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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, SEPTEMBER 2, 1983
PAGE 5
OZAMIS--VICTOR LIM: On my way to Tubod from Ozamis, I took a pub
lic bus. En route we saw some 20 people milling around a bridge.
The bus driver stopped when it was learned that there was a head
less human body underneath the bridge. The passengers of the bus
went out to see the corpse. I never bothered to see the horrible
sight. People who are executed by the rebels are usually abusive
and unrighteous men: men who are drunkards, adulterers, thieves,
swindlers, gossipers, etc.
So as long as one is living a
righteous life there is nothing to fear.
BAYOMBONG--PEDRO ORTIGUERO: My visits this time were problems of
hunger.
Poor brethren who waited for the planting season for
their subsistence so they can plant and be hired in the fields do
not have money to buy food. Those who have stored little food
until planting and harvesting seasons are worrying that after
July there will be no more food. There are now some rains in my
area, but not heavy enough to quench the thirsty land. Rivers
don't have much water yet for irrigation. It is still very hot
and everywhere green leaves are drying up. Some of our brethren,
especially children, are suffering from flu and measles.
How
ever, brethren are striving hard.
AGOO--JERRY ORTIGUERO:
Farmers on the lowlands are getting
worried because of the lack of rain. Last year about this time,
many farmers were already almost finished planting rice.
But
this time the fields are still quite dry and the rice seedlings
just sprouted are beginning to dry.
LAOAG CITY--JERRY ORTIGUERO: Though it is beginning to rain here
in Northern Luzon, there is still not enough water to make the
rice paddies cultivatable. I noticed along the highway in !locos
Sur and Norte that thousands of hectares of rice fields are not
yet even ready for planting for lack of water. People are begin
ning to worry about a possible year of famine and real hardship
in 1984.
SANTIAGO--PEDRO ORTIGUERO: Many of the brethren are really suf
fering here.
There is not enough rain yet for farming.
The
National Irrigation Administration personnel have said that if
there is not enough rain, only some portions of the farm land in
Isabela will be given or allowed water. Please pray for us.
ROXAS--PEDRO ORTIGUERO: This week there was a light rain in some
parts of Isabela. We hope this is the beginning of more rain.
However, it is still very hot--100 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of
the brethren who are farmers are worrying whether they will have
enough rice for August.
Those who do not farm but hire them
selves out in the field are suffering much. We have 11 families
who do not have permanent work.
I bought them rice which they
need very badly. Our poor brethren are willing to work.
ZAMBOANGA CITY--VICTOR LIM: Twenty-nine new people showed up for
the follow-up Bible study out of 143 who said they were inter
ested. That's a clear 20% response. Some said the figure would
have been higher had it not rained that morning. That is because
many from Basilan island didn't go because of rough seas due to
the weather.