(uplifting music)
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- Hello and welcome
to Jesus for Asia Now.
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I'm Natalie Wood, and today
we're going to hear some stories
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from some of our Bible Workers.
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You know, we have
Bible Workers in India
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and we often talk about them
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but we have some in
the Philippines as well.
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And that's where
we're going today.
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My husband,
John is here with me.
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Hello, love.
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- Hi darling, how are you?
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- I'm doing fine.
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- Good.
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- You know, this
is a different place.
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- Yeah we normally talk about
our Bible workers in India.
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- Right, we have
a lot there. - Yeah.
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- But we do also have
them in other places as well.
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- Correct.
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- And one of those places
is where we're going today.
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- Yes, the Philippines.
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- Okay.
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- Specifically Iloilo.
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- Iloilo.
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That's a place for a
lot of history for us.
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- Yes.
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- And we have a
lot of friends there.
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- Yes we do.
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So the Philippines is divided
into three different sections
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and the north part being Luzon,
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the south part being Mindanao,
and then the central part
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being a bunch of
islands all combined
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into what they call
the Visayan Island group.
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And Iloilo is in the western
most part of the Visayas.
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- Okay.
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The first Bible worker we're
going to meet his name is Juan.
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- Yes.
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- And he's been a
literature evangelist
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or he was a
literature evangelist
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after he became Adventist.
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- Correct. Yes.
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- And he and his
wife have six children.
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- Huh-uh
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- So a few years ago
they heard about the WVCCOE.
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Can you explain what that is?
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It's a lot of letters.
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- Yeah, it's the
West Visayan Conference
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Center of Evangelism
or College of Evangelism.
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It's just like, AFCOE. - Okay.
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- They modeled it off of AFCOE,
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a four month intensive
Bible Worker training program
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for people that are wanting
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to join the Bible workforce.
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- Okay.
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Okay, so after he
graduated then he was invited
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to become a Bible Worker.
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- Yeah, it was Jesus for Asia.
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- Okay. - Yeah.
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- Okay, and Juan recently
had some medical issues.
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- Yes, and we have
a video about that,
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that talks about
what happened to Juan.
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An event that would normally
really slow a person down.
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And it's a life altering event,
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a medical event that
we'll show in this video.
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- [Natalie] Okay.
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(woman speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator]
During his operation,
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I saw the doctor come
out from the operating room,
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with my husband's amputated
arm wrapped in plastic.
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(somber music)
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(man speaking in
foreign language)
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- [Translator] I made
up my mind and told myself
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that I just have to accept this
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and that I can't do
anything about it anymore.
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(somber music continues)
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(speaking in foreign language)
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I became a
full-time canvasser in 1986.
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By the grace of God, it
supported our family's daily
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needs. I ventured
into other businesses,
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but then ended up
coming back to canvasing work.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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After a year of canvassing,
I became a JFA Bible worker.
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(woman speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator] He
enrolled in WVCCOE
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and thankfully he
was able to graduate
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since it was his ultimate
dream to become a Bible worker.
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(man speaking in
foreign language)
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- [Translator] I started
to feel pain in my right arm.
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The x-ray revealed
that in my right elbow,
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there was a lump
the size of an egg.
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(man speaking in
foreign language)
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I went to see three
doctors for their opinions.
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Our very own
Adventist doctor, Dr. Romero
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even advised me
to cut off my arm
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to prevent the
spread of infection.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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(Norma speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator] We
went to see many doctors
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and they all had the same
advice to cut off the arm.
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If it's necessary to cut it off,
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then whatever will be will be
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as long as we are
doing the work of the Lord.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator] June 22
was when my arm was amputated.
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So this is now my situation.
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This truly is a
big challenge for me.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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- People were asking me
if it ever crossed my mind
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to ask God why this unfortunate
thing was happening to me
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though. I am an
active worker for the Lord.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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But I told them that
it didn't cross my mind
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because who are
we to question God?
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I was just praying to
God that I'll be grateful
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if he will heal me and
spare me from this illness.
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But if it's not his will
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then I will still
continue to work with him.
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(Norma speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator] I did
not mind if my husband's arm
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was amputated as long as
he can still work for him,
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I will still be here to
support him in doing God's work.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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(laughing loudly)
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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- [Translator] How long
will I work for the Lord?
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My answer is
this, until Jesus comes.
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It is written in my being
that as long as I shall live,
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I will continue
to do God's work.
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Also, even though my
arm is not here anymore,
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I still have my
mouth to speak for him.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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Honestly, I sometimes feel
ashamed to receive my stipend
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especially when I was
confined in the hospital.
