SULADS STORIES

THE PATH THAT I MUST TREAD

by Marlon Manlapao

Dao Mission School

August 1996

God has a plan for the life of every person.  The reason I write this story is that my life is an example of God’s planning.  I had no thoughts of doing missionary work.  I did not wish to go to unknown places and face unknown hardships without the experience to handle the problems.

When I decided to serve the Lord by joining the SULADS program, I put my entire life in His hands.  I decided that whatever happened, I will do His unfinished work in the mountains of Bukidnon or any other place he sends me.

When Sir Daryl Famisaran told me of the decision of the SULADS Board of Trustees to send me along with Bobby to Dao Mission School, we were glad to pack our things and start on the journey as soon as possible.  When we arrived at the end of the road at Dugka, San Fernando, Bukidnon, some of the people there including the barangay officials warned us that we should not go.  They said it would be dangerous for us to go to Dao because there were many members of the New People’s Army (NPA), a communist organization, working in Dao.  In fact, the NPA had just recently stolen a radio from the people of Dugka. 

We only smiled at them and said, “If our lives end in Dao, we are humbly willing to accept that.”   We continued on our journey and reached Dao.  Nothing happened to us as we are on God’s work and we  trust in God to protect us.  We have been assigned to the work in Dao and God will see us through.

The municipal mayor, the national police, and the Philippine military are suspecting that Dao is functioning as NPA representatives.  While it is true that many NPA have visited Dao, it does not mean that we are working with them.  We ignored their accusations.

From August 5-11, 1996, we held an effort to win souls in Dao.  We have prepared thirty souls for baptism.  On August 31, Pastor Cabaluna baptized these valiant souls.  Even though our enemies try to break us by discouragement and problems, we try to put all our problems before the Lord in prayer. 

We know now that this is the work that we must do and the path that we must tread as we wait for His Second Coming.