Dear Rev. Thomas,
Happy CHRIST filled New Year!
I thank God that your continues support to the ministry. Year 2008 is a tough one for us. However, thank God we survive. With your help, we are still running with a vision. Despite, the grim forecasts about the world economy, with Christ, our hope is glorious. No matter what happen, He got the whole world in His hand.
In spite of what happened last year, we never look down. In fact, we are planning to build two churches. One in village Alaoa, Tineg, Abra, around 400 km north of Manila. This will be the first church to build in Tineg, Abra. We are the first group who saturate the 10 village of Tineg, Abra by foot. It is the neighboring province of Apayao. Therefore, after we finished our mission to Kabugao, Apayao, we survey Tineg, Abra. Now, we can see the fruit of our labor. This church we plan to build will reached out to three villages. Each village will take 3 hours, 4 hours and one-day walk.
Abra currently has the highest amount of rebel activity in the Philippines and hardly a month goes by without clashes between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government forces. In 2002, a US helicopter was flying over Abra Province and vas hit by the NPA.
Abra is known as the killing capital of Cordillera” because of the political killings and ongoing communist insurgency. Intense political rivalries exist within the region, which boasts a large number of private armies. Between 2005 and 2006, 118 deaths were attributed to political assignations, including the deaths of congressmen, councilors and village chiefs. These were gunned down by political rivals – often with the use of hired hit men. It is believed that some of these armies are being maintained by politicians, and between the 2004 and 2007 elections, the number of private armies increased from seven to thirteen.
Understandably, it is very difficult for missionaries (especially foreign missionaries) to work in this region as they run the risk of being taken hostage. Like the lady missionary of Youth with the Mission ( YWAM) in 1999. This is why Tribes in Asia for Christ has taken up the challenge of bringing the gospel to the Itneg tribes of Abra. TAC started to work in Tineg in Abra in 2001. There are 10 villages in this (Tineg) area and most of the villages cannot be reached by vehicle. The volunteer missionaries have to travel by foot for 2-3 days from Apayao. At present, there are three established churches in Tineg. We have a number of students deployed in other villages of Abra for the purpose of evangelism.
Thank God for the donation of land to be used for constructing a church building. We only need to bulldoze the land area and afterward we can start building a church. Village Aloao, our target area, was divided into 3 small villages with a distant of 30 minutes to 45 minutes walk. Now, we have four workers in this village and soon they will reach out to neighboring villages.
Another target area is the Dumagat tribes of Rizal, which is 40 km north of Manila. TAC was reaching out to this area since 2007 through Bible Study outreach and finally we got a couple who wants to stay and minister to our target area. The place is village Anipa, San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. The place was accessible by foot for 2-3 hours from San Rafael, Montalban.
Although the place is quite near in Metro Manila but Last quarter of the year, New People’s Army ( NPA) clashed between government forces and on January 3, this year, six policemen where ambushed by the NPA, one was killed, 3 where captured, 2 was wounded.
We are planning to survey the area to walk from Montalban, Rizal to Quezon province to find out how many villages that needs to evangelize. It will take us 4-7 days walk to complete our itinerary.
Please pray for God’s provision to build two churches. One in Tineg, Abra, and the land will be donated but we have to pay for the bulldozer which is US $ 700 and another church to build is in Anipa, San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. Here we have to buy a small piece of land to build a church building. A piece of land cost us US $ 1,300. Two churches with a pastors house would cost us US 12,000 each.
Hoping and praying that you will continue to run with a vision with us this 2009. God bless you.
Yours for the tribes in Asia,
REY AWATIN
Pastor Rey and Tribes in Asia are on our support. However more is needed.
Pastor Rey has established a blog that he mainatains from Asia.
Http:/tribesinasia.blogspot.com
I hope you visit it and see the video. Bro. Rey has been a blessing to me for more than ten years.
Pastor Tommy
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