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And so I continued
to work through media
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using my cell phone.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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I would often send Bible verses
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to our group chats in Messenger.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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But one thing that I
was more focused to work on
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was with my doctor, Dr. Yang.
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He was the one who
amputated my right arm.
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We finished
covering all our doctrines
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and our Bible studies.
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I even bought and gave
him a morning commentary.
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I then would ask him
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if he was reading the
morning commentary I gave him.
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He would just gladly answer
me, "Yes, I am reading it."
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I also gave him the
book, "The Desire of Ages."
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(soft music)
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(speaking in foreign language)
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When I gave out those books,
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it gave me great
joy to see them happy.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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I'm planning to put a
sidecar on my motorbike,
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even though it's an old one.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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The challenge
for me right now is,
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I can no longer
ride a motorbike.
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(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
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But I am looking
for the ways and means
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to attach a
sidecar to my motorbike,
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to make it easier for me
to travel and do my work.
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(soft music)
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- Ain't that inspiring?
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- I love how he said
it is written in my being
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to work for God. - Yes.
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That's amazing every
time he thought about,
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I mean his situation, he
didn't think this to blame God.
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He just says, Lord, I
just wanna work for you
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no matter what happens to
me, I just wanna work for you.
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And he's giving Bible
studies to the doctors
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and tracks and
literature to the patients.
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- Yeah.
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- That's like, wow, that
is so inspiring, you know.
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- Yeah.
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Now he was talking
there about not being able
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to ride a motorcycle anymore
and that's because of balance
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and being able to
hold on with both hands.
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- Yeah he can't, really hold on
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with both hands.
- No, well can't.
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And so he talked there
briefly about getting a sidecar
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for his motorcycle. - Correct.
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- And because we had
some donations come in
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that we could use
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for that purpose. - Right.
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- We were privileged
to be able to provide him
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with the sidecar
for his motorcycle.
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- Correct.
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Now these donations
came into a specific fund.
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- Right. - What's that called?
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- Yeah, so that fund is called
Bicycles for Bible Workers.
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- Correct. - And it started out
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for bicycles only. - Yeah.
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- But since then
we've had a number of donors
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that have said, you know,
what, if they need a motorcycle,
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something for their
motorcycle, whatever they need
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use it for transportation
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for the Bible
workers. - Exactly.
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- So it's still called
Bicycles for Bible Workers
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but we're thankful to the donors
that have given us freedom
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to use it for
situations like this.
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- Right. - And
here's a little video
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of him driving with his sidecar.
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- [Jon] Yeah, and this is
from somebody's cell phone,
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so it's not super high quality,
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but you know it gives us joy
00:09:06.78\00:09:08.18
to see it in real life. - Right.
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- [Jon] One
advantage of having a sidecar
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is that he can also
carry his family with him.
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- [Nicole] Right.
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- Or people if he
needs to transport them
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to a Bible study or to
church or something like that,
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he can fit probably
in that kind of vehicle,
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I would say probably up
to like four or five people.
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- [Nicole] Yeah.
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- [Jon] This is pretty
common in the Philippines,
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the style of transportation.
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They usually put
like a roof over the top
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so you can ride in the
rain and he'll probably do it.
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He's probably done that by now,
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'cause they've
had a lot of rain.
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- So yeah, that's really neat,
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and it helps so
that he doesn't have
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to balance the motorcycle.
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The motorcycle
is always upright.
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- Yeah.
00:09:45.78\00:09:46.72
So we praise the Lord for that.
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And then we just
applaud their spirit
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to keep serving the
Lord and it keeps them going,
00:09:51.29\00:09:55.86
you know, that desire for
sharing the good news with
00:09:55.86\00:10:00.86
others, it's a real reason to
get up in the morning, you know
00:10:02.26\00:10:05.47
and to move forward
and overcome any obstacle.
00:10:05.47\00:10:08.20
And we see this
over and over again
00:10:08.20\00:10:09.67
when people like our Bible
workers take hold of the work
00:10:09.67\00:10:13.27
and move forward in
it, it gives them life.
00:10:13.27\00:10:16.34
It gives them a
joy that we rarely see.
00:10:16.34\00:10:20.22
- Right.
00:10:20.22\00:10:21.45
So the next story we
wanna talk about today
00:10:21.45\00:10:23.65
is about Ruffino.
00:10:23.65\00:10:25.72
And he and his
family are from Mindanao.
00:10:25.72\00:10:28.56
- Correct.
