Cuatro community women’s Bible study was the highlight of my month! I already told you about Lucy (and Michael)’s story bringing them to the study. I wanted to share with you about other women in the community.
When hearing about the Bible study, key leaders in the Cuatro community were so excited that they could not wait to tell their friends! So these women took me around to the different homes each morning the first week so I could meet the women and so they can encourage their friends to come each Tuesday and Thursday evening. The women loved our visits. I would meet one lady in the morning. She then introduced me to her friend. That friend would then come along with us to the next house. And the cycle would repeat, with about six women or so. These new friends’ generosity exceeded their income, making us sticky rice and several other Filipino dishes.
Bible study was amazing! Elizabeth and I would switch off teaching the lessons. Our theme: Women in the Word. We would ask God what He wanted us to share with the ladies. And each time, we would find an example in the Bible of a woman dealing with that topic. We talked about pursuing an intimate relationship with God; digging into the Bible daily; praising Him before and after He answers prayers; how to study the Word; etc. Anywhere from 15 to 35 women (and several kids) would come to the study each night. At first they were very shy, not participating in discussions, so Elizabeth and I turned the study into a casual lecture style, training them in basics, then building to deeper topics.
The second to last study bloomed with excitement as we commissioned our friends to be missionaries in their own community. I believe that these women have the potential to be powerful witnesses in Cuatro, many of whom are natural leaders who love Jesus. I felt a heavy burden to call them out of their comfort zone, challenging them to serve, love, and share with family, friends, and those with whom they normally don’t associate. I saw desire and fear in these women’s eyes. So we prayed over each one of these women individually. That blessed them (and us) so much! These women cried, became eager to begin sharing, putting off the old, 
embracing the new in Christ.
During the last study, I taught these women how to lead others, based on the model I had been teaching them to study the Bible on their own. It’s a simple, yet very effective way to study the Bible and lead other people to do the same. I had the privilege of learning and teaching these tools in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) during the past eight years. I encouraged the women to practice their new technique, giving them an opportunity right there that night.
What a night! So many women eagerly shared what they learned, how they led, how God spoke to them!! Elizabeth and I could not understand all of them, since many chose to speak in Tagalog (after we encouraged them to…after all, it’s for their benefit, their growth with God, His glory and not ours). And we were blessed with their tears of joy and excitement of their faces. What a changed group! God has totally rocked this community of women.
I pray that these women continue to grow in Christ and share Him with others. Please join me in those prayers. Our prayers are already being answered! Last Thursday, just hours before we left Manila, these women held another Bible study. Eight of them are already committed to holding a weekly Bible study! Our Filipino friends and one American friend will be leading. Praise God for the work He continues to do in these women’s lives.
