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We saw over and over how God had prepared beforehand the hearts of the 1775 people who would pray to receive Him. One was an old lady who was overwhelmed that God would love her. Another was a construction manager who was building a three-storey complex with antiquated equipment. As my national partner and I began sharing my testimony, he stopped me and said that that very morning he had asking God that if He were real, He would help him with this huge job. He leapt up and pulled all his workers off the scaffolding and had them listen. All but one prayed to receive Jesus.
As we returned triumphantly to the church, pastor Carl Magtibay told us we had been invited to City Hall by Carlito Lazero, second to the mayor. My heart was pounding as we were ushered into a huge room with many desks and old-fashioned typewriters. Lazero asked everyone to put down their pens and form a semi-circle. Never have I shared Jesus before so many officials. Don Watt from County Line Fellowship shared, and more Bibles were handed out. Lazero asked for continued prayer, as he supervises over 2000 employees and has just had open heart surgery.
The second week of our campaign, I found myself with two other CPE workers flying with the Flying Medical Samaritans in a small, violently shaking, six-seater Cessna plane. We were flying to one of 7000 Filipino islands not cared for by the government. The FMS, with physicians Joel Ruiz and John Escote, serve these rugged islands by air and boat. They have also established five small Christian fellowships on these remote islands, and it was to one of these that we were headed.
A small clearing had been made in the jungle, and we landed with great precision. We were then guided to a footpath which led to the beach. After we crossed the choppy waves on a 40-foot outrigger boat, several young boys swam out to taxi us onto the Island of Patnanungan using a hollowed-out tree trunk. We found ourselves standing on a sandy paradise--no electricity, no shopping malls, no telephones, no police, only palm trees and 1000 people perched precariously along the shoreline. These islanders seemed healthier than the people in Manila, with shiny hair and many white teeth.
The adults seemed suspicious of these three white faces, and we eagerly accepted the hospitality of the pastor and his wife. We were returned to the sea to freshen up, and, as we swam, a fire was made on the beach and fish cooked for our supper. Our diet came from the sea, was passed over the heat and was presented in its entirety (eyes, tentacles, etc.).
God moved in a powerful way. Here, too, He had prepared hearts, and as we began going door to door, we saw lives changed. My partner and interpreter was Willie, the bubbly, effervescent pastor. At our first hut, we met a man and his family. As we began to share, a tough-looking, tattooed youth in a makeshift wheelchair, a long ponytail and a muscle shirt invaded us with his friends. I did not speak Degarlo but understood enough to know they were making fun of us. Pastor Willie's face fell.
I looked into this tough man's hardened eyes and told him, "I came all the way from Canada to tell you that God loves you." Pastor Willie began translating, and I followed the CPE questions. "Do you believe we have all sinned?"
That set them all laughing and jeering again.
"Do you know what to do with your sins?" Pastor Willie turned to I John 1:9, and the tough guy began to melt. Tears came to his eyes. We went to Revelation 3:20 and told him God was knocking at the door of his heart. He hung his head and, to my surprise, began to sob.
Crowds now were pressing in to hear, but there was a hush as the Holy Spirit worked. My new friend was the first of over 100 on the island to receive Jesus, and he was the first in church that Sunday. He wheeled himself up to the front and shared how God had given him a smile on the inside.
Among the new converts were visitors from the neighbouring islands of Katakian and Jomalig, and new works have begun there. Pastor Willie keeps us informed of the follow-up, and reports that many are going on with the Lord, diligently completing their lessons, with still more being added to their numbers.
Wendy G. Petty
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