00:10:28.56\00:10:29.79
- And they used
to work down there
00:10:29.79\00:10:31.16
and he would support
missionaries any way he could
00:10:31.16\00:10:33.80
but he wanted
to be a missionary,
00:10:33.80\00:10:35.43
he just had three small children
00:10:35.43\00:10:37.60
and it never
seemed like it would work
00:10:37.60\00:10:39.63
or it was the right time.
00:10:39.63\00:10:41.24
- Correct.
00:10:41.24\00:10:42.70
- So he was invited by a
ministry to come up to Iloilo
00:10:42.70\00:10:45.67
to work on their land.
00:10:45.67\00:10:47.48
And so he did, he moved up there
00:10:47.48\00:10:49.58
and then found out about
the College of Evangelism
00:10:49.58\00:10:53.42
that they have
there, the WVCCOE.
00:10:53.42\00:10:56.15
- Yep.
00:10:56.15\00:10:57.69
- And so he attended that
and then became a Bible worker.
00:10:57.69\00:11:01.06
- Yes and he was 60 years old
when he became a Bible worker.
00:11:01.06\00:11:04.36
- Okay and so he started at 60,
00:11:04.36\00:11:06.53
and then he had a
daughter named Grace
00:11:06.53\00:11:09.56
and she had kind of
strayed from the faith.
00:11:09.56\00:11:12.47
- Yeah. - And she
was kind of headed
00:11:12.47\00:11:14.30
out the door into a more
and more worldly lifestyle.
00:11:14.30\00:11:18.17
And so he invited her
to come and work with him.
00:11:18.17\00:11:20.84
- Yeah.
00:11:20.84\00:11:22.04
- And so she
came. - And she did.
00:11:22.04\00:11:22.78
Yeah.
00:11:22.78\00:11:24.05
So we get to meet her
in this video about Ruffino
00:11:24.05\00:11:27.38
and his daughter, Grace.
00:11:27.38\00:11:28.65
- [Nicole] Okay, here we go.
00:11:28.65\00:11:30.05
(soft music)
00:11:31.25\00:11:33.66
- [Translator] In God our
retirement is when he comes
00:11:35.29\00:11:38.29
back. (speaking
in foreign language)
00:11:38.29\00:11:42.73
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:11:42.73\00:11:47.10
- [Translator] I'm happy
because I'm with my father.
00:11:48.67\00:11:51.11
It's my first
time to work with him
00:11:51.11\00:11:53.48
and experience a
father-daughter team.
00:11:53.48\00:11:56.04
(soft music)
00:11:56.04\00:11:58.41
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.45
- [Translator] I told Gerald
00:12:03.45\00:12:04.69
to let my daughter
join me in my work.
00:12:04.69\00:12:06.45
Even if there's no stipend,
as long as she is with me.
00:12:07.89\00:12:10.79
So since January, until now,
we continue to work together.
00:12:10.79\00:12:14.76
(gentle music)
00:12:14.76\00:12:17.37
- [Translator] They work
not asking for compensation,
00:12:18.97\00:12:21.87
they work for the
love of the ministry.
00:12:21.87\00:12:23.54
- For the love of the ministry.
00:12:23.54\00:12:25.77
(speaking in foreign language)
00:12:25.77\00:12:27.98
- [Translator] He
saw my life in the city
00:12:27.98\00:12:29.61
and he knew that I
was far from Jesus.
00:12:29.61\00:12:32.18
He said he wanted me to
get Bible Worker training
00:12:32.18\00:12:34.82
because he knew that I
wasn't attending church anymore.
00:12:34.82\00:12:37.95
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:12:37.95\00:12:41.96
When he does
visitation being a man,
00:12:41.96\00:12:44.36
he wanted a woman to do
Bible studies with women.
00:12:44.36\00:12:47.10
- Grace, her
daughter accompany him here
00:12:48.23\00:12:51.47
and worked without any stipend
00:12:51.47\00:12:53.60
because the fund is so limited.
00:12:53.60\00:12:56.64
But later, I could
monitor their work.
00:12:57.84\00:13:01.91
And Grace has been working,
also her father, diligently,
00:13:01.91\00:13:06.35
(speaking in foreign language)
00:13:11.55\00:13:13.49
- [Translator]
I'm a very shy person.
00:13:13.49\00:13:15.36
At first, I just observed
how he approached people
00:13:16.79\00:13:19.69
and how he gave the
Voice of Prophecy lessons.
00:13:19.69\00:13:23.10
(speaking in foreign language)
00:13:23.10\00:13:27.04
As he trained me,
I grew in learning
00:13:28.24\00:13:30.17
and in socializing with people.
00:13:30.17\00:13:31.71
I've learned not
to be so shy anymore.
