Elizabeth and I were able to
join one of our teams for ministry for a few days on a small island just off
the coast of eastern Samar. In the afternoon we crossed over on a small paddle
boat to an island with only around 20 houses.
We approached a house and we
met Ate S. One of the team members shared the Bridge tract with her, explaining
how Jesus' death and resurrection are our "bridge" back to God. Ate
S. was very interested and we explained that Nehemiah Teams was not there to
bring a religion, but only a relationship with God. When Ate S. heard this she
lit up and said "I heard a man on the radio say that!" She was happy
to schedule a Bible Study for the next day.
When the team returned and
began Bible study they pulled out a Bible in her language, Waray-Waray, and
handed it to her. She was very excited and told us that she had never held a
Bible before. They showed her the passage for Bible study and asked her to
read, and she could hardly wait. The team further explained salvation by faith
alone through grace alone in Jesus Christ to be received as a free gift. Ate S.
prayed to confess her sin and ask for forgiveness and new life.
When it was time for us to
leave, Ate S. started to hand the Bible back to the team, to which they
replied, "No, we want you to have it!" She was almost overcome with
joy and hugged the Bible. What a wonderful reminder of how precious God's Word
is and the power it has to change lives.
Please continue to pray for Ate S and others like her who have made the decision to follow Christ this summer.
-Joe