Camias, Philippines -- I went to our outreach in Sitio Camias, Laur, Nueva Ecija with Pastor Rommel Gornez hoping to start regular worship services there on Sunday afternoons. When we reached the place, we were approached by some men who had been drinking. They asked me a very important question: “Why is there still no rain in our place?”
The question was an expression of their complaint to God for allowing a drought that destroyed some of their crops. Some mothers also expressed the same sentiment because down the mountain farmers are already enjoying the rain and most of them have already planted their crops while the people in Camias are still waiting for heavy rain.
When it was time for our worship service, more than 30 adults and youth showed up with their Bibles. We had given them Bibles last year. God impressed in my heart to change my sermon and preach from 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 in the Bible. I said that it is God alone who can send rain or keep rain from falling. I explained the only thing people need to do is to obey His instructions: Humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn away from their wicked ways.
The message ended with prayer of confession and petition for rain. I heard the people voicing out their prayers, especially when we asked God to send rain. I saw some who shed tears in prayer. The service was held under a mango tree, but I knew the presence of God was there moving the hearts of the people. We saw the “seed of hope” shining on the people's faces. They knew that the Lord already answered our prayers. After our coffee fellowship with them we went home with joy in our hearts.
Before we returned to Camias I received a text message from one resident telling me that it is now raining every day. The people are happy that the Lord answered their prayers.
After our worship service at the mother church in Cabanatuan, we were once again headed to Camias. I was not feeling well and it was raining heavy that afternoon. Teddy and his wife volunteered to bring us at least down the mountain instead of riding on my motor bike. Pastor Rommel and I walked up to Camias with our raincoats on. The walk was really difficult because of the heavy rain. Some families were not able to show up in our service because of the rain. But 25 adults and youth still managed to come. They could not contain their joy in thanking God for the rain.
One father testified in our service that he already gave up drinking liquor. He attended our service with cigarette still lit and smoking it from time to time. I just said to myself, “at least the Lord started with the liquor.” For the past four weeks of conducting worship services in the community, we really saw the hands of God working in the lives of the people there. We are still teaching them the basics in Christian living, especially in prayer and Bible reading. They know how to open their Bibles now and we are telling them that we will soon ask them to lead in prayer and Scripture reading.
I believe the Word of the Lord is already planted in the hearts of the people there. The Lord is helping us to harvest now. We will keep going there every Sunday afternoons. The harvest is ready, we just need to reach them. This time we go there without any material thing to give, but people are just happy to come and worship with us. After almost three years of planting the seed, now comes the harvest of souls. Praise the name of the Lord.
-- Pastor Cryz B. Colorado, Jr. pastors a Nazarene church in Cabanatuan, Philippines, which has planted a church in the remote mountain village called Camias. This outreach began and has continued to be nurtured through a radio program supported by Nazarene World Mission Broadcast radio programs.