00:13:33.31\00:13:36.01
(speaking in foreign language)
00:13:36.01\00:13:39.95
- If God send missionaries,
00:13:40.98\00:13:43.85
meaning there is
a need in this area.
00:13:43.85\00:13:45.95
I still hold on the
calling of the Holy Spirit
00:13:47.32\00:13:51.79
to send people.
00:13:54.20\00:13:55.43
And I believe God will provide.
00:13:57.60\00:13:59.50
(soft music)
00:13:59.50\00:14:01.90
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:14:03.07\00:14:04.67
- [Translator] In the past
00:14:04.67\00:14:05.94
while I still
had two kids at home,
00:14:05.94\00:14:07.48
I longed to work
for God full time.
00:14:07.48\00:14:09.91
(speaking in foreign language)
00:14:09.91\00:14:11.25
But it seemed like
the Lord didn't allow it
00:14:11.25\00:14:13.18
since I had
children to provide for.
00:14:13.18\00:14:15.38
(speaking in foreign language)
00:14:15.38\00:14:18.79
But I still looked
for ways to work for God.
00:14:18.79\00:14:21.12
I told Gerald that even
if I can't have a salary
00:14:22.32\00:14:24.76
as long as I can
eat, I will work for God.
00:14:24.76\00:14:27.86
(speaking in foreign language)
00:14:27.86\00:14:32.03
I saw that the
time won't be long
00:14:32.03\00:14:33.87
and that's the reason
I am doing God's work.
00:14:33.87\00:14:37.01
It is also my
commitment to work for the Lord.
00:14:37.01\00:14:39.47
- [Interviewer] How old were you
00:14:42.18\00:14:43.38
when you became a
full-time missionary?
00:14:43.38\00:14:45.68
- [Translator] 60 years old.
00:14:45.68\00:14:47.55
(speaking in foreign language)
00:14:47.55\00:14:49.25
And I'm turning 63 years
old this August 17th, 2020.
00:14:49.25\00:14:53.62
(speaking in foreign language)
00:14:53.62\00:14:55.49
It's been three
years since I started.
00:14:55.49\00:14:58.59
And this is my commitment.
00:14:58.59\00:15:00.30
I told my daughter
let's finish the Lord's work
00:15:00.30\00:15:02.70
wherever he calls us.
00:15:02.70\00:15:04.07
(uplifting music)
00:15:04.07\00:15:06.90
Here in this world, most
people want a retirement,
00:15:14.18\00:15:16.88
but for me when Jesus comes
back, that's my retirement.
00:15:18.35\00:15:21.12
When he comes back,
whether I have a stipend or not,
00:15:21.12\00:15:25.59
I will still
continue to work for God.
00:15:25.59\00:15:27.69
(somber music)
00:15:28.66\00:15:31.23
- Amazing,
00:15:35.33\00:15:36.26
- Whether I have stipend or not
00:15:36.26\00:15:38.17
I will continue to work for God.
00:15:38.17\00:15:40.07
- Yeah, the second
coming is my retirement.
00:15:40.07\00:15:42.14
(chuckles)
00:15:42.14\00:15:43.57
That's the right attitude.
00:15:43.57\00:15:45.17
That is just so
beautiful and inspiring for us.
00:15:45.17\00:15:48.98
Those are the kinds of
people we wanna see out there
00:15:48.98\00:15:51.21
working for God. - Right.
00:15:51.21\00:15:52.48
So you notice at
the beginning he'd said,
00:15:52.48\00:15:54.85
"If there's no
stipend, it's okay,
00:15:54.85\00:15:56.95
I want her to work with me."
00:15:56.95\00:15:58.19
That's what her father said.
00:15:58.19\00:15:59.79
- Yes. - And what an attitude.
00:15:59.79\00:16:01.96
You know, it's like the money's
not the first thing for him.
00:16:01.96\00:16:04.56
- Right. - The first thing is,
00:16:04.56\00:16:06.23
is God's work going forward
00:16:06.23\00:16:07.60
and is my
daughter connected into it.
00:16:07.60\00:16:10.07
- Yes.
00:16:10.07\00:16:11.57
That's really the spirit
of Christ speaking in a man.
00:16:11.57\00:16:15.17
That's somebody
that's tasted the joy
00:16:15.17\00:16:17.64
of doing God's
work and serving Jesus.
00:16:17.64\00:16:20.18
He's really tasted that,
00:16:20.18\00:16:21.71
and he realizes that
God's work is better than life.
00:16:21.71\00:16:25.18
- Right. Right.
00:16:25.18\00:16:26.45
- You notice they were just
riding these little BMX bikes.
