lf there is a place that can really be described as unfortunate, it is Bantulinao, a small mountain village in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. This small community of the native Manobo Tribe has no adequate access to public health, public education and other government services. It can be reached only by foot and by motorcycles. Ninety-eight percent of the locals are illiterate. Tropical diseases are preva- lent. Many are still practicing paganism.
ASM, in partnership with the Northeastern Mindanao Mission (NeMM) of Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) and the SULADS Project of Mountain View College, launched a literacy program in Bantulinao. NeMM sent student missionaries as teachers and supplied construction materials for the school bulldlnq. SULADS trained the student missionaries to be responsive to the needs of their assigned community. ASM provided financial support to the assigned teachers for two consecutive years. The villagers provided the manpower as well as lumber for the school building.
The combined efforts resulted in the reduction of illiteracy rate and in better living conditions. Within two years,a total of 131 children (51 in 2008, 80 in 2009) knew how to read, write, sing and pray. Adults were taught livelihood alterna- tives and good environmental sanitation practices.
On February 1,2009, NeMM conducted a medical outreach in the area using funds provided by ASM. Two hundred fifty one patients were treated by the medical volunteers who had to endure a day-long walk to reach the remote village. By the end of February 2009, forty-seven souls accepted Christ astheir Divine Teacherand Healerthrough baptism.
With God's blessings, more places like Bantulinao will be reached as ASM continues to share and minister to the needy anywhere in the world.