This is how God works. Country girl (me) who seldom traveled to neighboring states falls in love with God and then discovers the awesomeness of God’s people and their diversity. So God branches her out through a thriving Bible believing church and Bible College and introduces her to the President of Marietta Bible College and Pastor, Dr. Myron Guiler. Marietta Bible College is a mission based training college that brings foreign students to the United States, trains them and returns them to their country. Through their affiliates they receive support and are able to minister in their field with a little help from their friends in the U.S.A.
Because I’m tech savvy (just enough to be dangerous) I began working for the college to get students registered through the federal portal that brings them into the country. Through that relationship my love for the foreign students grew much deeper and I guess didn’t go un-noticed. Dr. Guiler at the end of class one year announced that I’d been invited to go with his ministry team to the Philippine Islands and see the work first hand. And what a humbling experience it was…
I watched as 5,000 Filipino’s gathered under a newly built outdoor revival stadium for two weeks, in the heat of the day through the calm of the night for 12 hours they sat and listened to the gospel every day. Unencumbered by the heat, or the sleeping conditions (concrete bungalows) they worshipped and the altar would be lined with literally thousands pouring their hearts out to Christ. I’ve never witnessed anything like it. I was treated like royalty and cried for days, and still cry thinking about those precious times. I was privileged to sing there and left a piece of my heart when I headed home. I’ll never forget them.
So… when I see the devastation of the typhoon, my heart is so very broken. I’d love to catch the next flight out of here and minister to them the way they ministered to me. But alas, it must be from afar.
Please join with me in prayer for not only the few listed below, but the thousands of hurting, displaced people in that land. I love them, and I love you. Thanks!
Pastor Fidel Racal’s brand new church building is gone, plus his own house and car. Praise God the people of his church were not harmed. Four or five other Independent Baptist Mission for Asia churches in that area were damaged and one church in Ormoc. These are friends through Marietta Bible College who were trained there and then returned home to minister. Please pray for God’s mercy and a quick healing of that land. Pray for comfort and most of all pray that even through this tragedy our Lord will be glorified by seeing souls saved. None of us are promised another breath. It can happen here as well.
When sorrow strikes a foreign land
And hearts are broken deep
Their images burn in my mind
And cause my soul to weep.
Yes the tears fall from my eyes
But deep in the well in they grow
For at the very core of me
Is God Who makes it so.
He placed within this heart of mine
a love for all His kin
Those who live great miles apart
And those in the town I’m in.
I long for the day when sorrows gone
No tears will be shed in that place
But God will soothe our trouble hearts
Until He we see Him face to face.
Shari L. Johnson (11/12/13)
Fully understand the turmoil in your heart over this Shari and can only say, we must trust in GOD over this. He has the plan and it is not us who are required to fully understand that plan but to do everything we can to do what He would want us to in such times and I thankfully have found out how to hear Him better thanks to our Pastor Dewey!!!
It was a very difficult concept to follow as I transit through my battle with cancer but by listening to Him, He has made it so very much easier to deal with.
It was also a very difficult concept to deal with in the military. Everyone thinks of our military as only serving to protect & provide security to our own great nation. On many occasions, either in transit, in action or simply on rest & relax, we would be subjected to witnessing horrific living conditions, peoples living under tyrannical governments and/or in outright desperate situations or catastrophes. (I.E. our marines & sailors either in the Philippines or in route as we speak). Many a time in combat we thought ourselves actually fighting to try to provide freedoms or security to peoples we never even knew existed before our arrival.
The heart ‘bleeds’ over such things and I find prayer is the ONLY answer.
Thanks for your encouraging Words Rick! as always.
PS – beautiful poem; says everything I just said only EVEN BETTER !!!
Love You Sister !
Shari,
Thank you for your heart for the Filipino people. I know exactly how you feel when you see the devastation and losses being currently experienced in the Philippines. God called me to work in the Philippines two years ago, and I have spent several months there. I was supposed to have arrived in Bohol four weeks ago . . . just in time for the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck that province. My plans had actually been postponed by other events — a message from God? After the earthquake came typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Now another tropic storm is bearing down on them.
My heart aches for the people there. I’ve been fortunate in that none of the people I know who live in Bohol, Samar, and Leyty have become casualties of the disasters that have struck the Central Visayas. Their homes and churches, however, have been destroyed, their possessions swept away by wind and flood.
I too wish I was over there to help — I would get on the plane this very minute. I don’t personally possess the financial means to travel there and to provide help, food, water, and other supplies. I leave that in God’s hands — if He wants me there, it will fall into place.
I have been forever changed by my time in the Philippines. The people are incredibly faithful, their smiles are delightful, and their joy in the Lord insuppressible. I hope some day soon that I will be there full time, working among the Filipino people and serving our Lord and Savior. Even amid threat of earthquake, typhoon, and flood, God’s love must be shared.
GOD will guide you Scott and do what he feels right in your attempt to help these good people.
The heart does ache for these folks, as it does for many other millions around the world suffering through catastrophes or living under tyranny in their homelands.
I pray GOD give you good guidance in your efforts to assist these folks; I know HE appreciates where your heart is!!!
Thanks for praying Rick! My heart is for certain in His service…