AN ANSWER TO A
SINCERE PRAYER
by Nelita B. Janoyan
June 1996
It was Friday, June 7, 1996, when Levi Manzo arrived in
Kabalansihan where his partner Bobby Llamera was waiting for him. They were supposed to go to Sitio Quiapo to
open a new mission school. At first the
people were very happy to have a school in their very own sitio that they
promised the student missionaries that they would build the teachers’ cottage
and the school building. The
missionaries supplied them with nails so that construction could start
immediately. The plan was for the
missionaries to be in their sitio on June 16.
Levi and Bobby packed their few belongings for their trek to
the area. They reached the place after a
wearisome hike for two hours.
Surprisingly no one met them upon their arrival. They observed that the cottage was not
finished and there was no school building.
After some inquiry, they realized that the people had changed their
minds about the school. Very frustrated
and discouraged, they questioned themselves regarding what mistake they have
made to cause the people to turn about.
With mixed feelings, the missionaries contemplated what to do next. They would be embarrassed to go back to MVC
failing to open a mission school.
Besides that, they had stayed in Kabalansihan for quite a time
already. So Levi and Bobby requested the
village people to approach them when they decided to open a school.
The student missionaries left the place frustrated and not
knowing where to go. They had no place
to stay in Kabalansihan since they had dismantled the cottage where they used
to stay. The two missionaries poured out
their disappointments and desires to be missionaries to the Lord. Late that afternoon, they were impressed to
go to Simud Bridge near Sinuda where an Adventist couple live and operate a
business.
When they reached the place, they introduced themselves to
Rogelio and Juliet Gebial. They told
them the reason for their presence there.
That night they had a season of prayer again. They believed in their hearts that God had
another plan for them, a new territory to work perhaps.
The following day, Juliet informed them that Sitio Basak was
interested in having a mission school at any time. Immediately, the Student Missionaries started
for the pure Manobo village, an hour’s hike from Simud Bridge.
The people of Basak were very happy to welcome them. They called for a meeting right away and a bayanihan (work bee) started for the
construction of their cottage and the school building.
The Student Missionaries praised God for His leadings and
for answering their sincere desires to be useful missionaries.
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