Early one Sunday morning I was sitting in the handmade bamboo/wood classroom in front of the clinic studying my Bible and praying. Sundays are always busy as people start coming to our house as early as 6:30 a.m. to sell their wares and food from their fields, to ask to wash our clothes, or sometimes just to talk. So it’s important to get an early start with the Lord on Sundays.

I knew my quiet time with the Lord was over when I started to hear a familiar voice coming from my house. I closed my Bible, knelt for a final prayer, and started walking the short distance back home. Rupid was sitting on my porch talking with another student missionary named Robby. “Menungang merkilem,” (“Good morning,”) I said to Rupid.

“Dimu gasi,” (“You too,”) he replied with a smile. Rupid and I meet regularly on Sunday mornings so he can teach me Pelawan. Rupid is a very fit 50-year-old. The steep trails of the Palawan mountains tend to keep a person in shape. I’ve gained nine pounds of muscle just from walking around.

I put some things away in my house, gathered my clothes for the lady who was waiting to wash them, and sat down next to Rupid. We talked and joked for while. “Do you want to learn Pelawan today?” he finally asked. I got out my notebook and pen, and we got started.

I pray often that Rupid will see the true character of God and His love for him. I’m always watching for times when he might be open to hear the gospel. Today was one of those days.

While Rupid and I were talking, I mentioned that, the day before, I had given my first sermon in Pelawan. “Oh, really? What did you talk about? Tell me the story,” Rupid said.

Yes! God was answering my prayers and giving me an opportunity to share! As I started to tell the story of John chapter 8, the woman caught in adultery, Rupid listened intently, sometimes helping me with words to get the message across. When I got to the point where the Pharisees threw the woman at Jesus’ feet and asked Him whether they should stone her to death, Kela` Ulu walked up and sat down next to me to listen. Kela` Ulu is the main witchdoctor on our mountain, and I have been praying for him since December. My heart leapt at the chance God had given me to explain how Jesus deals with humanity—a glimpse into His heart of love.

After greeting Kela` Ulu, I continued my story. I talked about how willing the Pharisees were to cast the poor woman in disgust at the feet of Jesus, and how they demanded an answer. I then described how Jesus handled the situation, how He knew the hearts and lives of each of the accusers. Giving little indication he had even heard their question, He knelt down on the ground and began to write their sins in the dirt, showing them that they had no right to judge because they were condemning themselves. Then to the woman He spoke the sweet words of grace, “Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” At the end of the story I asked Rupid and Kela` Ulu the same question I asked the church the day before: “Who is that woman whom Jesus refused to condemn?”

“I don’t know her name,” answered Rupid.

“Do you know who they said she was yesterday at church?” I asked. “They said the woman is us.”

There was a thoughtful pause. “Me. The woman is me,” Rupid repeated skeptically, like he was studying out a great mystery.

At the end of our time together, Rupid and Kela` Ulu thanked me for the story and left to continue their day’s work.

I don’t claim to have an amazing grasp of the Pelawan language, but God used the language I did know to tell a story about His love. I don’t know what impact it had, but I know God is pursuing the hearts of Rupid and Kela` Ulu so that one day they may come to know Him. Will you join me in prayer for the salvation of these two men?

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