00:16:27.88\00:16:29.82
- Right.
00:16:29.82\00:16:31.35
- Now where they live and
where their assignment is,
00:16:31.35\00:16:32.95
is like 20 kilometers apart.
00:16:32.95\00:16:35.22
- Right.
00:16:35.22\00:16:36.16
That's like 12 1/2 miles almost?
00:16:36.16\00:16:37.59
- Yeah, huh-uh.
00:16:37.59\00:16:38.79
Yeah. - wow.
00:16:38.79\00:16:40.30
- So again, we were able to
furnish them with new bicycles
00:16:40.30\00:16:44.53
out of this Bicycles
for Bible Workers fund
00:16:44.53\00:16:47.67
that our donors have
generously provided for.
00:16:47.67\00:16:50.77
- Right.
00:16:50.77\00:16:51.71
- And so we have a little video
00:16:51.71\00:16:52.87
about them and
their new bikes now.
00:16:52.87\00:16:54.38
(soft music)
00:16:56.24\00:16:57.55
(speaking in foreign language)
00:16:57.55\00:16:59.08
- [Translator] Those
small bikes that we used before,
00:16:59.08\00:17:01.18
one was my son's, the
red one that Grace rode.
00:17:01.18\00:17:03.92
And the other one that
I used was my brother's.
00:17:03.92\00:17:06.62
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:06.62\00:17:09.86
We tried riding them to the city
00:17:09.86\00:17:11.49
but Grace couldn't take
it because it was too small.
00:17:11.49\00:17:13.90
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:13.90\00:17:17.77
But now with these new
bikes, it is easier to travel.
00:17:17.77\00:17:21.07
We were hoping that
God would give us bikes
00:17:21.07\00:17:23.24
that we can use
to hasten his work.
00:17:23.24\00:17:25.61
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:25.61\00:17:27.68
When we were in
Bilidan we would go to Iloilo
00:17:27.68\00:17:30.15
for a devotional.
00:17:30.15\00:17:31.21
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:31.21\00:17:35.85
We used to go to
Iloilo once a week.
00:17:35.85\00:17:38.15
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:38.15\00:17:41.29
Now that we have
been transferred to Jaro,
00:17:41.29\00:17:43.49
we visit Bilidan on
Wednesday or Thursday.
00:17:43.49\00:17:45.83
We visit them twice
or three times a week,
00:17:47.56\00:17:49.86
and these bikes are
what we use to go there
00:17:49.86\00:17:51.77
to continue our
missionary work in Bilidan.
00:17:51.77\00:17:54.17
(speaking in foreign language)
00:17:54.17\00:17:57.74
We still have
more Bible students
00:17:57.74\00:17:59.71
and V.O.P students there
that haven't finished yet,
00:17:59.71\00:18:02.78
and also the church
that we are nurturing.
00:18:02.78\00:18:05.21
So we still
continue our work there.
00:18:05.21\00:18:07.65
So through these bikes
that have been given to us,
00:18:07.65\00:18:10.29
given by the Lord, our
work is easier and faster.
00:18:10.29\00:18:13.49
We can easily go
back home anytime.
00:18:13.49\00:18:15.62
These bikes are
faster than the old ones.
00:18:16.76\00:18:19.29
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:19.29\00:18:23.06
If we ride
public transportation,
00:18:23.06\00:18:24.97
we would spend a lot of money
that would eat up our stipend.
00:18:24.97\00:18:28.24
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:28.24\00:18:32.17
It costs about $5 for
us round trip on a Jeepney.
00:18:33.38\00:18:37.41
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:37.41\00:18:40.05
So if we travel three times
a week, it would cost us $15.
00:18:40.05\00:18:43.99
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:43.99\00:18:47.92
But with these
bikes, we save a lot.
00:18:48.99\00:18:51.09
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:51.09\00:18:53.53
And they really help us
a lot with our work here.
00:18:53.53\00:18:55.96
(speaking in foreign language)
00:18:55.96\00:19:00.27
I'm really
thankful for the sponsors.
00:19:00.27\00:19:02.30
(speaking in foreign language)
00:19:03.34\00:19:04.84
These bikes will give us big
opportunities for work for him.
00:19:04.84\00:19:07.98
I hope that these
bikes will still be in use
00:19:09.11\00:19:11.05
when Jesus comes.
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.71
(speaking in foreign language)
00:19:12.71\00:19:15.25
(gentle music)
00:19:15.25\00:19:17.82
- These bicycles they use them,
you know, every single week.
00:19:22.66\00:19:26.19
Two or three times,
they make major trips.
00:19:26.19\00:19:29.16
- Okay, so we're
excited about that.
