Our beginnings… We begin our mission blog with a compilation of stories of our early years as a mission organization. These stories molded us into who we are now as a mission organization. All stories were God focused and actual experiences of our pioneering missionaries on the field. They were firsthand narratives describing how each Filipino missionaries witnessed the mighty works of our living God in full display. They saw and tasted the miracles of God in response to their prayers which provided for their needs. They were supernaturally brought to situations that were beyond comprehension and given amazing opportunities to minister to the lost and needy people of each nation. The stories will best explain how our poor missionaries were able to sustain their stay in the mission field for long periods of time and see their ministries flourish throughout the years that passed. All their testimonies converge to a single truth - God is actively at work in the lives of people who responds in complete faith to His call.
They saw the Mighty hand of God and they could not contain in their hearts the joy it has brought to their lives, In this blog site, you’ll read the exciting God Sighting stories shared from the hearts of missionaries who truly encountered our living God in the mission field.
GOD SIGHTING STORY # 8 (CLASSICS)
The Widow’s Oil
Posted by itphilip@itphilippines.org on 08/07/2014
“We only have 3 dollars left … good for our last meal.”
Two ladies who have just completed their short-term mission exposure to China returned to the Philippines completely changed after their experience. They immediately signed up to serve as long-term missionaries of International Teams to Macau, the gambling capital of Asia. They chose Macau because they have a good friend who lives there. The three formed a strong missionary partnership that led to the start of their ministry.
For several months the three ministered to drug addicts most of whom came from the local drug syndicates in Macau. Caring and helping those drug dependents get back on their feet again was not an easy task. Not only did it entail a lot of work and dedication, but it was also draining their financial resources. Despite all these, they did not allow their lack to hinder them from doing what they knew was God’s will for them. They believed that God would not allow them to simply die of hunger while serving the King of kings. In time, the first twelve drug dependents they were ministering to were rehabilitated and ready to return to their hometowns to rebuild their lives. Before leaving, however, they wanted to reciprocate the kindness and sacrifices of the three ladies by helping in the renovation of their newly rented place of ministry to make the same suitable for a new education center for Macau children. In a way, both the ministry center and the former substance abusers received a new lease on life – – ready for a good future with a new and revitalized look. The change brought new set of faces to the center — from the threatening drug- enslaved faces now came the cute and lovely faces of Macau children.
There was one thing though that did not change much. It was the ladies’ dwindling funds. It was not getting any better; in fact, things took a turn for the worse until one day, all that they had left was three dollars, barely enough for one day’s meal.
It was on that day that a North American Christian leader dropped by for a one-day ministry visit. The ladies panicked not knowing how they could possibly host their visitor since they did not have anything to offer except the remaining 3 dollars in their hand. They discussed the matter among themselves and came up with the decision – – use the last 3 dollars they have to buy food for the man of God! It was just like the widow of Zarephath using her last handful of flour and a little oil to feed Elijah, the servant of the Lord.
Unaware of the ladies’ dire circumstances, the visitor asked them if they needed anything. Their quick reply was “Yes, we need your prayers!” When the visitor was about to leave, he asked the same question again; and for the second time, they gave him the same response “Yes, we need your prayers.” When the visitor was already out in the street, he asked a third time. He got the same answer from them, with a smile. So he bade them good bye and left.
He hasn't walked that far yet when he received an awareness of the ladies’ financial need. So he went back and handed them a substantial amount of cash that could put much food on the table for the three ladies to feast on. It was a strong prompting of the Spirit that made him return. The ladies realized that God was putting them to the test to see whether they were willing to trust Him even to their last 3 dollars.
Truly God has resources we know nothing about, solutions outside our reality, and provisions outside our possibility, for THE LORD IS GOOD INDEED!
*Marifi Bilugan and Marissa Lacson continues to marvel at God’s miraculous ways of providing for their needs. Never did they truly lack anything in the almost two decades of their mission work in Macau. Heaven’s blessings continue to fall on them always filling their hearts to the overflow.
*Next Story: AN AMAZING BOAT RIDE
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