Just before we left on furlough, I mentioned to our staff in Kemantian that they should expect some major spiritual challenges in our absence, as has often been the case during past furloughs. Well, this time I was wrong. Things fell apart just two days before we left, and we had to evacuate all our non-native staff from Kemantian (a story for another time.) It was very discouraging, and we wondered if this might be the end of our 17+ years of work in Palawan. We caught our flight out on time, but it was a tight squeeze, and we slept very little during our last two days in Palawan. Soon after our arrival in the States, we got word that a new Palawan governor had been elected. Part of his campaign platform was a promise to rid Palawan of all missionaries. About this same time, we also learned we would have to raise an additional $4,240 in monthly pledges for our project. As I talked to AFM management, they also realized the magnitude of the challenge before us. Raising that much monthly support in 10 weeks was an almost impossible goal.

It was tempting to believe that the challenges were too great. But it was yet another opportunity to put everything back in God’s hands and say, “Father, this whole project is Yours, and we are Your servants. If it is time to end this project, that is Your decision. If You want us to continue, You most certainly can bring us through.” As the Palawano Project grows, we realize more and more that we are only servants doing what God asks.

We began a speaking-and-visiting tour of the States that took us through southern California, where I spoke to a small group of students and other folks at Loma Linda. As I looked at the small group, I felt impressed not to spend time trying to raise funds, but rather to encourage the students to dedicate their lives to God’s work; to challenge them to become frontier missionaries rather than settle into lives of affluence. I expected minimal donations that night, but I earnestly hoped hearts would be touched and life decisions would be made. So you can imagine my surprise when a good friend of ours at the meeting pledged $1,000 a month to our project! When I asked how she had come to this decision, she replied that God had let her know we needed her help. She hadn’t even known we were in the States until earlier that day when I called and invited her to the meeting.

This miraculous pledge was God’s way of letting us know that He isn’t through with us yet. He has done many miracles in the past, and He will continue to do miracles in the future. We are His servants spreading the Good News, and He will supply all our needs.

All our staff members have returned to Kamantian, and improvements are taking place that we never would have dreamed possible. What about the new governor? Well, God is certainly stronger than he is. Besides, we all know how easily politicians forget campaign promises. And our fundraising? We have a real pro in charge of that, and I can’t wait to see what He will do.

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