We Serve a Living God

After visiting with one of our pastors, I noticed the sun sinking and lights coming on. "Well, it's time for me to return home," I said. "The kids are by themselves and they might need something."

Driving through the city, I come to a detour sign. "Oh, yea," I remember, "this is Biernas Santo (Holy Friday). There must be a procuession ahead. These can last an hour or more." Filipinos believe that from Friday to Sunday morning of Holy Week, God is dead. That's why all businesses are closed (an accident or a bad transaction might happen and God is not there to help!). Even hospitals are on minimum staff. It's worse than Christmas Day.

I spend ten minutes making my way through the detour, then hurry accross the city. When I near the next plaza, I am stopped my a long line of vehicles. "Oh, no, another procession." But there is a back road that leads to our part of the city. I turn around and race toward it. But, too late. I'm stopped by another procession. There is only one other road that leads to our house.

As I weave my way through the narrow coastal road, I see lights up ahead. Then I see the heads of statues that are being carried on motorized carts. Ah, another procession! I have no choice but to stop as thousands of Filipinos walk past me chanting prayers to Mary (remember, God is dead and only Mary is there to help them).

For 30 minutes I watch as dozens of statues of Mary and a few of Jesus pass. Between the statues (or idos), Filipinos recite repetitious prayers in monotone voices. Very eerie. Finally, it's over and I can move on.

"Dad, guess what we saw," the kids share as I arrive home. By now it's late evening and well after dark.

"Let me guess, a procession." They describe to me a procession much like what I saw. Most Filipinos belive that God is an angry diety whose primary job is to punish those who fail to show enough devotion to Mary or who don't pracitice certain sacrifices faithfully. They have no concept of a loving God who desires an intimate relationship with them.

That's why we are here. Already I have met with several of our pastors and church leaders. We are developing plans by which we will plant new churches in rural areas. We have an address. It is: Mark Moses / P.O. Box 77 / 5000 Iloilo City / Philippines.

The girls are adjusting well. Jonathan has had some grieving times, but we expected it. I have told them that this is like a wilderness experience. When Moses left the wealth of Egypt, his first steps into the wilderness didn't look promising. But he learned more and matured more in the wilderness than he ever would have in Egypt. I know Jonathan and Martha will eventually value their time here, just as did David, Sara, and Hannah. Hopefully, in the process, we will also see many Filipinos turn from vain traditions to serve a living, loving God.