00:19:29.16\00:19:31.17
We're so excited that
we could give them bicycles
00:19:31.17\00:19:33.40
and enable them to
not only save money
00:19:33.40\00:19:36.40
but also to be more efficient
00:19:36.40\00:19:37.94
and to be able to
travel wherever they need to go
00:19:37.94\00:19:40.14
without flagging down
00:19:40.14\00:19:41.44
or trying to find
the right transportation
00:19:41.44\00:19:43.14
from place to place.
00:19:43.14\00:19:44.18
- Right.
00:19:44.18\00:19:45.11
- So it's such a blessing.
00:19:45.11\00:19:46.01
- Yep.
00:19:46.01\00:19:47.22
Now in this next
video that we have,
00:19:47.22\00:19:49.02
we have both Juan and
Ruffino sharing their burden
00:19:49.02\00:19:53.52
for the church that
they have been working at.
00:19:53.52\00:19:55.96
- Yes.
00:19:55.96\00:19:57.16
So they're wanting
to revive this church
00:19:57.16\00:19:58.69
because there's a few existing,
possibly former SDA members,
00:19:58.69\00:20:03.26
and they're wanting
to revive this church
00:20:03.26\00:20:04.90
and make it happen.
00:20:04.90\00:20:06.10
And we love
church revivals. - Right.
00:20:06.10\00:20:07.97
- We just love
seeing that happen
00:20:07.97\00:20:09.47
because, you know,
why let a good thing die
00:20:09.47\00:20:12.71
just from
neglect. - Right. Right.
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.34
- That just
doesn't need to happen.
00:20:14.34\00:20:16.18
So here's the video
talking about this church.
00:20:16.18\00:20:19.51
- [Nicole] Okay.
00:20:19.51\00:20:21.05
(speaking in foreign language)
00:20:21.05\00:20:24.49
- [Translator] When
we first saw the church,
00:20:24.49\00:20:25.82
it was like a jungle.
00:20:25.82\00:20:27.26
It was surrounded by
tall grass and trees.
00:20:27.26\00:20:29.82
I couldn't explain
what I was feeling.
00:20:29.82\00:20:32.53
The church hadn't
been used for years.
00:20:33.70\00:20:35.66
(speaking in foreign language)
00:20:35.66\00:20:39.57
- we have a
church here long ago,
00:20:41.77\00:20:44.01
but then most of the
pastors getting a hard time
00:20:44.01\00:20:48.98
to penetrate this area.
00:20:49.98\00:20:51.58
For them, this
is a hopeless area.
00:20:51.58\00:20:54.22
Many pastors and
laymans has passed in this area,
00:20:54.22\00:20:59.19
but they said this
is a hopeless area.
00:21:00.42\00:21:02.32
(speaking in foreign language)
00:21:05.33\00:21:06.83
- [Translator] No one
has gone to this church
00:21:06.83\00:21:08.43
for a long time.
00:21:08.43\00:21:09.53
They've been doing
worship in their own houses.
00:21:10.90\00:21:13.27
Some of the members
were old and disabled,
00:21:13.27\00:21:15.47
so this church
has been neglected.
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.67
(speaking in foreign language)
00:21:17.67\00:21:20.71
We didn't even know
there was a church there.
00:21:20.71\00:21:23.14
So we would worship at the
home where we were staying.
00:21:23.14\00:21:25.85
Sometimes there were just
five of us worshiping together.
00:21:28.15\00:21:30.99
So what I did, I
would invite my family
00:21:32.09\00:21:34.39
and have my twins sing
00:21:35.39\00:21:36.86
so that we felt like
there were a lot of people.
00:21:36.86\00:21:38.79
(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
00:21:38.79\00:21:43.10
But then we found out
that there's a church here.
00:21:45.03\00:21:47.50
When we first saw the
church it was like a jungle,
00:21:47.50\00:21:50.11
it was surrounded by
tall grass and trees.
00:21:50.11\00:21:52.67
I couldn't explain
what I was feeling.
00:21:52.67\00:21:54.81
The church hadn't
been used for years.
00:21:54.81\00:21:56.78
(Juan speaking
in foreign language)
00:21:58.05\00:22:03.02
This side of the wall is rotten.
00:22:03.89\00:22:05.15
We just replaced
the roof with GI sheets
00:22:05.15\00:22:07.52
so it will look better.
00:22:07.52\00:22:08.82
These windows are rotten too.
00:22:08.82\00:22:10.59
These are all rotten.
00:22:13.16\00:22:14.30
It has holes already because
it's rotten from here to there.
