How hard is it to be a pioneering member of the Church in a place far from your loved ones,
in a country that you are a foreigner?
In this edition of Paninindigan, join us again in South Africa.
Discover the role played by the couple Dan and Diana
for the Church's growth in the Local Congregation of Ladybrand.
Compared to the first year of the couple Dan and Diana here in the country of South Africa,
their lives are now better.
When we were in the Philippines,
we didn't expect that we will be able to go here.
I work as a tailor, and Sister Diana as a seamstress.
They cross the border to go to Maseru which is the capital of Lesotho.
This is a small country surrounded by the country of South Africa.
Well, from Ladybrand, we travel to Lesotho.
For how long do you travel?
Only 20 kilometers from our house.
They are always together in this place because they work in a single company.
Sister, it means everyday you are with Brother Danny?
Yes.
From going to work, the whole day, until we go home, we are always together.
Almost 30% of workers in Maseru whether foreigners or Basotho are in the garment industry.
Their dedication in their job bore fruit and now they are entrusted with the highest position in this factory.
I became a cutting manager. I have 40 people.
I was promoted to pattern manager and I take care of patterns. That means, my work was lighter.
I started here as a line manager. I have 110 people.
Then I was promoted to production manager where I managed a whole department.
At present, with God's mercy, I am now the factory manager.
We have 1,380 manpower.
Majority of what we make here are US-bound products.
This is a line that produces pants. They are already at the finishing stage.
The pants are now complete and is now ready for washing.
The people's work here starts in receiving the textile, cutting, tailoring, washing until finishing.
Then, these will be delivered.
Although foreigners in the country of Lesotho,
they were not only able to show that they are proud Filipinos
but most of all they showed that they are proud of their membership in the Church Of Christ.
From here in our production floor, we also have a small conference room.
This conference room is used for Bible studies. The attendees are our workers [in the factory].
How do you ask permission for the activities of the Church Of Christ from the manager?
Actually, we ask persmission from our Managing Director.
He always says that as long as the production process and the people's productivity are unaffected,
there would be no problem.
So we conduct Bible studies every lunch time.
You will see those who were invited finishing their meals for 10 minutes
because they know there would be Bible studies.
The invitations they did paved way for their joining in the Church Of Christ.
From the workers who attended, there are already 12 who were called in the Church
and they are now active members in the Local Congregation of Maseru.
She is our sister in the Church in the Maseru congregation.
She is a choir member and a line manager here at CGM.
Is it time to go home?
Yes, it is. That is why they rush in line.
At 6 in the evening, after their work, they travel back to Ladybrand right away.
They attend the committee prayer of Church officers.
Commonly, this is how they end a day's work.
The couple Dan and Diana are the pioneer members of the Church Of Christ here at Ladybrand
in the town of Mantsopa, in the province of Free State.
Before coming to Ladybrand, they were first assigned at King William's Town, still in South Africa.
Our company at King William's Town assigned us here in Lesotho.
Now in Lesotho, we did not feel safe in residing there.
So we requested that we reside at Ladybrand.
On 1996, we transfered here.
Because of our eagerness to attend the worship services,
Brother Rafols, the head deacon at King William's Town sent cassette tapes back then.
That is how we attended worship services.
In our worship services, we received audio tapes from the Central Office.
The Church Administration approved that the worship service be held at our home.
So we had worship services here attended only by our family.
One thing that we thought that might hinder us from performing our duties is crossing the border.
We reside here at Ladybrand and our livelihood is at Lesotho.
Lesotho is another country. So everyday, we cross the border.
There are times that the border's queue is too long and might affect the time of our worship service.
There are times that there is a taxi war and we could not go out.
With God's mercy, those are not our worship service days.
There was also an instance that problem happened in our worship service day but we heard of it early.
Someone gave us information that later there will be a problem in the border.
So, we will be leaving early.
God uses instruments for us not to be hindered.
My vision and Brother Dan's is that the Church will grow here.
That is what is in our hearts and that is our faith.
Brother Danny always tells me that God will not bring us here if not for a reason.
We are one of His seeds that He placed here to start [God's work of salvation].
Their faith was manifested through their intensive invitation to people.
They went through countless problems and persecutions because of their situation.
At first, we gave them Pasugo or God's Message magazines.
We tell them to read that and if they have questions, they could go to us.
After inviting Filipinos, we tried inviting Africans.
At first they are looking at the four corners of our house because our living room is our former worship venue.
They ask what kind of Church we have. It is only in our home, in our garage.
As time went by, the Church Administration sent ministers here.
Whenever ministers visit, we are the first ones who are filled with joy.
When we tell our guests of this, they are also filled with gladness.
Ministers have a huge part because our guests are not only able to directly ask questions
but also their questions are answered on the spot.
