"WHEN THE LORD CALLS YOU, HE WILL PROVIDE"
He will make a way where there seems to be no way. In the toughest of situations, this seems to be God’s specialty. God has it all figured out. So, we don’t have to worry. He’s working on our behalf even when we can’t see it all. He has a plan and purpose in whatever we walk through. He can cut a clear pathway through anything. It is proven to be true for Sister Herlyn Babunas, one of the IT missionaries in Malaysia. Sis Herlyn has been in Malaysia several times to do missions and work where she was sent by her church. However, there came a time when she was prohibited by the Philippine immigration to enter Malaysia after her vacation in the Philippines. Because of that matter, she stayed for a year in the Philippines and took a break from doing missions. It has also paved a way for her to become a part of the International Teams Philippines, a mission-sending organization. After attending the Access 1 Training in IT, she flew to Taiwan for the mission exposure trip and went back to the Philippines. A few months later, as the new IT missionary trainees were bound to Cambodia for a mission exposure trip, Sis Herlyn was asked to lead them there. After leading them to Cambodia, she tried to go to Malaysia and that’s when she experienced the first miracle in her journey of faith as a part of the IT family. She successfully entered Malaysia. When she arrived in Malaysia, there were so many things that were going on and she had to face some difficulties. As a missionary in a restricted country, one of the challenges would be acquiring a visa. The visa is very expensive and costs 13,000 Malaysian Ringgit which would roughly be converted to 150,000 pesos. Sis Herlyn got a part-time job, and all of her salaries went to her visa. Despite the difficult situation she was in, she continued to serve the Lord by serving other people. With the recent pandemic, Malaysia had its first lockdown in February 2020. At first, Sis Herlyn took the news lightly. However, people started to get agitated and panic buying. They were also prohibited from going out of their homes. Because of the lockdown, Sis Herlyn couldn’t go to work and she was worried about paying her rent. She wasn’t financially prepared for the lockdown that was going on. Sis Herlyn belonged to a church intercessory group being the only foreigner. Their prayer agenda at that time was to pray for all the foreigners who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Sis Herlyn was too shy to mention that she had needs, too. To her surprise, one of the members of their intercessory prayer group sent her 3,500 pesos worth of groceries. She thought that what she received was too much for her, so she shared her blessings with her neighbors. She didn’t know that the lockdown would take a few more months. Because of the present situation, with no work, rent to pay, and not enough food left, she uttered a prayer. “Lord, I need to stretch my faith”. That’s when God showed Sis Herlyn what He could do in a hopeless situation. For three months, she would receive monetary aid from different people. She would get a text message that they sent some amount of money to her bank account. Sometimes, her friends would send the money to her co-intercessors so the money would be delivered to her house immediately. For every week someone would bring her food which is good for a week's consumption. Some of her acquaintances in the nearby provinces called her that they would send some food supplies to her. However, Sis Herlyn decided to give it to someone who would probably need it more. Also, when she needed to go out to buy some things she needed, the locals would pick her up and accompany her. God’s favor was upon Sis Herlyn. Despite the pandemic and being in a foreign land, she never felt neglected. Even in situations when she got sick, God was with her. There was a time when she experienced heartburn for the first time. She was frightened for she never had it before. But her intercessory prayer group would check up on her every hour just to make sure she is fine and would send her the medicine she needed. Truly, God’s love was overflowing, and He used the people around Sis Herlyn to remind her that she was not alone in a foreign land. After the lockdown, Sis Herlyn needed a sponsor for her permit to stay in Malaysia. She lacked one document, so she called her previous sponsor to provide it. Unfortunately, she received upsetting news that her previous sponsor could no longer provide for her. When she heard it, it felt like a bucket of cold water was poured onto her and her reality made her tremble. She knelt and prayed to God. That's when God whispered a name to her. She called him immediately and he easily agreed to provide any documents she needed. “Lord, you're always there for me” Sis Herlyn praised the Lord with thanksgiving. “When the Lord calls you, He will provide” she added. All of her needs were met by God and He has a purpose for why He sent Sis Herlyn to Malaysia. It was not easy to get a permit, but the Lord granted it to her. Because of God's guidance and provision, Sis Herlyn could do the mission God gave her. She is serving the people in an old folk’s home. She continues to share the love of Christ with the neglected elderly. She prays and cares for them. She is making a big difference in the lives of those who need love and care. Sis Herlyn and her team continue to pray that the Lord will open more doors for them to do the mission God has entrusted to them. In seemingly hopeless situations where we can’t see any way out, God’s power has the opportunity to shine the greatest. It’s in those times when we come to the end of ourselves, where we know we can’t depend on our own abilities, on anything we have, or anyone we know, but instead are reminded that we are totally and completely reliant on Him - it’s those times that are the most powerful of all. He can make a way through the wilderness and cause streams to rise, bringing refreshing even in the desert times. He can split the sea, move mountains, or any barrier before us, and allow us to walk through the dry ground. He can carry us through any storm. He’s the God of miracles. He never changes. For He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Psalm 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
(Written by: Venus Jablo)
תגובות