(This is a continuation of the “Come walk with me” reports of our missions trip last month to Polillio Islands.)
HUGE LOBSTERS
In my last post, I included a picture of a lobster being carried to market, riding on the boat with us as we left the island where our missions base is located, heading for home. I will include several more lobster pictures (see below), for your interest. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen ones as beautiful or big as these!
Media – Press
For our trip, we got “Media-Press” cards for the whole team, in case we were denied transportation access somewhere along the way. The media has special privileges for travel here in the PI, and of course we are legitimate – sharing the “Good News”! What better news is there? (see card below). We had the driver’s card dangling from our rear view mirror in both vehicles going and coming.
LIFE Transformation
One of the young men whose life had been greatly impacted during our time there was tearful at our time of departure, sharing how his life would never be the same…
I think most of us could affirm that, likewise for us, it was definitely an unforgettable, and memorable mission trip!
Psalm 91
In the car as I was driving back, I was helping one of our teammates memorize in Psalm 91. We had been quoting verse 3, together – … “surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler” shortly before we were stopped by a traffic enforcer near an intersection at one of the main highways in Manila.
Traffic enforcers don’t have to be our enemies, they can be helpful – but when some of them look for bribes in order to appease them, it can be very trying… We’re not sure if that was this officer’s hidden motive was, but it seemed rather suspicious. Our teammates were praying in the car, as I talked with him. When he asked to see my drivers license, took it, and had it there in his hand, he threatened to keep it and make me come all the way back to Manila in 5 days to pick it up.
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”!
Over the years, I have found that the Word of God is powerful, and does wonders in these kinds of situations. I quoted that verse – “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY” a number of times to him, as I pleaded for him to give my license back and allow us to go on our way. Reluctantly, he finally handed my license back to me (without demanding anything), and we were thankfully and joyfully on our way home again, without mishap. PTL! The Lord is our help in times of trouble! (Psalm 46:1)
MANY TESTIMONIES
The testimony time went for around 2 to 2 1/2 hours Sunday night before we left the island to come home. Even after returning here to Tarlac City we continue to receive good reports and hear exciting testimonies from our resident pastor there in Patnanungan about the wonderful things the Lord has done and is doing…
There are reports of restoration and life transformations. Some have testified to being filled with the Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. PTL! There was a report of 5 more praying to accept the Lord during times of visitation, and a number of home Bible Studies have been reactivated already! PTL!
DEBRIEFING
Upon arriving back in Tarlac City, our de-briefing time with our missions team went for another 1 1/2 hours, as we re-counted together with our teammates here the Lord’s obvious blessings and many answers to prayer on our missions trip! We continue to give the Lord praise!
MORE PICTURES
I am including some more pictures taken on the trip (see below) for your interest. I’m only sharing 20 more pics in this post (out of the dozens that could be shared). The ones shown below are miscellaneous pictures primarily of landscapes and scenery, to help you envision the beautiful creative works of God enjoyed on our walk. Since this is a “Come Walk With Me” report, these pictures will help include you in our trip by sharing with you some of the sights along the way… Be blessed!
