Belated Birthday Post and II Chronicles 16:9

Last Friday was Les' 59th birthday.  We had a great day.  It started with a 2 mile walk then we went out to breakfast.  He did have a few meetings that took up the middle of his day, then we headed to Buca di Beppo for dinner.  Their food never disappoints!  We shared the Double Dark Chocolate Cake for dessert and it was delicious!  Our last stop was at Road Runner Sports.  Les got a new pair of running shoes.  He's been going with me on the trail about once a week but needed some new road shoes.

My Bible reading this morning included II Chronicles chapter 16.  Verse 9 is an important part of Les' testimony and I thought it would be a great time to re-post his story of God's miraculous healing.  I've taken notes from a message Les preached a couple of years ago about his healing of Muscular Dystrophy and want to share them in his own words:

During my Kindergarten year I experienced a rapid decrease in my ability to get around. I lost the ability to jump, run, walk up stairs and would complain about my legs hurting. Once, Mom mentioned that I seemed to be struggling keeping up with the others at play. I answered that my new pants weren’t broken in yet and they were slowing me down. To this point, my parents wrote it off as growing pains and growth spurts.

But on a camping trip with three boys and two Moms – Mom’s friend noticed how I walked and ran. She said something looked very wrong and that I should be checked out. Later that summer, my Grandmother was visiting and told my Mother that something was seriously wrong with me and that I should be taken immediately to a doctor.

At this point, I could not walk up stairs without help. At home I crawled on my hands and knees. In public, Mom or Dad would assist me.

At the doctor’s office, I was unable to hop on one foot, or jump over a small block using both feet. Our doctor referred us to a specialist and arranged for an appointment.

First thing the doctors had me do was walk up a flight of stairs, which I couldn’t do. One doctor commented to the other, “ Have you ever seen it this bad in one so young?” They thought they were out of earshot, but my Mother overheard them say this. Doctors ran more tests, prescribed some exercises to be done at home, then scheduled a follow-up visit for two weeks later.

Before getting in the car, I wanted to go over to a fountain near where the car was parked. Mom gave permission and watched from the driver’s seat as I went over to the fountain. She broke down in the car and asked God what was happening to her little boy. As she lay her head on the steering wheel weeping, the Lord spoke to her and said, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in doctors, believe also in me.”

A couple of nights later, Mom and Dad started to do our first session of exercises. As we began, conviction gripped their hearts. They decided that if God was going to do something, He would get all the glory and nobody would be able to take credit for any part of it. We never did those exercises again.

That Sunday in church, by the gift of tongues and interpretation in operation, a message came to congregation. The message started by quoting II Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” The Lord went on to say that there were needs in that place that only He could meet, and that if you would just have faith in Him, every need could be met.

As a spirit of worship swept through the auditorium, my parents felt like this was to them, and they took me up to have me prayed for.

A couple of nights later, the same family we had camped with was over for dinner and we three boys were in the basement playing. Upstairs, they heard a bunch of whooping and hollering and came down to see what was going on. When they stepped into the recreation room, the first thing they saw was ME running around the room with my friend on my back!

A few days after that, I went back to the doctor for my follow-up visit. The doctor ran full tests again. He commented to my Mother, “Looks like the exercises have helped.” But my Mother said, “We haven’t been doing the exercises. What happened is that a lot of prayers have been going up for this boy, and God has healed him of this disease." The doctor told her that he wasn’t sure about that, but whatever we were doing, to keep on doing it.

And that was the last time I ever saw that doctor.

That little boy who couldn't walk up stairs, is the man who rode his bike across the country, has hiked the Grand Canyon, he skis, swims, and runs, and keeps me on my toes!

I am so thankful for praying parents and for a prayer answering God!

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.

Overwhelming: Sunday Morning in Lucena

When I think back over our time in the Philippines, Sunday morning in Lucena is one of the highlights.  There were many emotions involved with that day, but the greatest was overwhelming.

Barong wearing brothers

Pastor Pabanil picked us up at our hotel at 7:45.  We were at the church by 8:00 and given the grand tour.  The sanctuary, Sunday school teachers and children were already gathering:

Up a flight of stairs and we were in the parsonage.  Pastor Pabanil's father, Elder Pabanil, gave Les this hat that he made.

Inside he wrote, "September 29, 2019. To Bro. and Sis. McElhaney.  Thank you for your visiting us. God bless you and your wife and your family. From Pastor Elder Pabanil."

He also painted this mural on the wall.

The room where summer Bible school takes place...

Up another flight of stairs to the fellowship area.  Pastor Pabanil made all the tables and benches:

Up yet another flight of stairs!  The rooftop and baptistry:

My new friend, Sis. Pabanil!  She is a sweetheart!

The view of Lucena:

And back down the stairs!

Sunday school started at 8:30.  Neighborhood children are brought and taught a lesson, sing songs, and go home with a snack.

Worship service started and I was overwhelmed.  We sang "Because He Lives" and it was just beautiful!  EVERYONE sang.  The entire church was the praise team!  These precious people, who have so little materially, sang, "life is worth the living, just because He lives," more beautifully than I have ever heard it.  Their voices rang out.  They also sang "He Set Me Free" and "Every Praise is to Our God."  It didn't matter if the song was new or old, everyone sang and worshiped.  It was incredible, indescribable, overwhelming...

They had testimony time.  This little boy did not testify in English, so I don't know what he said, but he touched me so much.

The choir sang.  These beautiful young ladies are a shining example of modesty and worship.

Pastor Pabanil then asked Les and me to come to the front.   Every single person in the church came up and greeted us.

We were given handwritten cards, notes, and flowers...

We were overwhelmed by their generosity and love.

I sang and then Les preached.  His title was "The Power of the Spoken Word of Faith."

He shared his testimony of how God healed him of Muscular Dystrophy when he was a small boy.  He had a little helper named Manasseh:

The icing on the cake happened here - in the midst of the circle of young ladies praying is a new soul being born again of the Spirit!

We had a wonderful meal with Pastor and Sister Pabanil in their home and then it was time to head back to the airport.  Our gracious hosts would be traveling to youth camp very early the following morning, but they got back in the van with us to make the three hour one way trip to Manila.  After dropping us off, they got back in the van and headed back home.  We were again overwhelmed that they would take time out of their busy schedule to ride with us.

The traffic was... well... it would have been overwhelming if I had been the driver!  It is certainly entertaining.  We saw a large number of cyclists.  I cannot imagine riding a bicycle on those roads, but we saw a lot of them!  We also saw this guy, who was sleeping in a hammock in the back of a vegetable truck - that's what you call "vegging out!"

We made it safely back to the Manila airport and checked our luggage one final time.  We had a few hours before our flight and we just kept looking at each other and marveling over the amazing time we had.  Our bodies were completely worn out, but our hearts were SO full!

We prepared for takeoff, talking of when we could return, while leaving a big chunk of our hearts in the Philippines!