Cebu Philippines - No Obstacle too hard for God

It is 1030am, warm and sunny here in Cebu, Philippines. I left Thursday night, it is Saturday now. I arrived four hours ago and have preached for thirty minutes to forty men already. The journey was long. Over thirty hours in total. Perth-Singapore-Manila-Cebu. I always travel the cheapest possible route and airline; it allows me to bless with the funds I save. It does, however, mean long waits in airports. Yet God always makes the journey an adventure. Arriving at Singapore 3am I hoped to go right into the transit terminal for the next flight; 14 hours later. However, you can only really check in two hours before, and then go through customs. Outside the transit terminal is like living on the outskirts of wonderland. Inside boasts free internet lounges, TV stations, transit hotels with showers that can be purchased in six hour blocks, even free foot massages. Changi Airport isn’t voted the best airport in the world year in and year out for nothing. Peering through the glass wall of the transit terminal I felt like a child at the gate of Disneyland denied entry. I prayed over and over to God "Please Father get me in".

I approached the check in desks of Philippine Airlines. Eventually I was told sorry sir you will have to come back at 9pm (it was now 8am, so only a 13 hour wait). She suggested I go to town and do some shopping. As a missionary you feel like saying "I don't 'shop'", but you refrain and politely nod. I prayed more. Dear God make this woman go away and we can try again with someone else. She didn’t go away. I literally stood there waiting for her to leave. After 15 minutes I gave up and headed back to MacDonald’s (it had become my personal transit lounge). Trying hard not to complain I accepted the situation I was in. I grabbed my second egg and sausage mcmuffin and reminded myself why I never eat McDonalds. I had prayed and asked for Internet access and God lead me straight to the Golden Arches, where my internet access was granted. I smiled and thanked the Lord. I realised I need to persevere with getting in to the transit terminal! I decided my best option was to wait until the negative lady left (I had decided she was in cahoots with the Devil and thus my only option was trying again, but not with her- I also reminded myself to love everyone).
I grabbed an hour or so sleep on the MacDonald’s bench - thanking God and stating this wasn’t really suffering, especially compared to David Livingston walking across Africa with river fever! After a quick prayer I headed off again. Time now 10 am. The woman was gone and so was everyone else. Someone was at the excess baggage section of Philippine airlines, she looked friendly - this was my chance. The response was better, she directed me to a Philippine Airline office – I didn’t know one existed, this had to be God’s direction! Soon I would be relaxing in the transit hotel, surfing the net for free and sipping Frappachino at Starbucks! My wishes were short lived. The lady at the office gave me the green light, however, I had to wait till 2pm for the next boarding shift and they inturn could give me a boarding pass for my midnight flight. She told me it wasn’t allowed but an exception could be made for me (God intervention).

I walked out, thanked the Lord for teaching me humility and patience and headed back to McDonalds. Nodding off I slept another hour. After reading Philippians, at 2pm I headed back to the counter. Hoping the previous lady wasn’t back on shift. She wasn’t, I started getting hopeful. Twenty minutes later and after some phone calls (this was obviously some sort of security breach letting people in so early) I was given entry to the coveted Transit Terminal! Still about nine hours to go thus plenty of time for rest and to buy a six hour block of time . As I walked to the Hotel (I was beaming ear to ear being in the Transit Terminal now), I said to the Lord, if it is more than $70 dollars I will go without. It was $69! I nearly started laughing as she told me. Again I thanked the Lord.

Two showers later, 5 hours sleep, 20 mins prayer and 5 chapters of Matthew I was on fire. I got on the plane to Manila at midnight feeling like it was morning! God is good – ALL THE TIME. On arriving at Cebu, at 6am, the plane came to a stop with an advert outside the far window saying “You’re in Safe Hands”. I knew it was God talking and I smiled as Joy flowed all over me. On meeting the Pastor he asked If I would like to preach at 8:30am today. Over thirty new brothers had entered the program. I understood now why God wanted me to teach Romans during my stay. This large influx of brand new residents would benefit from a summary of the Bible’s message – Romans being perfect. I shared my testimony and preached about Joshua 1:9, the men in a fight for their souls rather than returning to drugs. They were encouraged and sang heartily afterwards.

Already I have been in town to the markets; saw all the exciting sights of open fish and meat mongers, the smiling faces of Filipinos and a lot of interested looks. You don’t see many white people in Cebu. Thus you feel like a novelty as people ask my guests who I am. At which they reply He is my brother, a missionary and Pastor from Australia. The response is warm, God is respected here, such a change to back home. I returned to the centre in a motorbike concoction with seats built all over it for a capacity of 7 I think! In an hour I head back out with the Pastor to see a small shop the centre runs for extra income. I really like the Philippines. In many ways it reminds me of Cambodia yet the Filipinos are entirely different. They have their own unique spirit and English is the second language. Tomorrow I am to give the message at the Church service. It is such a privilege to be asked to teach thirty young men (20-40 yrs old) about God for ten days. It is also encouraging to see they are all hungry and willing listeners. Thank you all for your prayers.
God Bless