It was clear that God had led in the past. We sat at Don Starlin’s table in Berrien Springs, Michigan, taking it all in. When the events he told us about had occurred several years ago, we were too occupied
with the Guyana project for events in the Philippines to sink into our grey matter. Now that we will be transferring to the Philippines, the beginning of the story is vital to us, as it will now be part of our story!
Don Starlin was the first president of AWA, and was there when it all began 20 years ago. Clif and Cyndi Brooks were the first missionaries deployed to the Philippines. In the beginning, they lived south of the capitol city of Manila, on the island of Luzon. Clif scoured the countryside for a place to build the airbase. Political reasons made it impossible for him to acquire land where he originally wanted the base to be located.
After three years, in 2005, God opened up the perfect place for an airbase, on the island of Palawan, in the village of Sagpangan. It was centrally located, with enough land available to build an airstrip and mission housing. The total cost of the land, including acquisition expenses, would be at least $100,000.
Don flew to the area to check it out and work out the details. He was excited about the Adventist World Aviation Foundation’s board in the Philippines, and recognizing a series of providential steps, they voted in faith to secure the land. The decision to move forward necessitated a $10,000 down payment. On the long flight home, Don prayed earnestly to God for the resources. AWA didn’t have that kind of money sitting around. If God wanted them to have the land, He would have to provide the funds.
The Sabbath after returning to the States, Don was invited to give a report to the Pioneer Memorial church Sabbath School on the campus of Andrews University. Members of the class had sponsored equipment for the airplane as well as the missionaries. During the report, Don made no mention of the money that was needed for the base. Afterwards, a woman approached him and said that God had impressed her to help the project come to fruition. “Would $10,000 help?” Providentially, it was the exact amount needed for the down payment on the land!
Several months later, the next payment was due, and this time it was $40,000! It was only days before the deadline. Don felt that he had worked very hard at raising the funds; unfortunately, AWA had only about $500 to show for it! After a mission feature presentation at the PMC Sabbath School, the same woman approached him again and told him something very strange. She had balanced her checkbook that week and discovered well over $10,000 she wasn’t expecting! She had checked with the bank to make sure that it wasn’t some type of mistake. It wasn’t! She said, “Several months ago I gave the money to God for the project. He returned it with interest, so I’m going to give it again!”
Palawan Kids
A businessman was present for the same report in Sabbath School and showed up at Don’s office with a personal check for $10,000! And then, he pulled out another $10,000 check – a matching amount from his employer! Quickly afterwards, checks from others arrived that funded the balance of the payment!
Months later, another installment of $60,000 was due. By now, those involved knew that God was in this. But still, He chose to test their faith. Again it was the “last hour,” and no money. Then a man called Don “out of the blue” and explained that, though Don didn’t know him, he and his wife felt impressed, more than six months earlier, to help AWA’s Philippines airbase project. As they prayed over what to do, God impressed them that they needed to sell one of their rental units, but, which one? All the properties were engaged with long-term leases. Soon afterwards, one of their renters let them know that he had to break his lease. As a result, they were able to list the rental property for sale. He indicated that though the property hadn’t sold yet, there was enough equity to advance the funds if AWA needed them. That week a FedEx envelope arrived. Enclosed was a $60,000 check for the Philippines airbase! What an awesome God we serve! He is at work. We are humbled and excited to have the opportunity to carry on the work that was started years ago.
Many times, we are asked by people, “Isn’t it time you came home now and lived a ‘normal’ life?” When we see God working in the way described in this article, we ask ourselves, how can we not work where God is working while we still have the strength to do it? There is nowhere better than to be working side- by-side with Him, in the center of His will. Stories like these confirm that God wants this project to succeed, He just needs people willing to help. What is He calling you to do?
