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 # 11 (CLASSICS)
My Son! My Brother! (A 2-part Story)
Posted by itphilip@itphilippines.org on 08/05/2014
An ITP team went to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. After a few days, they were running out of funds and were wondering how they would be able to sustain their stay in the community. They could have opted to abandon their plans and return to the Philippines right away. Yet, something in their hearts was telling them not to doubt. It was hard to understand why God would ever allow them to go to such a place and yet not provide everything they need beforehand. It seems incredible, but they all knew that faith is about believing in the unseen and not on what is seen. They did not have the resources in their hands, yet they have the promise of God that their faith will never be in vain. They believed that the steps of faith taken would always bring future miracles. The big question facing them is how the miracles will appear. Will they be like in the experiences of the missionaries in China where money floated in the air? There was no way to know. They just had to move forward with expectations of miracles.
One step of faith at a time brought them nearer to the people in the community. One step of faith at a time and they were drawn closer to their miracle. Then, it came! There was a loud shriek coming from an old woman. “My son, my long-lost son… you came back!” One of the missionaries turned out to have a very strong resemblance to the son that the old woman has been waiting for eagerly for so many years. Now he’s back… or so she thought.
The team knew that the error must be corrected. So, they talked to the woman and the town folks and made it clear that their companion was just a look-a-like of the old woman’s son and that he was not really their missing relative. But even with all the explanation, the family just wanted to let their mother enjoy the precious moments with him. They pleaded with the team to stay a while with them. The family treated them like their own. Every day they were fed lavishly, shown around the community, and even helped in their ministry.
And when the time came for them to leave, the mother gave her “son” a big hug and asked him to return sometime in the future. He will always be her son and they will always be his family in Malaysia.
Four years later, another team went to the same field location. The team ran short of funds after a few days and was beginning to be anxious as to how they could survive in that area. It would be easy for them to say, “We give up! Let’s go home!” Their return trip tickets were at hand, and it would have been more reassuring to turn back rather than to move forward in faith. But deep in their hearts they knew that the Lord did not allow them to reach Malaysia just for them to return home after a few days. The stark reality of their lack simply could not be ignored. Despite it all, they mustered enough courage to ignore that reality and simply trust in the promises of God. They knew that God would never abandon them nor let them be put to shame. Their journey now lies completely in God’s hand. They turned over to God their anxiety and doubts.
And God was pleased.
The Lord led them to a wealthy Filipino Christian, who upon learning that they were missionaries, decided to assist them. She played host to them. One night as they were getting to know each other, they found out that one of the team members is related to her. Their grandfathers were brothers! She intimated to them how she has always longed for a brother. Now, the Lord has given her one. “You are my brother!” she exclaimed! God brought us together in answer to my prayers.” She became a part of the team in a way and gave so much support to her “brother” and their ministries. Their every need was taken care of and all of them could not help but continually declare “God is so good indeed and He works in mysterious ways!”
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Amen!
God moves in mysterious ways😍