At the request of the Pacific Regional Secretary, Bro. Rolly Dumaguit, two training seminars were recently held by Bro. John Lausevic, the Australasian Union Welfare Department Director and also member of the General Conference Welfare Department Committee. The trip was funded through generous donations from brothers and sisters around Australia and the United States.
Australia’s ties with the Philippines have a long history of cooperation, beginning in 1958 when Bro. D. Nicolici visited Davao City for the first time. This initial visit led to many more visits and a group was established. Since then, many faithful souls have joined the Reform Movement and today this number has grown to over 500 members just on that island.
A week-long seminar was held on the Digos City Church property which was established long ago as the headquarters of the Southern Mindanao Conference. This city is a 90-minute drive from Davao City. Although it was harvest time, many farmers, church workers and members attended the week-long seminar on “organic farming” which included demonstrations on how to make bio-fertilizers.
After a lapse of almost 29 years since my last visit to the Philippines, many wonderful, new experiences were now made and old friendships were renewed. Many acquaintances recalled the work of Bro. and Sr. M. Dimitrijevic, Bro. Steven Barat’s family, also the visits of Sr. Sandra Barnett and Mary Barnett Wiseman.
Hands-on training session on making soluble phosphorous
Compost making session
After completion of the seminar, many brethren expressed the desire for a future seminar in Mindanao. The brethren said, “Please, come back to the ‘Fruit Basket’ of the Philippines.” A short day-trip was taken to visit the “Garden of Eden” Park/Compound, surrounded by a very tall walled fence for the purpose of keeping intruders out. Interesting plants were seen along with landscaping and a “Pastoral Palace” belonging to the television evangelist who owned the park.
After an uneventful flight back to Manila, Brother Ian Lepo (who had accompanied me on this trip) presented another week-long training seminar at the Bible Training Missionary School in Cabatang, Quezon Province. This property was established in 1990 after moving from the Paenan area of Quezon. Here more intensive sessions were held for the missionary school students along with over 30+ attendees of which some were farmers, other gardeners, or persons who had an interest in farming. Hands-on sessions were covered, including topics such as Calamansi Tree Plantation Restoration, Tropical Bio-Fertilizers, Compost Pile Building, Manufacturing of Bio-Fertilizers, Organic Gardening, Garlic and Tomato Growing, and many other topics. Every night was capped by an agriculture-related movie on health, canning, making your own soaps and permaculture methods. Many people are trapped in the chemical fertilizer cycle and it was a good experience for them to see that organic farming is possible—even more so in the tropics.
Bio-Fertilizer Training Session
The plan to hold agricultural seminars in the Philippines has been a dream for many years, yet various obstacles always hindered the way. We are so glad now that this opportunity had come to fruition, especially in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda.
Although much time has passed since my first visit to the Philippines, poverty has not been eradicated. Many of our members are still living hand-to-mouth and agriculture is an ideal way to improve their income. To this day, we still can see that the needs of the poor will always be with us. Having and giving is a blessing to each one of us, and every time I visit a country with many needs, it is a constant reminder to me that I have much for which to be thankful.
Please give generously towards the poor in need and also to the Welfare Department work of the Australasian Union. Much more can be done but funds are always a struggle. A big “Thank You” is given to the Philippine Union for transportation and hospitality, as well as to the volunteers who gave generously of their time to prepare food and minister to the needs of all the attendees at both locations.
John Lausevic, Welfare Department Director
Australasian Union