SULADS STORIES

True Answer of the Pastor’s Prayer

by Neil M. Tagarao

Basak Mission School

November 1996

For years now, Pastor Vicente Dacao, who is presently the sitio leader of Basak, Sinuda, Kitatao, Bukidnon, has been waiting for his request to the mayor concerning the water problem in Basak.  No action had been taken as yet. 

Last November 8, 1996, Friday afternoon we surveyed the area from where we are getting our drinking water.  We found that it is stagnant water and likely to cause cholera, diarrhea, and amebic dysentery.

 We, the partner student missionaries to Basak, were discussing the problem.  We decided to place the matter in God’s hands and prayed about it.  That night we had a midnight prayer vigil and prayed for the water problem.  On Sabbath, November 9, 1996, God answered our prayers.  Sir Boy Janoyan brought a Korean student of MVC to our village.  We brought them to the source of our water and told them of the problems.  By God’s grace, they were touched, especially the Korean student.  He promised to donate five thousand pesos on November 28, 1996, when I was to come in to MVC for reporting.  We were so thankful for this immediate answer to prayer.  We never stopped praying and continue the midnight prayer session.

Friday afternoon, November 22, 1996, we were having our adult class.  There were more than 30 in attendance.  We were surprised by the arrival of the Korean students along with Sir Boy Janoyan and other SULADS.  They brought the joyous news that the water pipe was ready.  Everyone was glad, so grateful that our Almighty God had sent the SULADS.

That Sabbath, November 23, 1996, most of the villagers, including Pastor Vicente Dacao who is a Baptist, attended the Sabbath School with all the children.  In the afternoon, I talked with Pastor Dacao.  Heartily, he expressed that he liked Adventism. 

Early on Sunday, November 24, everybody in the sitio happily cooperated in putting up the pipe.  At about 12:00 noon, we finished the work. The entire project was a gift of the Korean Students Association of Mountain View College.  I talked with Pastor Dacao again.  He said to me that he had been praying for the Baptist Koreans to come and help them with the water problem.  Now, God had answered his prayer by sending Koreans but these were not Baptists but Adventists.  “I believe it is the answer to my sincere prayer,” stated Pastor Dacao. 

 That evening, I asked him if he would be willing to study the Bible with us.  He replied “Well, it is good.  I like studying the Bible and talking God’s word.”  That very evening was our first Bible Study.