It had God’s hand on it from the beginning.

Every time Marc and I wondered if we were to go

ahead with the plan, God showed us unequivocal reasons for proceeding. At first we doubted
there would be even three U.S. partners who could take two weeks off from work. Six did! We
also wondered if we would find the eight qualified participants from Capul. There were 14 on
the first day, and twelve continued through the end of the workshop! We struggled to find Bible
study materials that fit Abaknon needs. God
led us instead to develop studies with Weny’s
help that were tailor-fit to faith issues on
Capul. No translation was involved.

Each of the US team along with Weny and

Pantit presented one of the eight-session
series designed to answer the question,
“Who is Jesus?” I introduced a development tool
to help participants
create interactive
studies designed to
facilitate retention and
application. Each
facilitator was then
paired with one or two
participants as they
worked to
create their
own Bible study guide on one of the session
topics. Weny, Ruben Marc, and I made sure
that language issues did not interfere (much)
with information transfer.

The results were quite amazing! As each

participant or team of participants presented
their study to the group, we all had another
chance to interact with the material. The eight
sessions are now ready for revision and
community-based testing before distributing to
Bible study groups on Capul.
 That is only one of the
tangible benefits of the
workshop. Prayer was also
a big part of God’s agenda.

During our final debriefing session,

participants testified to what God
had done for them in the two weeks.
One had discovered reading God’s word for the first time, and had his doubts about Jesus being
God removed. Another, abandoned young by his earthly father, found out he was a ‘favored son’
of the heavenly Father. Another proved that Jesus was stronger than the spirits who cause her
terror by impersonating a dead family member. Another pair, both head-strong, found that
praying was very effective in finding what was on God’s mind. Another discovered that Jesus’
humility, accepting the servant’s role, was God’s model for a husband relating to his wife.
And if these results weren’t enough, the facili-
tators also experienced a unique joy working
within Christian community, sharing the load,
and praying together.
Transparency and gratitude,
humility and gentleness,
courage and staying-with-it:
these were the added graces
with which God enhanced the
team. Even the coconut
borers, which visited our
team debriefs each evening,
only added comic
relief to the intense stuff God’s Spirit was Marivic
doing—at least comic for some of us.
Beyond all these good benefits, there are
now six who will continue in training until
December. Pray that each will grow in
Norit and Jason knowledge of God’s Word and in the skills
needed to understand it. Pray
that they will be teachable and learn to ask good Rhea
questions. Pray also that they will allow God to adjust
their attitudes to align with his good purpose for each
as they internalize his Word. If the beginning is any
indication, only part of what God has planned in these
five months is to complete an eight-study guide with
Joe notes and resources for group leaders. What else? Myra