Update by Bro. Roland Niar (May 2009)
I started working again in Pakil, Laguna the first week of December 2008 after Pastor Conrad was relieved. They have a new place now, not in the Salgado's house anymore. The place was a former videoke house called "Honey Joy" owned by a certain Ka Beng. It is small, dusty and noisy because of the vehicles passing by the highway. Besides, its near a basketball court.
On weekend, I stay in the house of members named Russel and Flor Concepcion who are very hospitable. They have four daughters - Apple, Aubrey, Ina and Faith. We now have more new members such as Nanay Lina and her sister Nanay Ruth, the Tadeja family (Danny and Cora with five children), their father Tatay Arnido, the two brothers- Tatay Eddie and Tatay Mario. I call them Nanay and Tatay because all of them are now in their senior. Tatay Eddie's wife, Nanay Elisabeth, is also a professing Christian and Lord willing be a candidate for baptism. Tatay Eddie was baptized last May, the first person I baptized. I helped Nanay Elisabeth find a job as a domestic helper but after 2 months or so, came back because of some problem with her employer. Their grandsons also are professing Christians but cant attend our services because of work loads- they are "mangangalakal" or simply people who work in junk shop. Pray for Tatay Mario's wife. She is hospitable but is still not receptive to the gospel.
Every Saturday I brought some eggs and few vegetables just to augment some of the members eating needs namely the poor Tadeja family and Nanay Ruth and Lina, most of them cried to me because they didnt have meals for 2-3 days and are suffering from ulcers. their children specially the Tadeja's are all malnutritioned according to the health center when their mother ( Ate Cora ) brought them there. Life was hard in Pakil because of its agricultural base economy, they will only have food and money after harvesting palay and vegetables. Also, the family fiber in that place was so marred by sin that most of them have two to three broyhers and sisters with different fathers. Most of the people I've talked to also don�t know how to read and write and few finished elementary schooling causing them to have poor self esteem.
We have a Bible Study for children in the place of Nanay Lina and Nanay Ruth during Saturday afternoon as well as in Russel's place. I use it as an opportunity to talk to some of their parents who are now slowly opening up. (The Mormons are active in that place as well.) Their neighborhood at the first seems very reluctant when we started children�s Bible Study but now they are accommodating. Lord willing the frowns on their parents become a smile when Christ enters in.
I have a Bible Study as well with the sellers of coconut milk name Marvic and Jielyn Montecalvo. I also visit Jojo Ejedia a professing Christian in their municipal jail. He was in prison when police found marijuana on his pocket. They are asking 20,000 for bail. This person promised me that when he gets out of there he will dedicate his life to the Lord, accompany me in soulwinning and visitation and start a work in the other side of Pakil named Kabulusan. (Would to God this would happen soon).
Pakil has an upper class but hard to reach. Most of the people who got saved are the lower class who live in poor conditions. The Salgado's are cold. They just attend when they want to. I really don�t know what happened when I left there. Recently another of their kuya, Willy Salgado, transferred his residence there. Lord willing he will be the catalyst for his other brothers to come back and be faithful again.
Most of the people in Pakil are busy working for a living just like here in Manila. I always explained to them that they need to set aside Sunday for God and His word.
In the process of visitation are many contacts but most of the time, there are many harvests but few laborers. Pray for the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.
History of the Mission Church
The mission work in Pakil, Laguna was formed in response to Bro. Nards Salgado’s request for his family in Pakil to be ministered with the Word of God on a weekly basis. In 2002, Bro. Jess Letargo and Bro. Boyet Francisco were assigned to the area to conduct a Bible study in the house of the Salgados. After several months, another home was opened – the Eduvije family. Eventually, these families with some of their neighbors were brought to CBC, Quezon City to attend the worship services.
After a year, the work was turned over to Bro. Eric Matig-a. He went every Saturday and continued to proclaim the gospel, even when the people showed lack of interest and only a few were willing to be ministered with the Word of God. But God cannot deny the prayers and tears of His ministers. More homes had welcomed Bible studies. Besides, the Salgado family offered their home for Sunday services. Thank God for this family! Then, Pastor Jed directed Pstr. Eric and his wife, Sis. Marlyn to start the Sunday service in Pakil. On February 20, 2005, they began Sunday worship services with eight adults and 12 children.
At the present, the mission outreach has 13 baptized members, 10 non-baptized attendees, and 23 children attending. There are also 11 home Bible studies. As Bro. Eric looks back to the start, God gave him the message of Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
“Renting a place has a lot of inconveniences and limitations in doing the work of mission. Please pray for us that we would be able to purchase a church lot to build our own place of worship for God’s greater glory and honor! Be faithful even in times of discouragement and you will reap the fruits in God’s time (Ptr. Eric Matig-a).”