From: marcelo miguel <marcelomiguel2000@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 20:43:27 -0700 (PDT)

Dear Brethren,
Christian greetings!Hoping that you're all fine. this is my first time to write in your congregation. My name is Marcelo Miguel a gospel preacher in Balakayo Church of Christ and Areston church of Christ Malungon sarangani province,most of the members of this two conregation that I handle are B'laan natives and Caolo natives and most of the members are poor they are only defending their income into farm,But because of the worst situation in our place because of the continues figthing of the Military government againts Moro Rebels, the people cannot go back in their farm in the mountain because they are afraid of the threat of the Rebels. In this situation we need your prayer and financial helps.

This is my schedule:

Balakayo church of Christ 9:00 to 11:00
Areston Church of Christ 1:30 t 3:00
May God bless you all....for more information Refer
my name to Bro.Jim Mc donald.jim_mc@juno.com

Your brother in Christ,
Marcelo Miguel
C/O P.O.Box number 45767
9500 General santos city
Philippines

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[Editor's note: Response by Glenn Hamilton to an inquiry about the above message.]

Well, I don't know the man (but no surprise since Sarangani is about 800 miles from here). Sarangani is a small island south of Mindanao. As far as I know, I have never heard of reports of fighting on Sarangani. Most fighting is in the provinces around General Santos (which is where this man keeps his PO Box, or actually he is just using the Box of someone else since he has c/o before the box number. So he is sighting something happening "near" where he is, but not "where" he is. The muslims are not hunting down farmers (although some farmers do get killed). Sarangani is not an important area for either the rebels or the gov't.