EdwinComstock

In our travels to different regions of the Philippines we could count consistently on two things — unpredictable traffic AND table fellowship. There were times I really wanted to order a number 1 value meal, but shared meals are not only a bedrock of Filipino culture, but a necessity to overcoming preconceptions, social status and linguistic differences.

In each Filipino church, mealtimes were significant since the quantity and quality of the food that was prepared and offered represented a critical amount of their monthly resources. It was truly an honor to share a meal with people we had just met for the first time.

One cannot overestimate the importance of table fellowship in Filipino culture. Just as in Jesus’ time the cultural significance means:

• Mealtimes are more than an occasion for nourishment;
• Friendship, intimacy and unity are a key part to the invitation and welcoming process;
• A meal is one way to invite reconciliation and at the same time stress social values and boundaries;
• The extended family is a big part of table fellowship but for invited guests it is an integral part of acceptance into their group.

Given this perspective, the spirit of their generosity easily overwhelmed my senses despite the diversity of the local cuisine. At almost every occasion, I was kindly offered the cultural staple known as balut. It is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. According to the pateros (the person who selects and places the egg in an incubator), street vendors will sell ready-to-eat, cooked balut out of buckets with a side serving of salt. This is the same delicacy that has been featured on Fear Factor and several episodes of Survivor.

Another Filipino cuisine is Lechon or roasted pig. Literally, a whole suckling pig is cooked over charcoal and then skewered from front to back where it is served with vinegar and pepper sauce. Lechon is usually prepared and served during special occasions and holidays. Of course, Filipinos eat more than balut and lechon. Daily fresh seafood and fruits were available along with healthy servings of rice and pancit bihon (very thin rice noodles with soy or citrus sauce and mixed vegetables).

The point is I realized the cultural significance that extends beyond the invitation to shared table fellowship. Stories or joy and challenge, provision and heartbreak, dreams and current realities — were all shared around a table of food. The very fact that our team would not only accept the invitation, but partake in cultural foods that were carefully selected and prepared bridged any perceived divide between us-and-them. Through table fellowship we shared commonalities and sought to understand differences. How many ways can you connect with your “audience” – naturally, uniquely, and on a one-to-one level? What do you have in common with a parent, student, retired person, a neighbor or a person who avoids “church people” altogether?

In case you are wondering — a McDonald’s Big Mac tastes just the same and Lechon tastes just like bacon.

During our stay in Mindanao we visited three local churches in the provincial areas of Zamboanga and Pagadian. While getting there was an adventure (unpaved roads and flat tires), the excursion provided another lesson in God’s provision.

I like to think of our trip to Mindanao as a modern-day Parable of the Talents. The first two communities had planned, budgeted and built a church building according to the blueprints established and funded by the project team at a church in southern California. Each site included a single-level worship center with high ceilings, open-air windows that allowed for plenty of natural sunlight and natural air-conditioning. The spaces utilized a variety of building materials, were inviting and large enough to accommodate present and future growth. While the two church buildings basically looked identical from the outside, distinct finishing touches contributed by members within each church made them unique. One building featured natural trim work and the other utilized engraved planks to form the stage and platform area. Both churches featured a parsonage on the church property that was situated in an area that provided easy access from the roads. In one community, even an additional discipleship-training center was being built.

The third community had just finished building a church that differed greatly from the others. It featured a single-level worship area that had inadequate provisions for natural sunlight and airflow – aspects that are important when considering the seasonal changes in the Philippines. The main room relied upon four concrete cylinders that acted as weight bearing columns to support the 14-inch concrete ceiling, which was to eventually become the floor for the second-story of the structure. The columns created unusual sight lines but were necessary to support the all-concrete structure. There was no attached roof, just a flat top that would eventually be converted to house a second story. The lack of a proper drainage system built into the concrete ceiling means an excessive amount of rainwater will cause problems when the rainy season begins.  The front of the building featured a two-story, peaked-facade with a large, single window opening – it gave the appearance of a second floor that in reality did not exist. Needless to say, the design and implementation varied greatly from the agreed upon plan, budget and blueprint.

Make no mistake about it at the end of the day three communities have constructed a place for their community to worship. And, while the model for establishing church buildings in two communities proved effective and cost efficient, it was the execution of that model in the third community that was flawed. After meeting with the pastor and his leadership it was decided funding would cease for their project. The cost to rebuild would exceed what had already been spent.

From the three church visits in Mindanao, I realized God provides the financial resources that are needed and He requires us to be faithful, fruitful and replicable. In the instances where the blueprints were implemented beyond expectation it was because the people in the respective communities went to ‘work’ and not the money.

Driving in the Philippines is an adventure. And while we were accident-free, we were constantly accident-prone. I’ve concluded it’s the difference between ‘lane’ and ‘space’ driving.

