As we walk further and as it gets more difficult,
I wonder how Brother Lando manages to pass here.
The reason why I am able to continue in life
and in my services to God
and in all things is because of my faith in the Lord God.
I know that He won't forsake me,
whatever the trials I experience
and whatever will come.
I can overcome this through the help of the Lord God.
Here in Sitio Mayagay of Barangay Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal,
we first heard the name of Brother Lando Niemes.
Bro. Rolando Lagos [Resident Minister, Mayagay Local]: Brother Lando was baptized in 2008.
He used to attend worship services here in Mayagay
back when there was no house of worship yet in Barangay Tinucan.
He lives on top of the mountain of Barangay Tinucan, Tanay.
Aside from planting, he also takes care of six cows.
He's very active in attending worship services
and in propagating the words of God despite his condition.
We prepared for our journey towards the house of Brother Lando.
We need to transfer to a higher vehicle because of the terrain we would pass through.
This vehicle is also what the ministers assigned there use
whenever they would officiate the woship service and for the Bible study.
18 kilometers from the house of worship of Mayagay,
we reached the first river that we would cross.
Good thing that at the time, the water was shallow so we were able to cross easily.
So Brother Ramon, Brother Lando used to walk this?
Yes
they would leave their house before dawn at 1:00 in the morning.
If there was no vehicle to ride on, they would walk to the house of worship.
What time do they reach the house of worship?
7:00 in the morning.
What time is the worship service?
7:45 in the morning
Just in time.
Yes.
After a few minutes, we once again crossed another river.
And not long afterwards, we reached the place of worship here in Barangay Tinucan
that was only established last month of May of the present year.
Ever since Brother Lando was baptized,
he became a good example
here in Barangay Tinucan especially in serving God.
Aside from his relatives,
he was able to invite the native Dumagat
who became his friends.
This is where we would leave our vehicle because the way to Brother Lando's house is no longer accessible;
this is where we would begin to walk until we reach the top of that mountain.
The road is slippery and difficult to tread on especially when it rains like this.
As we walk further and as it gets more difficult,
I wonder how Brother Lando manages to pass here.
After an hour,
we were catching our breath,
it's very difficult,
especially when it's steep that our knees almost reaches our chest.
We could barely smile because of exhaustion.
Limatiks (Blood Leeches) are also a hindrance along our way.
This is a type of leech in the forest.
Even I wasn't spared from them.
I also have a Limatik on me.
How do I remove this?
Would I just pull it off?
Yes, just pull it off, quickly.
Its head might get left behind.
No, no. Quickly, pull it quickly.
In one of their houses here in the middle of the mountain, we met his wife who is a deaconess.
How are you?
I'm doing fine.
This is where they usually stay with their daughter who is still studying
so it wouldn't be too difficult to walk going to school.
From time to time,
I wonder how he manages to go up and down this mountain.
After two hours of walking,
at last, we reached our destination
the house of Brother Lando.
Are you Brother Lando?
Brother, be careful, slowly.
Could you come down?
I'm Brother Erwin from INCTV, Brother Erwin Galapon.
We're glad to meet you brother.
Good thing you were able to come,
the road here is difficult.
Are you totally blind, as in you couldn't see anything?
Nothing.
Could you make out something?
Nothing, only darkness.
Only darkness.
When I was young, I was able to see light.
What made me blind?
Yes.
They say it was measles.
From since you were young right?
Do you recognize him?
I think he couldn't recognize my voice.
Do you recognize him?
Brother Wilson?
Brother Wilson Pasay,
was one of the ministers who taught him the doctrines of the Church back in 2007.
This is where we personally heard the life story and resolve of Brother Lando.
Even before he met a minister,
he was always able to listen to the teachings of God
upheld by the Church Of Christ
through the radio.
Brother Bularan,
they were the ones who would preach along with Brother Guevarra.
It says there that only the Church Of Christ would be saved,
those outside wouldn't, only those inside.
My wife said, "What are you listening to?"
I said, "That's the station of the Church Of Christ, DZEM."
He shared what he heard to his loved ones.
I would say to my wife, read John 10:9,
I said read Romans 16:16,
she would read and it was there,
it's written there.
This is the truth.
I would say it to my brothers-in-law and to the husband of my sister-in-law
and my siblings.
That's what I was explaining to them, about the nature of Christ and the nature of God.
Like in I Timothy 2:5,
I would make them read it,
isn't it written there that there is one God
and one mediator to God,
the man Christ Jesus, man, right?
John 8:40, I would make him read
and then about the nature of God
in John 4:23,
like that.
Because they don't know the verses, i'd be the one to give them.
Then we would pray, we ask God to guide us.
Secondly, we hope that it reaches the Church Administration
that we desire to become members of the Church Of Christ for us to attain salvation.
But their problem was how they would join the Church Of Christ.
Where would we go to join,
there was no Church of Christ here,
that's it, there's none here.
What would we do?
I said,
if that's what we desire, if that's what you want,
isn't it that God is almighty I said
He would give us the way,
the Church Of Christ might be able to reach this place.
It is God who knows about it I said.
Along with his brother-in-law, they searched for a house of worship of the Church Of Christ.
I asked my brother-in –law, I said, "Let's go to Sampaloc,
lets' search for the house of worship of the Church Of Christ."
So then we went to Sampaloc.
When we got there, , I asked my relatives about where the house of worship is.
My cousin said, there's one.
We rode a tricycle and we said, bring us to the house of worship of the Church Of Christ.
He said, "Which one?"
I said, "Whichever house of worship."
We were brought to the highway,
as we got off, the tricycle stopped. My brother-in-law said,
"This might be it, there are many people,
and it's a big house of worship."