A minister does not create his own teaching. Questions and answers come from the Bible.
That is the first thing that was noticed by the African brethren.
Brother Dan is a Department Head and Sister Diana is a Factory Manager.
Although they hold high positions in their workplace,
their humility is evident especially that they now are now home in Ladybrand.
Time came that our guests told us that they also have invites.
What they need is transportation.
So what happened is that Brother Danny and I dropped off and fetch them.
The brethren could not rely on anyone else because we two are the only Church members.
I drop off and fetch the brethren moved by my faith and this is one of the duties entrusted to me by God.
So we fetch them because the means of transportation here is much more difficult compared with the Philippines.
There we have tricycles, jeepneys, and taxis.
Here, they also have taxis but large ones.
They are like subcompact cars and 14-seaters. They need to fill it first before leaving so it would take long.
At 5 in the afternoon they will not be able to catch any vehicle.
So what happens is, we use two vehicles. Brother Danny will drop off guests in one place and I in another.
We did not mind our fatigue from the day's work just to be able to serve those in need.
We fetch those from Thaba Nchu who worship here at Ladybrand.
We travel for more than an hour.
The farthest for me is a 45-minute drive to drop off and fetch the guests.
We feel happy with what we do
because we see the Africans are really interested to understand the teachings.
We always plan ahead where we will fetch before leaving the house.
Sometimes, although it is already evening, they have a worship service. They will fetch them after his work.
After the worship service, they drop them off.
Good thing the weather is nice.
Sometimes when it is winter, the weather is inclement.
His concern for his duty in the Church is huge.
There was an instance that Brother Danny was in an accident as he dropped off and fetched guests.
With God's mercy, he was not harmed. We know how God takes care of him.
After we fetch and drop off the brethren, what we are thankful to God is that we fulfilled our duty that day.
We ask Him that on our next worship service, He will do the same for us.
As we continue our interview with them, we all the more understood their fervor in propagating the faith.
Like me, I tell them, to try listening to the Church's teachings because I also came from another religion.
There would be no harm if they listen. After listening, they will decide if they want to continue or not.
But we accompanied it with devotional prayers.
We ask that they would accept our invitation.
When I was invited, when I was not yet a member of the Church Of Christ,
I saw the brethren who invited me
how they strove so that I will be with them in the worship services and in listening to Bible studies.
That is why I ask them, "Why do you do this? Why do you spend time for this?"
Now, here I am, doing the same thing. I was also asked the same questions, I have only one answer.
Join me and listen so that you would understand me and my faith.
Until others have decided to join the Church.
We want them to be saved because we did not only regard them as friends,
but as our brothers and sisters because there are only few Filipinos here.
It is not only us who will receive salvation but also their household.
Aside from that, we know that if they become members of the Church,
they will also be instruments for the number of brethren to increase.
Since 1998, or 19 years ago, they started fetching and dropping off their guests.
When I and Brother Danny talk
especially after we drop off the brethren, while we travel back and it's just the two of us,
Brother Danny wonders if we would do this forever.
Can we still do it when we are already old? He is the one who answered his question.
He said, "My vision is that the Church will grow here. We will not be like this forever."
Every year that passes, members of the Church Of Christ increase in this part of South Africa.
Those we invite also invite others.
So their guests will also invite others that is why guests increase and increase.
Because of this, we used the garage so that we will fit. We renovated it to be a place of worship.
When a minister was assigned, the work of propagation grew larger. We cannot fit anymore in the garage.
So, Brother Stephen Fajardo and I talked to find other venues.
We found a venue with a maximum of 80 seating capacity.
That is the Ladybrand Hall that we used before which is currently being used as a Bible study center.
After less than a year, we could no longer fit at the 80-seating-capacity venue.
So we sought for another spacious venue and that is the Taxi Hall.
If our invites are called [by God] and are baptized, they willingly invite others.
Sometimes we are surprised they are already at our house.
In our coverage of the three houses of worship in Lesotho and South Africa.
Everywhere we go, we meet someone
who say that the couple Dan and Diana became the instruments for them to join the Church Of Christ.
When we went to South Africa, we were surprised to meet Sister Diana.
We know them from the Philippines and upon arriving here, she invited us.
At first, you will be annoyed because although I refused, they continued inviting me.
No matter the weather, they fetch the brethren.
They visit us although we are not yet members of the Church Of Christ and they pray.
Because there is a worship service in their house,
they continued inviting me to listen to God's teachings.
They continued because of their concern that I also understand the teachings.
Besides Filipinos, we were also able to talk to many Africans.
I can say Brother Dani, he was very good to my family, fetching my children, from here to Ladybrand.