00:22:16.70\00:22:20.60
And the ceiling
needs to be replaced.
00:22:20.60\00:22:22.60
(speaking in foreign language)
00:22:24.87\00:22:27.91
People are laughing at us
when they look at our church.
00:22:27.91\00:22:31.51
Some didn't have
hope for a church revival
00:22:31.51\00:22:33.68
because many of the
members are not here anymore.
00:22:33.68\00:22:36.48
Some members
moved to other islands
00:22:36.48\00:22:38.49
and others have backslidden
00:22:38.49\00:22:39.72
(speaking in foreign language)
00:22:39.72\00:22:43.46
Maybe they were embarrassed
00:22:43.46\00:22:44.69
about what this
church looks like.
00:22:44.69\00:22:46.39
So, what we did here
00:22:47.23\00:22:49.66
was that we
continued giving Bible studies.
00:22:49.66\00:22:52.00
(speaking in foreign language)
00:22:53.97\00:22:57.11
Juan and I
repaired the broken parts.
00:22:57.11\00:22:59.77
We just looked
for ways to repair it.
00:22:59.77\00:23:01.81
(speaking in foreign language)
00:23:02.84\00:23:05.58
- [Translator] We cut
all the tall trees around it.
00:23:05.58\00:23:08.68
We cleared all the tall grass.
00:23:08.68\00:23:10.32
(speaking in foreign language)
00:23:11.19\00:23:12.35
And then the
church looked better.
00:23:12.35\00:23:13.92
We then invited
people to worship with us.
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.19
As local members
started to regularly attend,
00:23:18.69\00:23:21.20
we invited other people
to worship with us also.
00:23:21.20\00:23:23.60
Some young people joined us
00:23:24.83\00:23:26.30
until many people began coming.
00:23:26.30\00:23:28.30
(speaking in foreign language)
00:23:28.30\00:23:30.27
(soft music)
00:23:30.27\00:23:32.71
(speaking in foreign language)
00:23:36.98\00:23:40.38
- [Translator] A
lot of us worship here.
00:23:40.38\00:23:42.08
There are many from
other churches also.
00:23:42.08\00:23:44.39
We started with only five people
00:23:44.39\00:23:46.59
but now we have
reached 17, 19 or 20,
00:23:46.59\00:23:50.03
so I praise the Lord.
00:23:50.03\00:23:51.76
The JFA Bible
workers have revived us.
00:23:51.76\00:23:54.76
If you don't have friends to
worship with, you will be sad,
00:23:54.76\00:23:57.60
but when you have
friends, it's fun.
00:23:57.60\00:23:59.83
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:24:01.77\00:24:04.77
- [Translator]
People here are prejudice.
00:24:04.77\00:24:07.24
One reason is
that they are well off
00:24:07.24\00:24:09.11
and they have no
interest in the Bible.
00:24:09.11\00:24:11.28
They have been busy
with drinking and smoking,
00:24:11.28\00:24:13.98
but God gave me an idea and
that is to give out VOP lessons
00:24:13.98\00:24:17.62
going from house
to house to house.
00:24:17.62\00:24:19.49
(speaking in foreign language)
00:24:19.49\00:24:22.06
So I hand out VOP pamphlets,
00:24:22.06\00:24:24.59
and even if they
don't fill out the answers,
00:24:24.59\00:24:26.59
I can still go back to them.
00:24:26.59\00:24:28.56
In that way, we can build a
relationship with the people.
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.40
After a while some
people accepted the message.
00:24:33.20\00:24:36.34
(speaking in foreign language)
00:24:36.34\00:24:37.94
We are gradually
reaching the people
00:24:37.94\00:24:39.67
at the same time that we
are repairing this church.
00:24:39.67\00:24:42.48
(speaking in foreign language)
00:24:42.48\00:24:44.55
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:24:44.55\00:24:47.58
- [Translator] I want
our church, though small
00:24:47.58\00:24:49.28
to be a strong building.
00:24:49.28\00:24:50.79
(speaking in foreign language)
00:24:50.79\00:24:52.25
And I want it to be attractive,
a pleasing house of worship.
00:24:52.25\00:24:56.16
That's what I really want.
00:24:56.16\00:24:58.23
That they might see
what the children of God are.
00:24:58.23\00:25:00.70
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:25:00.70\00:25:03.87
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:25:03.87\00:25:06.57
- [Translator] I've been
asking the Lord to send someone
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.57
to help us renovate this church
00:25:08.57\00:25:10.04
so that it will look
better and be more productive.
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.37
If you look at it now,
it doesn't really look good.
00:25:14.68\00:25:17.18
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:25:17.18\00:25:19.78
But I know it's up to God.