So we got off, there's a resident minister there,
he talked with us, he asked where were we from.
We're from Tinucan.
Where's that? It's far.
What do you need?
We said, we wanted to have missionary works there because there are many people who could be invited.
From then on, he was formally taught by the ministers about the words of God upheld by the Church Of Christ.
He was also able to attend the evangelical mission held in Barangay Cayabu.
After the preaching,
we held an open forum
and he was one of those who asked.
That was when we first met Brother Lando.
He continued joining the Church Of Christ
and also his loved ones
except his in-laws.
They didn't allow their house in Tinucan to be used as a venue for the work of propagation.
My parents said, I really don't like the Church Of Christ.
They said that I was a pest. I asked why?
They said, because you brought my daughter there.
I said, I said, I didn't force her to,
they have their own decisions.
Even if I force them but if they refuse, they wouldn't follow.
It's their desire.
Even if my in-laws treat me that way,
I didn't change on how I treat them, I still love them.
they said, it's like they're glad, that I didn't harbor any hatred.
I'm not offended even if what they said are hurtful.
I said, of course I wouldn't do that.
You're my parents.
After eight years, in 2015,
his in-laws were enlightened.
When the time arrived that we became members of the Church Of Christ,
I prayed to the Father, please forgive me of what I said,
because we spoke of persecution to our children.
Now we are at peace with You Father in our services to You.
Our resolve, Father, is that we will never leave our membership in the Church.
I'm no longer angry with them because I'm also a member already.
I understand their decisions, what they did.
The house of their in-laws in Barangay Tinucan
which they refused to be used back then for the study of the words of God
is the same house which they now use
as a temporary place of worship
and the venue for other works of the Church in this place.
Who would think that a blind person like him
was the one who led his fellowmen who could see?
I came to know or I understood the truth.
That for many people,
their eyes are wide open but their minds are blind.
Their understanding is blind.
All of them have clear eyesight but they walk in total darkness.
Though I may be blind
but I clearly see the truth.
I understood that man needs to serve the Lord.
I saw the kindness of God.
Despite my condition,
He was merciful to me.
The next thing I would like to witness
is how he goes up and down the mountain
to go to the place of worship and to go to work.
He has no cane.
He said that he's used to walking barefoot for him to feel the way.
He's fast, right?
He also doesn't need to be supported if he knows the way.
It's normal for him to get thorned,
wounded, stumble and fall.
There I face wild boars,
I'm bit by wasps
and ants bite me.
He admits that there are times when he got lost.
But through God's mercy,
I'm able to reach my destination.
Though it may be hard but I endure it.
What's the name of your cow?
Nova
Why Nova?
Because it was born in November
He alone sheperds the cows
How many cows do you shepherd?
only one
and cares for his crops.
Through rivers
and paths close to the cliffs is where he needs a companion.
He's not a burden
because he's able to cook rice.
He could pound,
he could fetch water,
gather firewood, sometimes
and shepherd [the cow].
He always leads us members of the Church here to attend the worship services.
Though the place of worship may be far.
He takes care of us
because he's very kind that is why we really love him.
And he never neglects us; he encourages all our relatives so that all of us would be saved.
Brother Lando knows from whom comes his strength
to continue in life and face problems.
The Father, God only and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is only Him Whom I trust because there's no one else whom I can count on.
He alone helps me
and I hope that He is my only refuge.
In this condition, there's nobody... and if I will trust a person,
there's no one who can.
Because humans have limitations,
everything has its limits.
And someone like me couldn't do anything in my condition.
If those who are strong or powerful fail,
the more so would I.
The reason why I am able to continue in life,
in serving God and whatever this is because of my faith in the Lord God
and I believe that He will not neglect me
whatever this trial that I'm experiencing
and also those that would come.
I know that I can overcome this through the help of our Lord God.
His advice to those like him with a disability.
They should be positive
and they must search for the true way of serving God
because if they would become members of the Church Of Christ someday,
they will not be blind or crippled anymore
because someday God will remedy all the imperfections.
So now, they should serve
and continue to fulfill the will of the Lord God.
We also asked how a blind person like him would picture the world.
The world is beautiful
especially for normal people.
The world is beautiful but its ways are evil.
Evil because all kinds of evil is here in this world.
It's rare news to know about someone doing good.
About the beauty of the world,
it is beautiful but people are destroying it.
Which is why man really needs to have a relationship with God and the true service of Him.
My resolve is that true service [to God] must not disobey His commands.
It is said, he who fulfills all the commands but is offended in one is guilty of breaking them all.
So one must be steadfast in serving the Lord God.
He will not disobey His commands, his life must be clean.
We also asked how he would describe the Church Of Christ today.
The Church Of Christ now is more glorious through the help of the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ
because He truly fulfilled His promise to His Messenger in these last days.
The Church Of Christ, in my point of view,
has come far and it's truly glorious and I heard that it has already achieved many victories.
That's why we should be proud if we are members of the Church Of Christ.
Though they are far from modernity but they are reached by love and care of the Church Administration
placed by the Lord God in the Church.
First of all, for our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo,
we are thankful to him
for his untiring efforts in guiding the Church to be brought to the perfection of our services to God.
We promise that we will continue to obey and be united with all the activities he launches.
On our way home, we are able to say that our hardships were worth it
and we would bring home a great inspiration
because we are able to once again prove through the story of Brother Lando
that there is no heavy trial or great hindrance
if you possess a strong resolve.
He, whose eyes are blind,
is the one guiding his fellowmen with eyesight
for their minds to be able to see the truth
and receive the promised salvation.
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