“Ate, who will take us home?” Jenny asked worriedly as we stepped out of the church after the culmination program of the PAMAS Children’s Evangelism. It was Friday night, and the rain was still pouring. All the other kids had assigned vehicles to take them home except for Jenny and her friends. They were from Langkanao, a small community in Barangay Lurugan.
I made a snap decision to drive them home, convinced their houses would be nearby. We turned right at an intersection and descended toward a muddy trail. The road was dark, remote, and slippery. As we continued downhill, the kids insisted I drop them off whenever we found a place to stop because the road might be too slippery for us to pass by safely. Unfortunately, there were no trails on either side of the road that would allow me to reverse the vehicle, so we continued by faith praying that God would send His Angels to protect us.
Reality hit—this journey was far from safe. We were skidding obliquely down the muddy road. I knew then, that I couldn’t return home that night. The kids discussed how that road would cause so many vehicles to get stuck. They even said that no one would dare drive there, especially when it was raining.
It was impossible to safely maneuver the vehicle to a safe spot. With each turn of the steering wheel, it became clear that our forward momentum was unyielding. I believe Angels were holding the vehicle while we effortlessly drove through the gullies of slippery mud.
“We can go that way!” Lia cried out, her finger pointing towards a slightly elevated intersection up ahead. It felt as if we were being cradled by invisible hands as we made our way through the muddy terrain. We prayed and thanked God for this miracle.
If only we could peer into the spiritual realm, we would be awestruck by the multitude of angels shielding us from harm. Have you ever felt God’s protection so tangibly in your life? God does not require a vast audience to demonstrate His power; for Him, just a humble missionary and six kids are more than enough.
“We shall never know what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been delivered from through the interposition of the angels until we shall see in the light of eternity the providences of God.”
As we prepared to leave the car at that spot overnight, the kids were worried that someone might come by and damage the vehicle. Afterall, it was in the middle of nowhere and there had been instances of similar incidents happening. I reassured them, “This car is not ours; it belongs to Jesus, and He will take care of it as it serves His purpose.”
We resolved to walk to their village in search of a cellphone to contact my husband. As we arrived, one kind parent welcomed me into their living room. I sent a message to my husband explaining the situation and a group of kids gathered around me. I looked around and saw their faces filled with genuine worry, each one voicing their concerns about how I would make it back safely. Looking at the children, I had an overwhelming burden for their souls. It was as if God was whispering directly into my heart, “These kids need to hear the truth, too.”
Few brave kids decided to hike up with me up to the main road. We prayed, believing that my husband would be able to see my message. Tears began to fill my eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight of God’s call for these children. Jessa, who had been walking silently beside me, broke the silence. “All of those houses you see down there, they have kids living in them. They want to join the PAMAS kids’ program, but the base is too far, and their parents won’t let them go,” she said softly.
This incident made me realize that God can use unusual circumstances, and may even divinely orchestrate events to open a new avenue for reaching out to more souls. This village is another mission field for us to pray for.
