11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12
This is truly amazing! God is able to use more
willing and able people in Tandag Bible Baptist Church to show that He is
answering our (Mike and Luisa's) prayer for assistance in the tract
distribution. The harvest is too big for the two of us. We truly need
help! For months and months we have been praying. God gave us rest
while His other workers continued to work.
This is how the story
happened. Mike and Luisa Carey decided to make October 15-17, 2014
as the final dates of tract distributions in the elementary schools within the
jurisdiction of Tandag City. After making arrangements with the two district
supervisors in the area, it was decided that elementary schools in far places
under their jurisdiction, they themselves would distribute while the nearer yet
bigger city schools would be personally taken cared of by us. Since the
populations of these five city schools were big (one thousand plus for the four
schools and almost to that level in other remaining ones), we asked the help of
available people in Tandag Bible Baptist Church to assist us, namely: Allan Joseph D. Tello, Thander Asis, Bhing Go, Gemma Estose (with son), Marissa
Coquilla and Janeth Duero.
School recipients were: Tandag Pilot
School, Tandag Central Elementary School, SPED, Telaje Elementary School,
Bongtud Elementary School, Nestor Ty Memorial Elementary School (not in
picture: Quintos Elementary School).
A few days before the tract distribution, we received a text message from Immigration Office in Davao City about Mike's approved application for permanent resident visa in the Philippines. He is to report at 8:30 in the morning of October 14, 2014. This was good and "bad" news for us because we had been waiting for the permanent resident visa to be fully granted very soon, yet not in a time when the schedule of tract distribution could not be moved to later dates. October month was very busy in all schools because of extra-curricular activities almost everyday. To top it all, the following week would be final examinations followed by a week of semestral break. There was no time left for tract distribution that month except the ones already scheduled. We had to entrust the tract distribution to our group members led by Allan.
We (Mike and Luisa) communicated with school district heads and teacher-friends on a daily basis before the scheduled date so that Allan and his group would not be burdened by failed schedules. The legal entry papers were already ready in folders.
Pictures below showed how God worked
wonderfully with these very willing and able people. They were truly used
by God to tell us that we do not have to worry because He is in command.
This also reminded us that this is not our work, but His alone. He
may tell us one day to move on to different directions in fulfillment of His
other calling for us or He may call us home. Now, we are assured that the
tract distribution will go on with or without us. We are in a church,
too, that knows the true value of tracts in soul winning. This is truly His
answer to our prayers. He knows exactly well what to do to make His purpose
realize. To God be the glory!
Copyright Mike and Luisa Carey; November 3, 2014
