Setbacks in Sabah!

It looked like we were all set to move forward in starting the literacy center in Sabah. After all, the place was available, the parents were pressing us to start and the kids were excited!

However, the Filipino couple who had first introduced us to this kampong had second thoughts about continuing with this project. They were concerned that the local authorities would be unhappy that help was being given to illegals.

Though they themselves had identification papers, they were hoping to apply for permanent residentship, so they did not want to jeopardize their future. We assured them that we would concentrate on helping the kampong folks to help themselve and that surely there is no law against helping people to help themselves. We assured them that we would not break any laws. However, they were firm in their decision to leave our team and we respected their decision.

A well-respected leader in the village came up to me and asked me why I had come to help to teach the kids to read and write. She said to me: I too can speak English. I finished high school in the Philippines. I can also read Arabic. Why are you coming here?

I believe that she was genuinely concerned that I was from another religion and that I might influence the kids away from their culture and religion.

So I asked her: If you have finished high school and can read English and Arabic, then why are you not helping your own people to read and write?

She replied: I am busy! I have a sari-sari store (ie, a small provision store) to run and I have no time!

I gently rebuked saying: You think that I am not busy! I am busier than you but I make time and spend money coming all this way to help your people because someone has to help them, or else they have no future!!

She got my message! Today, she is one of the best teachers that we have in the literacy center. In fact, she has requested us to help her start another center in a nearby kampong where her relatives live. She will be the lead-teacher of this new center!

When the Filipino couple that introduced us to the kampong left our team, we were without a coordinator for the project. The renovation work for the house was stopped half way. The planks leading to the house had been strengthened but the house itself was not yet renovated, so it was still unsafe for use as a literacy center.

We could not disappoint the kampong! They were all set to start but we were not yet ready!