Bucana Update #2: The Refiner’s Fire

Bucana Update #2: The Refiner’s Fire by Grace Gaston-Dousel

“God knows how much I love Him. He allowed this to happen. We will be ok,” Ka* Mario told my husband, Mang, as he visited him this morning.

“If it is Allah’s will, then it will happen. I don’t feel bad. Allah will also see us through,” Ka Ningning told me as I passed by what used to be her sari-sari-store and house.

With their homes reduced to ashes, saving nothing but the clothes they are wearing, it is somewhat amazing to hear these people see that God’s hand is still upon them. Members of the team went back to Bucana this morning to comfort the people as well as survey the extent of the damage to assess how the team can be of help. While we heard from the people what their felt needs were, we also heard the resilient faith growing within their battered souls.

“I was confident that our house would be saved,” said Ali. For a couple of years now, our teammate, Maimai, has been assisting Ali and his siblings in their faith journey. They have recently lost their father due to an illness. To lose their house would have been another blow to them. As a youth leader in the community, he has been slowly demonstrating how his faith in Jesus has helped him cope with life’s most devastating trials. “I prayed that God would spare us this time and He did.” Ali’s home was among the ten that survived the blaze. Eighty houses in our community were totally burned. With the shanties built side by side with almost no space in between, it was nothing short of a miracle that Ali’s house did not catch fire! Mang and I were amazed to hear this young man’s testimony of faith.

I asked Ali about the status of the slipper-making machines and materials. He looked down and said, “We were too late. The center had been eaten up by flames by the time Raja and I got there. The grinder and the sewing machine are all gone, along with the newly made slippers.” Ali, Raja and several other youth from Bucana had been zealously making slippers as their livelihood project. They recently received numerous orders and had been working over time to meet the deadlines. “Everything’s gone, Ate**,” Ali shared. “Don’t worry,” I assured him, “the Lord would give us back what we lost.” He looked at me with an unwavering strength, “I know Ate. That is always the case. God would always help us.” I think I left his house more encouraged than I was able to give encouragement. In more ways than one, Ka Mario, Ka Ningning, Ali and I were being purified by the Refiner’s fire.

Pray for wisdom for our team as we seek to carefully facilitate faith-building during this crucial time. Pray for the believers in the community to remain steadfast in their faith and become salt and light to those around them. Pray that they would be mobilized to help and encourage others even as they themselves need encouragement.

-----------
*Ka is a term of respect for an older Muslim man or woman
**Ate is a term of respect in Filipino for an older woman.