At home, we are lane drivers. The rules of the road dictate that drivers observe the legal right-of-way and generally travel within a single lane in the same direction. Abroad, drivers take the idea of sharing the road to a whole new level. In the Philippines drivers are ‘space’ drivers. Meaning, where there is a perceived space – a taxi, van, bus, motorcycle, jeepney, bicycle or pedestrian – will surely follow. The rules of the road that we take for granted are merely considered driving suggestions. I have never before been a part of seven ‘lanes’ of traffic all making a simultaneous left-hand turn into two ‘open’ lanes. And, yes we did – more than once.

In a city of 12-16 million people, there are over 4 million vehicles on the road at a given time covering a 60-mile area. This wouldn’t be a problem except a local highway and road infrastructure to support 4 million vehicles does not exist in Manila, or any other part of the Philippines. The total number of vehicle accidents, while high by U.S. measure, is relatively low when compared to the number of real-life encounter, hits-and-misses that occur everyday.  Navigating ‘space driving’ involves a prolific use of the steering wheel horn as a tool of awareness instead of provocation AND the constant monitoring of one’s blind spot.

Still, the human eye has a natural blind spot in its field of vision. The human mind has something similar. Sometimes you can’t see new information because you are bound by filters and lack the context to make sense of what you are seeing in the moment. The result? One looks for the familiar and ignores information that doesn’t fit one’s preconception. We default to seeing things the same way, which can lead to bad information, which can lead to poor outcomes. This reminded me of a story I shared at the pastors and leaders conference in Rizal.

At the Johnston Ridge Observatory near Mt Saint Helens in 2005, a live Web camera captured massive volcano activity. Researchers had earlier positioned the Web camera in the perfect place to capture future volcanic activity. As they reviewed live data and the footage they encountered a problem with the Web camera. The volcanic activity footage was obstructed because of a small fly that had landed on the lens of the camera. The big-picture (volcanic activity) was lost because of a speck (a tiny fly or insect) landing on the Web camera lens.

The point is the closer I am to the ‘fly’ the more challenging it is for me to see around it. The fact is ministry – vocational or volunteer, means we’re in constant contact and in close proximity with others. If I allow the ‘flies’ in my world – preconceived notions, untested assumptions and wrong conclusions – to shape what I see, it will eventually impair my perspective and potentially lead to poor decisions.

So as a result of my travel in the Philippines do I find myself using my steering wheel horn more? Not really. But I am asking, “Is there a ‘fly’ or ‘insect’ in my world that is blocking my view?” And when there is, I pray that Christ will help me see things they way He wants me to see them.

I recently returned from several weeks in the Philippines. This was my first trip back ‘home’ since I was adopted as an 11-month old child in 1972. I was afforded many rich experiences of the people, culture and their love for God. As a result of one church (The Harbor Church in Lomita, CA), I had the opportunity to see the fruit of so much labor over the past 35+ years. Over the course of the next few weeks I will highlight some of my experiences and stories of the people I met and things I learned. The goal is to take some of what I observed and experienced and find practical, everyday application.

One of the objectives of my trip was to make the best use of a short amount of time, to meet and establish bonds with new friends with the hope of returning with a team from my church in the future. Instrumental in making part of this possible was my uncle and aunt, Tom and Stanie Runyan and Pastor Bob Pruett (The Harbor Church) and their connection with Mel Go. The connection  began decades ago when Tom and Stanie met a troubled 15 year-old who was involved in drugs. Mel accepted Christ and shared his story with many of his friends. This resulted in the formation of a Chi Alpha group that opened the door to influence and spread of the gospel in the Philippines. As a result of their ministry, many pastors have accepted the call of ministry and churches have been planted. Today, Mel works with Chi Alpha, Shekinah Christian Ministries and Asia Theological Seminary. He has proven to be a valuable resource for national and local government in balancing the political and religious tension in the Philippines.

I am grateful for this new friendship and intrigued by our discussions about fund raising within the local church and how it is connected to leadership and community development. What stands out is his heart for the pastors and leaders of the churches he has helped plant. Throughout the Philippines, is a slowly emerging middle class. It is still by every definition (social, political and economical) a country of contrasts (rich versus poor), yet so many are able to do so much with so little. Unfortunately, for many of the churches established in the provincial areas the old maxim holds true – 20-percent of the people support 80-percent of the ministry budget. In a country with little middle class, there is little to no margin of error.

There are numerous models and strategies to non-profit fund raising and whether you financially support a missionary or invest in a local project, I believe they all boil down to answering one question – “What are you trying to accomplish and how will you spend my donation?” The cool thing about getting to know new friends is their ability to offer a fresh perspective to the familiar. For all the models and strategies we discussed, I am thankful that Mel’s response was along the lines of ’speak plainly, and find creative ways to do more with less.’ I can’t wait to speak with Mel again.

I’ve posted a short video with highlights from Manila, Makita, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Del Sur, Pagadian, Rizal and Cebu on facebook.