Special to the Answer

Who said mission work is dead? Wayne and Cindee Whiteman, owners of Heavensent Christian books and Gifts spent 15 days in the Philippines ministering to the lost and encouraging the saved. Wayne, who has been leading mission teams for more than 13 years, said this year was the largest traveling team with fifteen members.

“There is never enough preparations to prepare a team for their initial twenty-three hour plane ride, foreign cultures, their foods and of course hours of van rides through some of the roughest roads on earth. Even though we had our challenges, the blessings we all received outweighed them all,” he said.

This year’s trip was coined “Operation Compassion.” The team traveled to rural villages where they shared the love of Jesus through games, spiritual songs, and a powerful drama describing how easy it is for a Christian to be pulled back into the world when confronted with the temptations of this world. Every event was closed by an inspiring message of hope and deliverance followed by a time of prayer where hundreds of kids and adults accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Many were delivered from all sorts issues ranging from sickness and sin, and some offered prayers for family members. Many of those who came for prayer would just cry uncontrollably while a team member held them and interceded on their behalf. Before they were sent home, the mission team gave each child a packet of school supplies and an ice cream cone.

“We started our trip by praying over the city of Cebu from a mountain top place appropriately called Tops,” the mission leader said.

“The following day, we visited a small local church that was literally built on a dump site.  Their congregation comes from people who live in little huts in that area. That evening we had what we call a Soaking Service where we exalted God through praise and worship and prayer. Our prayer for this service was to ask the Lord to equip us much like He did on the day of Pentecost,” he continued.

The following Sunday, the team divided into seven groups ministering in seven different churches. The next few days were devoted to Cebu Foursquare Bible College.  The group painted study classrooms, a library, and a basketball key for court play.

They also prepared over 1200 Compassion packets that were given away at each of the events. On Tuesday night, the team was divided once again to be a part of nine different cell groups in a slum area known as the Barrack. As the team was stretched to their limits, God’s love fell in a special way and each team member returned with testimonies and praises on their lips.

On the second Thursday morning, the group left at 3:00am for an adventure many team members would never forget or would want to forget, according to some. They traveled 3-½ hours by land, crossed over to another island on an old military barge, and drove another five hours for the first Compassion outreach on Negros. Concluding a long day of activity, assigning rooms at a local pension house became the highlight of the evening. 

“Somehow I had not factored in our three drivers and our three interpreters, so needless to say, we were short two rooms,” Wayne explained.

“As the team leader I decided to look elsewhere. There was another pension house just around the corner, but as I entered the front lobby I was greeted by flying bats.  Looking around, I noticed many more hanging on the walls and ceiling. Being exhausted and tired, I was just about to say, ‘We will take two rooms,’ when my wife let me know that it would not be in my best interest to proceed. We did locate another place that was free of bats,” said Wayne.

While staying on Negros, the team ministered to hundreds of children in the mountain interior.   The team faced rugged roads with standard vans, experienced the warm hospitality, tasted new foods, and endured a full power outage that lasted through the entire Compassion outreach in Tiguib. 

After 15 event-filled days of ministry, the team returned home to a warm reception of family and friends. For every sore muscle, mosquito bite, personal discomfort, taste of different foods and possible upset stomach, not one member would have traded away their experience and the opportunity to minister.  Lives have been changed, impacted, and encouraged. Hope and vision was imparted to all that we met. God is so good and will continue to establish His church for all of eternity.