00:25:19.78\00:25:21.55
It's up to him whom
will he use to help out.
00:25:21.55\00:25:24.42
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:25:24.42\00:25:27.16
If this is what the church
looks like until he comes,
00:25:27.16\00:25:29.89
we can't do anything
because that's his will,
00:25:29.89\00:25:32.59
but we are praying that
someone is going to help.
00:25:32.59\00:25:35.06
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:25:35.06\00:25:38.47
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:25:38.47\00:25:40.80
- [Translator]
Though there's no help yet,
00:25:40.80\00:25:42.40
I'm gratefully thankful,
00:25:42.40\00:25:44.04
hoping that that
would really happen.
00:25:44.04\00:25:46.81
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:25:46.81\00:25:51.38
It has been our hope and dream
00:25:51.38\00:25:52.95
that our church
will be renovated.
00:25:52.95\00:25:54.88
(woman speaking
in foreign language)
00:25:54.88\00:25:57.59
Of course we are
the light of the world.
00:25:57.59\00:26:00.22
And we are also to
show that we are presentable
00:26:00.22\00:26:02.86
so that they may
know who Adventists are.
00:26:02.86\00:26:05.93
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.76
- [Translator] I believe
this church will prosper.
00:26:09.76\00:26:12.10
I believe many people
will come to worship here.
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.77
(speaking in foreign language)
00:26:14.77\00:26:18.27
According to two
recently baptized people
00:26:18.27\00:26:20.71
who told me that one
of them had had a dream
00:26:20.71\00:26:22.78
in which he saw this
church full of people.
00:26:22.78\00:26:25.38
There was no more room
for people to sit in it.
00:26:25.38\00:26:28.28
That was what he
saw in his dream.
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.55
I said, "Praise God, if
that would really happen."
00:26:30.55\00:26:33.36
(speaking in foreign language)
00:26:33.36\00:26:35.82
I really believe that
it will really happen.
00:26:35.82\00:26:38.03
The time will come when this
church will be full of people.
00:26:39.46\00:26:42.30
But as for now, the people
are seeing the old building.
00:26:44.97\00:26:47.77
(man speaking in
foreign language)
00:26:47.77\00:26:51.37
But nothing is
impossible with God.
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.34
- It's so neat to see on
the other side of the world
00:26:55.81\00:26:58.28
people passionate for
God and for his church.
00:26:58.28\00:27:01.55
- Yeah.
00:27:01.55\00:27:02.75
Just the joy on that
church member that lady.
00:27:02.75\00:27:04.69
- Yeah. - That was crying,
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.15
and you know, this is a
dream to see this renovated.
00:27:06.15\00:27:08.66
It's like, wow, her
heart is really in the gospel
00:27:08.66\00:27:11.63
and what a joy it's
gonna be to see her,
00:27:11.63\00:27:14.63
you know, if we are
able to renovate this church
00:27:14.63\00:27:17.67
and to meet her in
heaven and you know,
00:27:17.67\00:27:20.27
to see her come up to us
and say, "Hey, you helped us."
00:27:20.27\00:27:24.94
- Yeah.
00:27:24.94\00:27:26.11
- You helped us
renovate that church,
00:27:26.11\00:27:27.64
and because of that, we
were able to attract more people
00:27:27.64\00:27:28.71
to the gospel and here they are.
00:27:28.71\00:27:30.85
- Right.
00:27:30.85\00:27:32.31
- Well, I've been inspired
00:27:32.31\00:27:33.38
by these stories
today. - Oh, yes.
00:27:33.38\00:27:35.12
- And I'm looking
forward to hearing more
00:27:35.12\00:27:36.99
in upcoming episodes.
00:27:36.99\00:27:38.35
- Absolutely.
00:27:38.35\00:27:39.85
- I would like to invite
you to pray for these workers.
00:27:39.85\00:27:42.09
They obviously have
all sorts of challenges.
00:27:42.09\00:27:44.66
And if you would like to
help their work to go forward
00:27:44.66\00:27:47.30
in the
Philippines, you can contact us
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.26
at Jesus for Asia, PO Box 1221,
00:27:49.26\00:27:53.17
Collegedale, Tennessee 37315.
00:27:53.17\00:27:56.44
Call us at (423) 413-7321
00:27:56.44\00:28:00.81
or visit our
website AT jesus4asia.org.
00:28:00.81\00:28:04.38
May God richly bless you
00:28:04.38\00:28:06.11
until we see you next
time on Jesus for Asia Now.
00:28:06.11\00:28:09.18
(uplifting music)
00:28:09.18\00:28:12.02