On February 4, 2020, I sent an appeal for help to build a small house for Bro. Rolando Veles. Rolando had accepted Jesus through baptism on November 27, 2019 at Matabas Island, Philippines. We raised a small amount and so Pastor Aljohn Tanjusay, adopted minister, bought the materials for the house project. But then, the Covid virus started to spread in the Philippines and the whole country was put on a lockdown; the house project was put on hold.
Brother Rolando is an elderly with no job. Every day, he looks for seashells that he sells for P30, equivalent to 60 US cents. There is NO electricity or running water in this island so people there depend on rainwater and sea water only. Pastor Aljohn and the brethren gave Bro. Rolando drinking water and rice. A neighbor gave him rainwater.
I said GAVE because – last Friday, April 4, I received BAD NEWS. Bro. Rolando had a heart attack and died. Bro. Rolando’s body needed to be buried right away. Some of the plywood that was purchased for his house were used to make his coffin. The coffin was taken by boat (an hour’s travel) to the mainland’s cemetery. Around a dozen family and friends attended the burial.
The Covid virus has not reached Matabas Island yet, and praying that it will not. About the Philippines: The Philippines is made 
up of 7,641 islands, but only around 2,000 of the islands are inhabited. If you put the Philippine islands together, it is the size of ARIZONA. The population of the Philippines is around 100 millionMatabas Island is a very tiny dot of an island near the mainland of Negros Occidental. This island is so small, I was able to find it (accidentally) through Google Maps. Its size is equivalent to 4 city blocks only. Yet, 154 households (around 800 people, including children) live on this island. There is NO running water and NO electricity there. The people depend on RAINWATER and SEA WATER only. People are able to buy drinking water that comes from the mainland.
The Philippines gets hit by around 20 typhoons each year. Matabas Island was totally devastated by 
Typhoon Yolanda in 2013
I think about the many people all over the world who need to know Jesus and accept Him as their Savior. And in this tiny island and other small islands in the Philippines, there are many wanting to know Him. We have a newly built SDA Church in Maratas with 40 members. Bro. Rolando never missed church services. He was so happy to have found Jesus. To God be the glory!
Thank you to all the sponsors of Adopt a Minister International for your continued 
support through the years. And thanks to the hundreds of adopted ministers and workers for your faithful work for Jesus. Looking forward to His soon return to take us home to live with Him in heaven.
Thank God for the BLESSED HOPE. Bro. Rolando Veles who now rests in Jesus will soon wake up and behold our Savior’s face on Resurrection Morning.
Since we now have the building materials, we are going to build Sis. Flora and granddaughter a house instead. Three of Flora’s granddaughters were baptized last November 2019, too, and Flora will be baptized very soon. If you wish to send help to build Sis. Flora her house, please do. Thanks so much and God bless, ~Reva Moore
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Adopt a Minister International website: https://www.a-a-m.org |
Pastor Aljohn Tanjusay, adopted minister, has been working in the Matabas Island since June 2018. He was assigned in other small islands before this date. Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come |
