Look and Live

Before our meeting with Pastor Jed last September, when my wife and I were to present to him the not-so-encouraging financial status of CAM, we went through the process of thinking how we could sustain the project given the remaining resources and our limitations. We knew back then that Pastor would not be so happy with the numbers that we would show him and that he would ask us how we intend to continue.

We often hear Pastor Jed teach the idea of bi-vocational ministry in the pulpit – of doing the work of the ministry while at the same time pursuing a secular job. Though I am not a fulltime worker of the church, I know I must apply this for me to be able to continue the CAM Agri project (which we are convinced the Lord has called us to oversee, at least for now) and at the same time earn a living. After much thought and prayers, we then decided that we must align our business with that of CAM to lessen its operational costs. As CAM then has already been caring for three goats (under a 50-50 arrangement with the owner) and owned three goats (donation to CAM), we decided to pursue our long-time plan of starting a goat farm.

“’Cob, pag ipinadala ka na sa kung saan, tingnan mo ang ikinabubuhay ng mga tao. Magagamit mo ito para makilala sila, makapagsimula ng pakikipag-usap sa kanila, at magkaroon ng ideya kung paano ka din mabubuhay sa lugar na iyon.” This I told Jacob in one of our light conversations while were were in Tanay loading a sack of uling (charcoal). To cover the costs of our regular visits and shoulder a portion of the operational costs of CAM’s farm in Laiban and at the same time earn a living (while the goat farm is still at its infant stage and unable to generate income yet), we have been selling uling, camote, and buko. As these are the products of Tanay, we decided to sell these so that we don’t come down to Manila empty-handed. The Lord has been good in providing us access not only to the much-needed revolving capital but also to outside (of CBC) buyers.

I’ve been asking Jacob to accompany me to Laiban and Sto Niño, Tanay. This I do, not only to augment the labor requirements of the farm but also to expose him to the reality of and train him for the ministry. “Dapat matuto kang mag-adapt sa lugar na paglalagyan sa iyo para hindi ka lamang aasa sa sustento ng iglesia. Sa ganitong paraan, matututo ka ding makibagay sa mga tao na siyang pinagmiministeryuhan mo. Hindi ka pupunta dito na naka-barong o naka-amerikana o ipagwawagwagan ang iyong MA o PhD o di kaya naninilaw sa mga alahas na nakasabit sa leeg. We can reach them only if we touch their lives through caring – not empty babblings using the Word of God. Nakita mo na nga na naghihikahos, ‘di mo man lang maabutan kahit ano pagkatapos mong kausapin.” Jacob just nods in agreement. I can only pray and hope that somehow I’m able to positively influence this young man.

To date, the CAM owns 11 goats – the three donated by the brother mentioned earlier, two does bought last September and a newborn kid, three recently bought does and a buck, and the last one is again a newborn kid of the doe that CAM is taking care of under a 50-50 arrangement with the Christian owner.

And so as we physically toil the ground of Laiban, learn from our past mistakes and embark on new activities, the Lord continuously toils the ground of our souls with these lessons in the ministry. Lord willing, as the goats come to age, the banana trees bear their fruits, and the palay be ready for harvest, we too have grown in spiritual maturity. Amen!