was to get hold of someone that could acquire a chalkboard in the Philippines. We were members of an organization that did missions work in the Philippines so we contacted them. The CCMP (California Mission to the Philippines) called the Manila Bible Seminary (MBS), who secured and delivered the chalkboard to Lakas High School in Botolan, Zambales, which is about 4 hours from Manila. While delivering the chalkboard, MBS (who also serves on the advisory committee to CCMP) observed the overall needs of the community and the Aetas people living there.
The CCMP got back to Bei and I and told us how great the needs were. Over the next few months, we made plans to feed and arrange services to be delivered to the community through the CCMP by MBS. This continued, and people were helped as the feedings and services increased. Over time, we gained the respect of the community and a local pastor began home bible studies. This also was received well and baptisms began. The new believers needed a place to meet as a group and one of the new believers donated a parcel of land to build a church. The money to build a church was raised and the new church members built the Church of Christ 33 AD at Bihawo in Botolan. In January of 2024, the local pastor, Jesse Commandante joined the church full time.
We have been blessed. Medical missions occur. Feedings and clothing drives occur. We are working toward job training and microlending. It all started with a chalkboard.
We still don’t know what a chalkboard costs.
But we do know that a baptism is priceless!
