The Power of Prayer

In the Philippines

Part 1—Julius

My name is Julius Sarino and I am a student of Mountain Heights Missionary Training School. I am the youngest boy in our family. I have three brothers and one sister. The name of my father is Catalino, and my mother is Estrella.

Two of my brothers, my sister and also my father are not Christians. In fact, I always pray that my brothers, sister and my father will become Christians. That is why I am here at Mountain Heights Missionary Training School. I want to learn the Word of God and study the Bible because I want to be a Bible worker until Jesus comes. And I hope that through this institution God will mold me into an effective workman that needs not to be ashamed.

My plan is that my two brothers and sister will be my first students of the Bible. My prayer is that they will become Christians. I hope that someday my prayers will be answered.

Before I knew God, I was full of ambitions, and my life was very worldly. I wanted to become an engineer; but when the message of God came to me, all the worldly plans that I had for my life were gone. One day in May 2010, I decided to follow Jesus with all my heart and surrender all to Him. During our campmeeting, I was baptized. After our campmeeting, I decided to visit the training school and was willing to become a student of the Lord.

In 2008, I had accompanied my friend to their campmeeting at Impasug, and I saw many youths. They knew how to preach, and they were not shy like me, and I asked myself, “How can I be like them?” After the campmeeting I heard the news that there would be a missionary training school in Bukidnon, and then I planned to go to school there when I finished my high school.

God is our provider; and whatever our desire is, He will answer our prayer if it is according to His will. One day God answered my prayer to become a student at Mountain Heights Missionary Training School. Here I have learned how to cook food, clean the farm and give Bible studies and sermons. I have learned to do many other things for which I am very thankful.

There are times when I have no money because my parents belong to a poor family and they cannot support all my needs. I work overtime at the school because in one month we need to only work 60 hours for our food and board, and the school will pay us five pesos per hour for over 60 hours. We are so happy about this benefit. Here I learned also to eat without meat. The first three months I lost weight, but now my weight is increasing, and my face shows the change of my character. I thank God that Mission Projects International purchased the land and gave us a dormitory, school and teachers.

Here I have realized that through prayer we can remove mountains of difficulties in life, change our bad characters and make us fit for translation to heaven. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers…. And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?” 1 Peter 3:12, 13. “Wicked men and devils cannot hinder the work of God, or shut out His presence from the assemblies of His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises.” Messages to Young People, 133.

Part 2—Titing’s Girls

It is my privilege to share with you the experiences of my two children named Genneth Rose, ten years old, and Genneth Babe, eight years old. It is their custom that, when I arrive home from the Mountain Heights School, they want to sleep beside me, one on my right arm and the other on my left arm. One night Genneth Babe was leaning her head on my arm when suddenly she

Titing with his wife and girls.

wept. Tears poured from her eyes as she said, “Father, I will not be saved.” I was amazed at her statement because she is only eight years old, but she is thinking of her future life. I asked her, “Why?” She answered, “Because I’m a naughty child.” My heart

was full of grief and tears as I listened to her, but I told her, “Babe, don’t worry; don’t lose hope. There is a God who made the heavens and the earth who can change you. Satan will try to discourage you so that you will not be happy. Get up, and pray to God that He will give you more strength to fight the devil.” Immediately she got up and knelt down and, with trembling lips, asked God for help. After praying, she lay down again and was asleep in three minutes with total peace of mind. How faithful and just that our Lord would hear the earnest prayer of even a little child!

Since that time she has made it her practice to commune with God through prayer before she goes to sleep.

I would also like to tell you about the experience of my eldest child, Genneth Rose. Sometimes we cannot understand the real character of our children, but they need a constant reminder through the Word of God to teach them the love of Christ and other spiritual things. One day, I told her that no children could go to Heaven without a pure and holy character. She remained silent, but deep inside she longed to have a total change in life. One day when I opened my drawer, I found a letter, and it was from her. The statement said, “Lord, I love Heaven, but I do not have a good character, so please help me to change my life. Thank you, father and mother, for your love to me.”

I thank God that even a child can discern what is right and wrong. Her life today is different than before. She wishes to have a piano or organ because she loves music. I encourage her to pray always that the Lord will supply her needs according to His riches. She is now in third grade and is learning to read the Bible.

By Titing Palange. Donations for the work in the Philippines can be sent to Mission Projects International, PO Box 59656, Renton, WA 98058.