The last five weeks have been a whirlwind, but we know God is in control. Our original plan was to complete our AWA commitment which ends on May 31, 2020. Then on June 21, 2019, Ric Swaningson, AWA’s president, asked Bruce to take on the AWA Philippines Project, and Monique to remain as the AWA Guyana Project Manager for now until a replacement can be found. We were undecided, then reminded of a quote from the book, Ministry of Healing, page 205, “Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed.” After much prayer and contemplation, we accepted the call to assume our new role with AWA!
Guyana has been our home for over four years. For the first two years we were renting and living on top of a general store in Mabaruma Township and attending the small church in the village of Barabina. In the time we have been there at the AWA Guyana Mission Project, we have witnessed many baptisms and marriages, and mentored a church member to be a strong leader in the church. The Lord has helped us accomplish so much at the project, more than we could list here! Although Monique will continue to manage the Guyana project, she will manage it from the Philippines until a more permanent project manager is in place. Darren and Joanne Lea and their beautiful daughters, Rosanna and Christie remain in Guyana and will continue the flying and the mission work there.
On July 2, we flew to the Philippines for our short site visit and spend some transition time with the LaBores in Sagpangan, on the island of Palawan, where the AWA Mission Base is located. The LaBore family is returning to the United States from the Philippines to enroll their teenagers in an Adventist Academy in Southern California. Thankfully, with the LaBore family and support of many partners who believe in the Philippine mission over the last 20 years, the overall project has grown in scope and size since they started. There is now a mission house, a foundation for an airstrip, and a church construction project underway.
Currently in the Philippines, many project operations and support systems are in various phases of development that drives the need for onsite management and development for future operations. The physical and structural activities are many, but even more important is the need for people in the community to know Jesus and have a personal loving relationship with Him. Thus, there is a need for not only someone to manage the project but the physical presence of AWA missionaries to help lead people to experience and to know our friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so excited the Lord is using us to fill this need, but there are many other needs in the Lord’s vineyard.
We feel sad we are unable to personally finish in Guyana the water collection project, the solar system project, fencing, and most importantly, home Bible studies. However, we feel confident and pray that in God’s time He will send someone to continue this work, another family or perhaps you…. Will you join us? Brothers and Sisters, family and friends, please pray for the AWA Guyana and Philippine projects. No work is possible or successful without the leading of the Holy Spirit. Thank you to all who partner, support, and donate to these two projects we are excited to be a part of!
Your AWA Mission Family,
Bruce and Monique Wilkerson
