Our God hears our prayers

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." -- James 5:15a

During my trip to the Philippines a couple months ago, we got to know one particular woman. Her children are in the Obadiah Learning and Development Academy, and the family was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ through the school. 

In the hospital

Up until the time of my visit, this dear woman had been sick for a long time. In fact, before my trip, Bro. Joel told me of this woman who was so sick she couldn't sit through the service without collapsing. Her husband earns his living as a motorcab driver (a motorcab is a motorbike with a side saddle). The family was left with very little money for the needful medicine and treatments.

The children were often missing school to take care of their mother, and most expected the worst. She tried many different medical treatments, including visiting "kwak"doctors who were unable to do anything for her. My first full day in Punta, we met with the Obadiah parents, and they asked me to pray over this woman. Then, later during my stay, they told us she had been admitted to the hospital. 

So one Sunday after the service and some baptisms, her husband took me and some others to the hospital to visit this dear woman. How do you offer encouragement to a perpetually sick woman who understands maybe one-fourth of the words you say? I didn't do it very well, I don't think. But one verse that came to mind was the passage referenced at the top of the page. I let this new believer know that God promises to heal the sick if they pray. 

Jesus tells us that we will see amazing things if our faith is the size of a mustard seed. Well, that's being generous to describe my faith that day. In fact, I prayed for her with very little faith. I can be guilty of very weak faith at times. But after we prayed and we talked, she told Bro. Joel (who translated for me) that "now I know I must trust Jesus to heal me." (Quotes are as well as I can remember after two months.)

How is the family now? Well, after prayers of many believers (most of whom have greater faith than I do), we get this report from Bro. Joel.

"If she was so sickly before," Bro. Joel said, "it is the opposite now, to God be the glory! Now she drives motorbike to fetch her relatives to church, Amen!"

In fact, the family is reaching another family, bringing the family to the church and to the in-home Bible study. 

"Pastor Mario and the whole church were amazed last Sunday for her," Bro. Joel said.

God's people praise Him because He restored the health of this dear woman. Notice what else Bro. Joel told us.

"Her testimony, if not of Obadiah, she will not know Christ and believe on Him and got healed from her illness," he said.

Her children attend the school because of a third-party sponsor. This is why we tell you these stories. For between $15 and $50 a month (depending on government department of education fees), you can sponsor a child in the school. Imagine that. You may never get to go to the Philippines, but you could be a part of reaching an entire family with the good news of Jesus Christ.

When you join with an indigenous mission work, do you realize you are partakers in their fruit? Just look at this family. A poor family with minimal income, a sick mother, and multiple children. Now, they have Christ, the mother is driving a motorbike under her own strength, and not only are they converted, but they are reaching other families. 

What on earth can compare to being a part of impacting the eternity of people? Please pray for this ministry, and pray about joining in with the work. 

And let's rejoice at the work that God is doing through these dear, wonderful people. 

Praising our Provider

This week, the news has been dominated by an evil man's empire crumbling, the kingdom of a man who was willing to sacrifice children to protect his own reputation.

But we are rejoicing today because of the generous gift of a man with no reputation who invested in Christ's kingdom.

We expected a donation of $500 would go to the construction of the Obadiah Learning and Development building at Punta. The would leave us $1,500 short of the goal of completing the building. However, after Tuesday night, we are pleased to report that the entire goal has been reached. As we say in Visaya, "Dalaygon ang Diyos."

Now, we're not at liberty to discuss (nor do we know) how much was given by whom. But we are told with solid testimony that a very generous donation was given by a man who is far from wealthy. He simply wanted to invest in Christ's kingdom.

We are so thankful. Salamat for all the prayers, and for all the gifts. Now, please pray for Obadiah, that God would continue to use this ministry to reach the lost in and around Punta, Dipolog City. These children have no hope of escaping the poverty into which they are born without this ministry school. But the children have hope, and not just in this life. Baptisms are "almost daily" as a result of this outreach.

Obadiah's leaders are also praying for additional sponsors. The amount each child needs varies from month to month. Some months, it is only about $15 per child, because the needs are fare to school and daily snacks. Other months, government fees are due, so the cost is $50 per month those months.

Please pray for more sponsors for these children. Also, pray about being a sponsor yourself. Perhaps God will use you to reach a child, a family, a nation with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Construction continues

We wanted to give you an update on the Obadiah Learning and Development mission school that is being built. We are grateful that through Love in Action Ministries we were able to send $1,000 toward the needed $3,000. There is still a need of $2,000 to complete the construction of the school.

Pastors from other churches help in construction
to keep costs down.

