“Last night, I dreamt about you. When I woke up, I thought, ‘I wonder if I will see Minan Landi today,’ and here you are. But I also dreamt that you gave me three plates. I wonder what that means.” Nutun has grown so much in her faith. For a time, we were very concerned about her and her husband, Kinit, who were baptized six years ago. After losing a baby, they seemed to slip into depression and quit attending church. It was with absolute joy that I shared this worship service with her, observing her queenly, reserved ways yet haltingly reading verses out loud and offering her understanding of the verses. Her husband was absent, but she assured me he is often in church.
Kent and I had the joy and privilege of flying into Kebgen, our most western church and school and one of our most remote projects. We had not visited the church since before our trip to the U.S.A. Since then, though people had gone there to help them with school registration, medical mission trips and emergency flights to pick up trauma cases, no one had shared a church service with them. We could not reach them by phone before our arrival, so Kent and I were an early Sabbath morning surprise for this small lay-led congregation.
As we were landing, I gazed down at the church and wondered if anyone would be there yet. Soon people came out, shyly at first, not sure who had arrived, but when they recognized us, they quickly warmed up. Excited to have someone share a service with them, they sang multiple songs, all by heart. When it was time for the offering, they asked if we had brought anything, which we had. Then, after they read a scripture verse about giving tithes and offerings, they explained, “We don’t usually have any money, so we don’t always pass an offering plate.”
The Sabbath School discussion was much more animated than in some of the more educated and better-off Palawan churches. Even the women entered the discussion, sharing their thoughts on the verses or asking for clarification. I was so happy to see that even though they do not have the consistent input of a pastor, their lay leader is teaching them. They are pastoring each other—strengthening each other for the daily struggles, meeting together for church and prayer meetings, and when they are not in their fields far away, they gather for daily worship. Though there were only seven baptized members, there were 27 in attendance.
I was surprised to find that a young girl who had been one of our students was now married. Her grandmother explained, “That’s the best way we can grow this church, for when our children marry a non-believer, he starts coming to church.” Though it doesn’t always work out that way, in this small congregation, their track record is pretty good for spousal conversion, though several of them have not taken the step towards baptism.
Though we are thrilled they are experiencing spiritual growth, their church and school building desperately needs replacing. Construction is difficult in their area, and with a congregation mostly of women, there isn’t the workforce to build their own sanctuary. Let us pray that funds and personnel come in to build them a proper meeting place.
We are pleased that Kalbu, our lay teacher and pastor in the area, is working consistently, and that his wife is working with him, conducting children’s Sabbath School and encouraging the women. It was food for our souls to meet with them. And through the Lord’s providence, the people of Kebgen had a three-course spiritual meal as the helicopter pilot, Kent, and I each presented a heartfelt message. As the Lord designed it, each message enhanced the others, like with a good meal. “So Nutun,” I said, “I believe that through God’s providence, [in your dream] you were handed three plates: three plates of spiritual food.”
