Open Doors In Man-ay

Last Tuesday Paul woke me up at 4:12 am. He couldn’t sleep with excitement because at 6:00 am, the proposed missionary team to Man-ay were going on their first survey there as two couples to fully investigate the lay-out of Man-ay and to find out if the village officials there would even accept a missionary team.

Before they left we got with them and had a prayer time and Paul exhorted them to be courageous and to go out there like Joshua and Caleb had when they were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. Paul told them that during their survey to Man-ay, they would see ‘sweet things’ like the grapes that Joshua and Caleb brought back and they would also see ‘giants’, but not to be afraid because God is with them and will go before them. 

We walked up to the road with them and watched them drive off with much excitement in our hearts and expectations of great things. 

THE ‘SWEET’ NEWS (OR THE GRAPES):

There were indeed many sweet things that the survey held for these two couples! The biggest news is that the chief leader of  Man-ay welcomed them with open arms and offers to help them find land to build on and offered them any assistance that they need – even a place to live while their housing is being built! Praise God for this answer to prayer!!!

Apparently for some time now, this leader has been hearing news about the group who have the “Batbat” or the ‘account of’, which people here have been calling the Good News which we are spreading. He had already heard that our group is very good! We knew that God had already been preparing the way into Man-ay and it was exciting to hear about this first hand.

People’s hearts were very open to them everywhere they went.

There is some land available for purchase that is in a pretty central place in the village so would be good for the team.

THE ‘GIANTS’:

They had to face a lot of strangers and one rather aggressive man who were all gathered at the house of the chief leader.

There are some cults already moving into the area who will be sure to cause some conflict.

SO……Doors are continuing to open and progress is being made in the Lapoc church’s plans to send out a missionary team to the Tignapuluan area which is made up of more then a dozen different villages – Man-ay seems the most strategic place to locate out of all them.  

The proposed team to send there are two couples, DuyDuy and JenJen Alderite and their 5 yr old son, who would be the team leaders and Marjun and Angel and their 4 yr old son who would be their partners and there may be a third couple. This is still being finalized and may still change but we know they would value your prayers sooooo much as they make final decisions. Tomorrow night they will be presenting a full report to the elders here about their trip earlier this week and we will all have dinner together which we are really looking forward to!