Currently, Obadiah meets in the multipurpose building at Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Punta, Dipolog City. Several months back, a neighbor donated a plot of land for five years of minimal rent for the school to have its own place. Construction began soon after, and we have seen the progress.

The school is an outreach ministry, reaching poor families who cannot afford to send their children to private schools. The public schools on the plains are too crowded, and the poor children often fall through the educational cracks.

A view from the back of the building

The families to whom the school ministers are often very generous with what they do have. Bro. Joel tells us of one family that offered to donate a palm tree to the construction of the building. This family is poor, and the mother fights sickness often. The father is a motorcab driver, so his earning income is small in comparison to the family's need. But Bro. Joel tells us of great spiritual growth in this family.

God has provided in many ways for the building construction. Contractors and inspectors have waived their fees, for example, and God continues to work through us to bring the funds to complete the building. Fortunately, other pastors in the area have been willing to help build the school house. You will notice a few men in the photos. They are pastors in other areas who have been willing to help build the building so the school does not have to hire workers.

Pastor Ronilo "Carpenter Bee" Buyog works on the building.

The working conditions are rarely ideal. In fact, since the construction began, tropical depressions have rolled through the area constantly. There is urgency to complete the task because the wood and cement are exposed to the elements. Work days go on through hot or high water, literally.

Weathering the storm

Bro. Joel told us of one particular day when it was
"so hot from 8 a.m. to noon, and it rains from 1:30 to 6:30. Yet we still work."

Let's do our part, too. This is not just an educational opportunity. This is an investment in eternity. Let's join together and invest in the gospel outreach to the poor on Mindanao. Let us seek God's blessing, in this life and the next, for these dear children.


If God lays it on your heart to help with these needs, please contact Love in Action Ministries. You may contact them through the website, by mail to Love in Action International Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 85 Dothan, AL 36302 or by calling 334-494-4995.

Praise report

We want to pass along another praise report. Yesterday we told you about a teacher in Ozamis who was suffering from typhoid fever. We got an update from Pastor Manuel Obut, who told us he visited her in the hospital after the day's classes ended.

In part, here is what he told us, "She's doing fine, no more rashes, fever, and typhoid virus. God used the injectable medicines for her fast recovery." Pastor Manuel told us the teacher could have been released today, but they are keeping her for another day or so to try to get her blood pressure back to a healthy level. So, we praise God for our sister's response to the medicine, but we continue to pray for her full recovery.

Let us thank our God for His answers to our prayers.

Various updates

Aloha to all.

It has been a while since we updated this blog site. It will be a bit harder for us to update for a while. Internet access is less than it was before, so it will be harder to give the updates than it has been.

But we have a few things to let you know about.

First, we are $2,000 from our goal of completing the school at Obadiah Learning and Development. Our friends there are continuing to work on completing the building. The line of tropical depressions has not made it easy, but our friends keep on working. Please pray for us to be able to reach that goal. We just heard from our friend there in Punta. He said, "Thank God for the gift. Sorry for not online. Pastors Clemente, Buyog and I busy roofing the building. We continue praying. God bless more Igsoon." Amen!

Second, we are still without an update on the pastor's wife who needs a transfusion. This dear woman has had a blood issue her whole life, we believe. In December, she was attacked by Muslims while sharing the Gospel. Mercifully, God spared her life then, and we are trusting for His provision again. This bleeding issue does not appear to be related to the December attack.
UPDATE: Since we published this item, we received word that this woman is now out of the hospital. Another pastor lent some money for the transfusion, so she was able to leave the hospital and is doing well.

Third, a teacher in Ozamis has been struck with typhoid fever. Last report we have on her is she is in the hospital. Initial reports said she also needed a transfusion, but that diagnosis was changed. Our friends and family there in the Philippines are subject to plenty of health hazards. Let us remember to pray for their health as they go about the business of reaching the lost. This lady teaches at the school of Pastor Manuel Obut. We told you of his needs here. We would ask you to continue praying for the needs of those schools and their church.

Fourth and finally, my hostess during my trip fell at her home on Sunday and hurt her arm. You may recall the photo of us walking on a long, single-plank bridge over stagnant water. She fell off that bridge during the rain, and she hurt her arm. She has trouble using her hand, now, and it is her writing hand. She has midterm exams this week, so she is very concerned about her ability to take her test. She endured a hilot on Sunday, which is what many Filipinos who can't afford a doctor us. Hilot is a healing massage, but as one with cracked ribs can attest, it is really torture on an injured bone. So, let's pray for Aiza's healing. Also, her Bible was ruined during the fall, and she is very sad about that. She does have another one, but this one was especially important to her.

There are many other needs, of course. Many pastors with lot needs and building needs. But the main thing is our prayers. Let us remember our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. May Christ reach the lost through us!