“Lima Golf, Lima Golf, do you copy Sierra Victor?”

“Yes, this is Lima Golf, go ahead Sierra Victor. Over.”

“It is still pouring down rain here. We’re wondering if you are cancelling camp meeting. Over.”

“It has been raining tons here too, but no, we’re not cancelling camp meeting, though we may have to change venues. Over.”

“Okay. We will come as soon as we can. This is Sierra Victor standing by.”

“Okay. See you soon. Lima Golf standing by.”

The last nine months have been very rainy, but Monday and Tuesday were rain-free, raising our hopes that God would bless our camp meeting with a miraculous dry spell like He did for last year’s camp meeting. However, it rained hard Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Wednesday evening was to be the beginning of our second annual Palawano camp meeting in Kamantian, and we expected more than 200 people from many different areas to attend. We had tarp tents pitched down on the landing strip and a large platform built with a large tarp awning over it.

Wednesday, March 30, was my birthday. I didn’t expect any celebration—there simply wasn’t time—but I received a wonderful surprise. The Goldenaires, a 13-member choir from Mountain View College in Mindanao, had arrived to bless our meetings with their music. For worship that morning, they serenaded me, singing several of my favorite songs and ending with one that always brings tears to my eyes: Someone is Praying for You. Then each shared a verse and a blessing for me. I was indeed blessed. After worship and breakfast, we started the final preparations for camp meeting, making plans to switch our meetings to the school, the only building anywhere near large enough. I prayed the rain wouldn’t keep people away who really needed to be there.

One of the projects we wanted to have finished for the camp meeting was a new songbook of translated songs. It had taken us hundreds of hours to get it ready, and then there were printer delays. I had resigned myself to the idea that we would just have to sing songs most people already knew. But at the first meeting, there were two boxes of freshly printed songbooks! There were many times throughout the weekend that I could only direct the music, too moved with emotion to sing. Also, I had a touch of laryngitis, so my voice wasn’t strong, and I often had to have others make announcements for me. But I could harmonize and teach new songs along with our music team. It was just another way the Lord kept me depending on Him.

A group of more than 20 attendees called Wednesday morning to tell us their lay-pastor and his wife and others were too sick to come. Could they please just come on Friday? I encouraged them to try to make it by Thursday so their newest members could benefit from the foundational messages, and they were able to do so.

Finding dry places for everyone to sleep was a challenge. They slept in the school, the school’s rice storage hut, around the cooking fires and in the tiny auxiliary classrooms. Fortunately, Kent had recently purchased four three-man tents for about $20 each, so we pitched them near our house for the teen girls. A three-man tent sleeps six Palawanos comfortably, so we were able to accommodate lots of girls.

Because of the months of rain and the great influx of people, it was very difficult to find enough vegetables to give everyone something to eat with their rice, but somehow the Lord provided, and I don’t think anyone went hungry.

The theme for the meetings was Preparation for the End Times and Last-Day Events. We were able to use PowerPoint to illustrate many of the talks, and the people really enjoyed that. There was lots of singing and special music by Palawanos and the Goldenaires. It moved me to hear everyone sing together Ebi`t Pusu`t Empu` (Near to the Heart of God) Sabbath morning.

Sabbath was the high point of the meetings—Palawano-style communion at church, a baptism of 22 people Sabbath afternoon, 25 children dedicated, and 8 marriages solemnized, wrapped up with a concert by the Goldenaires. The Palawanos had never seen anything like this. I have taught them a bit about how to sing in a choir, but they had never heard a highly trained group sing like the Goldenaires do. Their music comes from their hearts, and it moves you. Some of their songs later in the afternoon had a touch of silliness and surprise to them, and the Palawanos loved it.

Kent ended Sabbath evening with a message reminding us of the most important question that will ever be asked of us: “How did we treat those in need of our care?” Then, while the Goldenaires sang The Savior is Waiting, Napthali called for those who wanted to submit their lives to Christ to stand. Practically the whole jam-packed room stood as one. Then he asked those who wanted to publicly acknowledge they wanted to study further and be baptized to come forward. It amazed me how quickly some of those people came to the front, like they had just been waiting to be asked! Eight people responded. We got word later that there were several others who would have come forward if the appeal had continued longer. We encouraged them to study with us anyway.

Sunday morning worship was our last scheduled meeting. Pidli, a lay-pastor and grade school teacher, preached his heart out about being prepared for the wedding of the Lamb. Then we all went down to the muddy basketball court and formed a large circle, singing I’m so Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God in Palawano. After prayer, Kent and I formed every staff member and attendee into a long line that folded back on itself as we each shared words of thanks and encouragement to every person there. There was lots of hugging.

The day ended on a fun note. After breakfast, we spread a large tarp on the hillside, making an instant waterslide. People soaped up their clothes to make them slippery and enjoyed slipping and sliding for hours….continued on next page
At around noon, I was in clinic when Keni, a young mother just baptized the previous day, came to tell me she was going home. I knew she was apprehensive since her husband had been very angry about her baptism. We talked for a while, and I prayed for her. I encouraged her to have Sunday or Deborah Villarica, the teachers in her village, accompany her home if she feared for her safety. She said she would. Her mother Lurita was in a similar situation with her angry husband threatening to leave her.

Monday morning, Sunday called and gave me an update. When Lurita and Keni arrived home, their husbands had been very angry and drunk. Keni’s husband wouldn’t speak to her or even look at her. Lurita’s husband stomped off to the chief to announce his intention to divorce. The women had gone to Sunday’s home for prayer and encouragement and then returned to their homes.

Early Monday morning, Lurita’s husband came home crying and apologizing for being so angry. He said, “It was like there was someone in my head telling me that my smoking, drinking and gambling wasn’t good for me. Please forgive me. I want to learn to have a better character.” Then he had gone to Sunday and informed him he wanted to take Bible studies!

Then Keni’s husband came to her in tears, apologizing as well. He told Sunday, “Even though I don’t know how to read and I don’t know how to sing, I want a new character. I want to learn God’s way.”
The Lord is working, and we praise His name for allowing us to play a small part in what He is doing among the Palawano people.

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