That's why even sometimes it's a shame. You feel like this person is using his own transpo, his own petrol, you know by fetching us
and don't even ask for "okay pay back, I can't fetch you this time".
But he never been tired even if I was running away but he will make me believe,
he will make me understand.
Whether even if I feel like I today, I don't want, I'm bored but he will make me feel like
how could you be bored but God is not bored with you, you know, many things God did for me
but there's no day that he has ever forget me.
It is wonderful to know that their guests back then are now Church officers in different places.
Currently, I am one of the head deacons in the Local Congregation of Qwa-qwa.
My wife is a deaconess and my children are choir members.
Almost our whole family are Church officers.
I'm thankful and I wish God to be with them and give them many, many years and give them strength.
You know, because without them maybe I wouldn't been here
That is why I am thankful to the Lord God because He used Brother Dani Marinduque and Sister Diane
as instruments for us to understand God's words.
And now, we are in the true service.
They are only some of the fruits of their efforts to share the faith.
The fast growth of the number of members in Ladybrand,
all the more gives them inspiration in their services to God despite the trials they go through.
In October 2015, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
So, when we heard this, we were sad because the doctor said I have stage four cancer.
So normally, if you are a stage 4 cancer patient, you only have months.
My wife underwent operation and while she was there,
I went to a corner and prayed, "O God, give us another chance to serve You for a long time,
if it is not against Your will." That was painful, brother.
What happened to us was really painful. My wife's life was fifty-fifty at that time.
Despite what happened to them, they viewed life positively.
I felt weak physically but not spiritually. In fact, I felt stronger [spiritually].
Although sick, while she can, she helps her husband and children in fetching and dropping off the brethren.
The brethren also saw my condition. The Bible students also see it.
They say that even though I am sick I continue performing my duty.
It is good that they wonder about that because when time comes,
they will realize that sickness must not hinder you from worshipping and performing your duty.
That is what I want to show the brethren that those things are not excuses for a servant of God.
Come sickness or although we may become weak due to old age,
we will still use the strength and life left in us to serve God.
That is the true purpose of man.
That is what we hold on to. Even though God gives us trials,
we pray that we could endure which will strengthen us so that we will not go weak.
Because there is only one thing we don't want to happen - that we will be separated from the Church.
The couple's sacrifices could not be counted for the brethren in Ladybrand.
Despite her condition that she has an illness, her prayer is still for the Church.
We pray that God give us the strength we need to carry on in our services.
We will continue inviting people. May we be instruments for the Church's growth here in Ladybrand.
That is always our prayer.
At first, when we met Brother Eduardo when he went here to see the needs of the Church,
we felt that we are in Brother Eduardo V. Manalo's heart.
We know that he never neglected us.
His love is there and we see it
because from the time of his visit, in just a short span of time, all of these things are happening.
August 6, 2017
is a historic moment for the Local Congregation of Ladybrand especially for its pioneer members,
Brother Dan and Sister Diana.
This is the dedication to the Lord God of the house of worship that they aspired for
that was personally officiated by the Executive Minister of the Church Of Christ, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.
I am really thankful that we are living witnesses. We are still alive.
We saw Brother Eduardo and God's love.
I am thankful for the goodness of God and concern of our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.
We witnessed that what was once impossible is now possible.
You have seen our place in South Africa.
We are in a secluded area and is not a big city.
This is one of what we could say as a underdeveloped town but he did not neglect us.
He gave what the brethren need in this place.
We saw how he cared for us.
We know that this is God's love.
With this, we saw that if it is God's will, no one could stop it.
My husband and I saw that this is the reason God brought us here.
We are thankful that we are living witnesses
to the victories and blessings that God bestowed upon the Local Congregation of Ladybrand.
After the dedication of the house of worship,
we can see the rapid increase in number of members.
Life goes on. Severe trials could not be seen in their faces.
They are much more inspired in their resolve to serve God.
They are a picture of a happy and confident couple who,
for a long period of time, poured out their love for the Church.
For more infomation >> The Parity Multisig Story + Calling for Parity Contract Boycott - Duration: 12:55. 
For more infomation >> [TV -Giải Trí Official] Nonstop 2017 || Muốn Phê Chơi Kẹo Lv - Nhạc Dj Hay Nhất 2018 - Vinahouse. - Duration: 1:08:11. 
For more infomation >> गुरुकुलका बालकको मन छुने स्वदेश गान | प्रज्ञान कुईंकेल | Mero himal kya mitho haseko - Duration: 4:52. 
For more infomation >> Ferramentas para pesquisar concorrentes e tendências - Duration: 2:24. 
For more infomation >> A home away from home near Death Valley - Duration: 1:39. 
For more infomation >> One dead, one injured in chase, shootout in Providence - Duration: 1:41. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét