Craigs in Cauayan

April 1st of last year Sister Teweia's kabahays (roommates) with the help of her companion, Sister Taketi Reo, decided to play a prank on her.  They went onto her keypad phone and took their names off the contact list and changed it to say it was the Assistants.  They then sent a text from their number, telling Sister Teweia she was to immediately pack because I was coming to pick her up right away; she was going home that day.  Sister Teweia's scheduled departure date was April 8, but with all the craziness of evacuation due to Covid, anything was possible.  Both Sister Teweia and Sister Taketi Reo are from Kiribati, and the Church had hoped to evacuate them from the Philippines when most foreign missionaries were evacuated.  As we were amassing the missionaries to headquarters in Cauayan for evacuation, word came that missionaries from Kiribati and Samoa were not to evacuate to Manila and home because their countries had already closed their borders and their ...

In the 7th chapter of Judges, we read of Gideon's battle against the Midianites by the hill Moreh.  Gideon took with him 32,000 soldiers from the House of Israel.  The Lord said it was too many and told Gideon to lower the number of soldiers with him so Israel could not say that they defeated the Midianites by their own strength.  Through a series of questions and tests, the Lord eliminated from the army of Israel all of those who were fearful, afraid or careless.  Gideon was left with an army of 300 to face a foe who were like grasshoppers for multitude.  The Lord delivered the Midianites into Gideon's hands.  It was a miracle from God: Israel was victorious -- or rather, God was victorious. In the month of January, we also experienced a miracle with our little army of missionaries.  As I relate this miracle, I will, by necessity, be required to give you some numbers.  Critics often say mission leaders are too focused upon numbers.  I admit,...