Guest Post: I Have No Words

I'm wrapping up my posts about our trip to the Philippines with a special guest post by Les today.  While I was helping at the Messner House, Les was on an incredible journey...

On our first full day on Mindanao, I was able to participate in one of the most memorable, beautiful, moving and powerfully impacting services I’ve ever experienced. When Pastor White asked me if I wanted to go with him to a “service” in a remote mountainous area of central Mindanao, I eagerly jumped at the chance. I had heard and read about churches in the jungles of the Philippine Islands since I was a young teenager in the 70s, thanks in part to my mother’s first full length book, Born with a Mission, which spurred my juvenile imagination with scenes of apostolic congregants assembling in exotic tropical settings. Little did I know back then that years later I would have a chance to bring these imaginations to life. But in no way did those imaginations include the surprise of Pastor White asking me to preach during the service. What exactly does an English-only speaking urban technology professional from Big Cities, USA, have to offer Cebuano speaking villagers who arrived for service in Sulindawan on foot via dirt roads and footpaths? This question would occupy my thoughts and prayers for several days prior.

A group of about 8 of us ventured out from the Mindanao church campgrounds (here) in the Tambaboan barangay of the Claveria municipality: 4 by van, 2 by jeep and 2 by motorcycle. The trek was only about 11 miles (route here), but took us a full hour due to the condition of the roads.

We went from a two-lane paved road, to a one-lane paved road, to a double-wide dirt road, and finally to a single-wide dirt road, arriving in Sulindawan (here) a bit jostled, but none the worse for wear, and ready for church.

Once we arrived at the church, we left the vehicles and followed a footpath past chickens, pigs and cattle, through a banana tree field and up a small hill to the church. When we stepped out from the banana tree grove, I got my first glimpse of the Sulindawan Apostolic Pentecostal Church. I was introduced to Pastor Playto of Sulindawan, we took a few pictures, and then were ushered to our seats as service began.

I was curious about having a mid-morning church service on a Tuesday, and when I asked Pastor White what the occasion was, he replied that the occasion was us. Since our schedule only permitted us to be there that Tuesday, the congregation had a special impromptu service at a time convenient for us. This was my first real sense of how much the Filipinos value visitations from “American missionaries”.

The Sulindawan church sits in an area that had been recently controlled by various insurrectionist Muslim and communist groups against the Filipino government. Part of the ongoing Moro conflict, the government had strongly warned non-Filipinos from venturing into this area for fear of kidnapping and execution. As a result there was a 15 year period (2001-2016) during which no outside missionaries were able to visit.

Elder Barrero started the service with a favorite song often sung in the churches on Mindanao and Luzon, “I’ll Be Somewhere Working for the Lord”, and with his responsibilities of pastoring three churches on Mindanao, truer words could never be sung by a man. As I took in the scene around me, I noticed the lumpy red clay dirt floor, the 15 by 30 foot size of the building, the hand-hewn wooden benches, the bamboo walls, the corrugated metal roof, the cooling system consisting of a floor fan, and a portable PA system that included in its entirety one guitar, one guitar amp and two mics. But as the interpreter, Brother Balmes, led us singing “How Great Thou Art”, the surroundings quickly faded from view and the powerful presence of the Lord filled the room.

It was truly one of the most overwhelming moments I’ve ever experienced. We had a gathering place and were gathered in the name of Jesus, and He was faithful to His promise of being in our midst. So back to the question, “What would I have to offer?” I selected the first portion of 2 Chronicles 16:9 as my text. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” I tried my best to encourage the listeners to have faith in God for the miraculous. The people so were so hungry for the Word of God and responded with fervent prayer afterwards.

It struck me that what would constitute a miracle in their lives might be quite different than what I might consider a miracle. Although the metropolitan and resort areas of the Philippines are modern by most standards, there was no trace of their modernity in this area of Mindanao. Miracles of provision and circumstance which are seldomly sought among first world societies are most precious among those of so little means. I’ll never know the impact of my words, but Pastor Playto was quite expressive of his thankfulness on multiple occasions the days following the service.

After the service, we enjoyed some fellowship and fresh fruit behind the church in the outdoor fellowship hall, but I left the freshly roasted pig for the congregants.

The children gave me a handmade card of multi-colored paper that read, “Thank you for visiting our church.” I can’t image where they were able to get colored paper, or the expense of it among so many other more pressing needs. The people were so generous and appreciative of our visit, it was humbling to receive this kind of reception and attention.

I was a bit subdued on the way back to the campgrounds, just trying to process what had transpired. When I walked into our room, Kathy asked me how it went. I looked at her, just shook my head, replied, “I have no words,” went into the bathroom to look into the mirror, and cried tears of compassion, hope and thanksgiving.