PAMC Goes to Sitio Aryada

To do ministry is to meet a need. This is how we defined ministry in our social transformation and community development class last semester. It goes beyond the usual things we do at church. They’re all ministries but there is more than what we do in the four corners of our churches.

            Last August 1-3, 2017, our group, Project Acts Mission Challenge, was given the opportunity to minister to an Aeta Community in Sitio Aryada, Limay, Bataan. It is a 3-hour walk from our host’s house, but the last hour was quite a challenge because of the heavy rains that made the steep trail slippery. Because of its remoteness, the residents rarely get healthcare advice and services resulting to adult and child malnourishment and rise of teenage pregnancies. There are also recurring cases of diarrhea in the community. Moreover, children do not get educated because the travel from home to school and vice versa is impossible to do on a daily basis., According to the chieftain, those who are able to go to school are only the ones who have a house to stay in town during school days. Sadly, only the chieftain has a house near the schools. Another problem is that the community needs to learn basic financial management as they lack knowledge in properly handling their income from hunting and farming. When they have money, they tend to forget to utilize it for their basic needs and other important stuffs like building their own comfort rooms and repairing their houses. It was a blessing to us, that even in our own little way, we were able to help and address these challenges.

During our stay, the group conducted child and adult healthcare seminar to address some health concerns and taught them basic first aid procedures since they’re far from health centers and hospitals. We also conducted a family planning seminar to help them assess their plans of having babies and also address the rise of having young parents who still don’t have the ability to raise children. Both seminars were conducted by Sarah Monina Garcia, a PAMC staff who is a medical student and is aiming to be a missionary doctor someday. A basic financial management seminar was also conducted by John Moses Collado, a PAMC staff who works in a financial institution. Aside from these seminars, children were also given milk and vitamins to address malnutrition, and diapers, toothbrush and toothpaste to assist with hygiene concerns. PAMC staffs Joy Danielle Daquigan, Mary Joy Jovero, Joana Abuan and Arra Joyce Alejandro taught and assisted the kids on how to properly brush their teeth. To address the diarrhea issue, water filters were also distributed through Water with Blessings. The team also did children’s ministry to compensate for their lack of proper education. The children simply cannot hide their excitement to learn.. We pray that by God’s grace, a ministry center will be built in their place to facilitate the on-going literacy program and bible studies to kids by Pastor Mike’s trainees. Jewel Angeles, a graduating education student, is one of the young people who goes to SitioAryada every Sunday to teach the children. We were inspired by his dedication and sacrifice.

When Jesus was here on earth, He did not only preach and teach from one place to another. Jesus made a difference in the life of every person He met and in every community He visited by addressing and meeting their needs.. He healed them, fed them, delivered them from different kinds of slavery and oppression, taught and helped fishermen to fish and even raised people from the dead. He did something to uplift and make a difference in the lives of the people who encountered Him. We, in Project Acts Mission Challenge, believe that we are called to do the same. We are called to make a difference and to make the message of the Gospel tangible and real to the lives of people we minister to. In our own little and simple way, we can make a great impact if we do it collectively to honor God and live out His message of love.

Praise the Lord for all the things He has done!

By: Ptra. Arra Joyce Alejandro

       Board of Director