The sounds of carpentry drifted through the trees, mingling with Tagalog voices. The voices were sounds of men quickly working together to put the roof on the new church. The departure of Laura and the LaBore children was coming the following week, and we wanted very much to have the roof completed before they left, so that we could spend that last Sabbath together in the new church.
I bought as many supplies as possible with the remaining money allotted to building the church. We were short by two sheets of zinc roofing, but no matter. The workers started roofing on the front end, and the two remaining spaces bothered no one as blue sky shone in at the front area, beyond the wall.
Because of funding still needed to complete the church, the middle floors still have not been poured. No one complained as they stepped on rocks and dirt to reach their seats. The seats were construction boards, tied to cinderblock with baling wire. Again, no one cared. What they DID notice in the new church was how cool it felt inside compared to the old bamboo church. The zinc had a thin layer of insulation inside, keeping the tropical heat at bay. The tall beams, holding up the roofing let the heat rise and escape, making it feel so much cooler inside.
It was wonderful! We were surprised and SO grateful by this act of love of working harder all week just so we could use the church. This first Sabbath in the new church, happy voices rose up in singing, but instead of just mingling with the trees, we are sure they mingled with the voices of angels as we all worshipped God together!
That Sabbath, we chose Wilky to preach. He lives in the next big town down the road, and usually goes to church there. These last few months, we have hired him to do the carpentry on the church. He is old, but he is very talented and dedicated. Instead of the hassle and expense of traveling five miles down the road every day (he walks because he owns no form of transportation), he stayed in one of our extra bamboo huts. On the weekends, he would travel home to spend time with his family. They missed having him around during the week, but his income was a blessing.
Jaime was another huge blessing to us too! Jaime is also very old, but works as hard as a young man. He is a very conscientious worker and picks up all the tools after each workday and make sure they were locked up. He comes early, and stays late. He has recently been baptized, along with his wife. He has told us often how grateful he is for giving him a job, because no one else in the village would hire an old man. We are the ones blessed to have him.
It was a wonderful Sabbath as Wilky and his family were there, and Jaime along with his wife Rizalene. We had about 35 children there that day, and everyone was able to say “good-bye” to Laura and the children as they head back to the states. Bill will remain here to keep things going until his replacement, Bruce and Monique Wilkerson arrive in October. Of course, since this is our home, we will always be here at the AWA Palawan Mission Project. The LaBore family says we provide an anchor for the work that is going on at the project and the new people coming to church. God will bless us all as we take on these new aspects of our lives, not only for our family, but also for the Wilkersons and LaBore families.
Please continue to keep our family and our AWA family in your prayers. Thank you for your support!
Your AWA Mission Family stationed at the AWA Philippines – Palawan Project,
Edgar and Raylene Espinosa
