Tag Archives: Chris and Cathee Mapes

Vineyard Movement, World Missions

Philippines 2014: Video

I-61 Ministries just released a cool video highlighting the work of some good friends of mine, Chris and Cathee Mapes, who are working with the tribal people of Kalinga Province, Philippines. The Mapes are not only helping strengthen the local church, they are also teaching people to become “self-sustaining by lowering the farming costs via organic fertilizers, livestock raising, and creating a community co-op as well as conduct health, sanitation and nutrition teachings.”

Check out their FB page and website.

 

http://vimeo.com/114175950

Vineyard Movement, World Missions

Pakak Project: Organic Farming

Chris and Cathee Mapes, Vineyards missionaries in Pakak, Philippines, recently started an awesome organic farming project teaching farmers how to make and use “homemade natural fertilizers and pesticides.” This will save the farmers TONS of money that is usually spend on chemical fertilizers and pesticides – items that are normally bought on credit with a 10% monthly interest.

As one farmer said:

“…on a good harvest, which is May or June harvest, i get around 43 cavans, i set aside some for our consumption, and i sell the rest….sometimes i get paid 15,000 pesos…i use 10,000 to pay off the fertilizers, pesticides, etc that i get on credit with interest…2000 to 3,000 i use to pay for the hand tractor, fare, milling and other things….i barely have enough left to get basic necessities for my family….at least this time i don’t owe anyone fertilizers or pesticides.”

While this sounds good, the use of homemade natural fertilizers and pesticides is something really, really new in this area. This means that not everyone in the village is ready to make the switch as they are concerned with how good the organic products will work… as in are the fields going to be protected against rats, birds, insects and other such things…

Of course, there are additional measures that the farmers can take to protect their crops. For example, some farmers have found that using greenhouse plastic and other forms of heat shrink plastic can significantly inhibit insect propagation. There are other benefits of using poly film plastics in greenhouses too and therefore it is well worth researching these alternative options.

Accordingly, Chris and Cathee are asking for folks to pray for a good crop yield for these farmers and their fields. If things go good, then more farmers will be willing to make the switch, saving them necessary funds for their family.

Read more about Chris and Cathee’s ministry on their website, “Mapes Mission.”

World Missions

Ministry Highlight: Loving people in Tribal Mountains of the Philippines

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The Mapes

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Cebu, Philippines, where I was able to visit with some old friends, Chris and Cathee Mapes.

Cathee was our Filipina host and guide in 2004 when Emily and I joined with a team of midwifes and medical doctors to love the people in the remote mountain tribal villages of Northern Luzon, Philippines. We met Chris a year later when he came to Boise as a student at the Vineyard College of Mission out of the Vineyard Boise. After graduating from the Mission Medics program, Chris moved to the Philippines where he met, and later, married Cathee.

Together they have been involved in many different types of ministry within the tribal mountain or resettlement villages in Northern Luzon. The first major focus was medical outreaches sponsoring medication for children and adults with tuberculosis.

They also ran a boarding house for college students from the tribes – allowing them to disciple them and guide them deeper into a loving relationship with Jesus. Today, while they no longer have run a boarding house, they continue to focus on discipleship and strengthen the body of Jesus through a bi-lingual video bible school in the villages.

“Through this Bible School, we have had testimonies of healings, of boldness in witnessing, and many powerful class teachings and discussions. These classes go out and evangelize other villages in their own tribal dialect. Our last outreach, we saw 11 salvations from older people who understood the gospel in their own language for the first time. After that we learned that one of the old ladies died about a week later. Praise God for his perfect timing. Facilitating this Video Bible school is one of the few times I have had complete assurance that I am where God wants me to be.” -Chris

Recently Chris posted a phenomenon letter on their blog with more information about their “heart, vision and needs” as they love people in tribal mountains of the Philippines. While they have been doing a great work over the last seven years of their married life times are getting tough as the world’s financial situation has greatly reduced their missionary support….

I pray that you all will wander over to their blog and see what God is going in their lives.