Before the end of the 2022-23 school year, Pastor Joseph pledged to help find sponsors for a new baptistry. The last time he’d baptized students, he’d had to use a makeshift pool. Moving forward, he wanted to provide a proper place for baptisms.
Not long after the 2023-24 school year began, sufficient funds had come in for the baptistry. We thanked God for touching hearts and providing the necessary finances. Now we needed people with skills who could turn the dream into a reality.
We had known Kuya Marvin, a carpenter, for some time. He’d worked on the construction and finishing of our school auditorium and the repair of the guest house. He and his family lived on campus for a while when Kuya was working on various school projects. When those projects were completed, he began working on nearby school buildings.
Along with being a carpenter, Kuya was also a smoker and an alcoholic. Sir Solomon, our principal, asked Kuya to lead the building of the baptistry and find an assistant to finish the project. The goal was to complete the project within a week.
The 2 Kuyas
Kuya arrived on campus with Kuya Egong, his new assistant. The assistant had piercings and tattoos. When the two men arrived, I helped them with lodging and food.
The one-week project took more than a month to complete as we waited for materials. Because of the distance from the city to our school, we had to transport supplies rather than have them delivered. Students hauled items from the last drop-off site to our campus, and rain often delayed the process.
Every time the two Kuyas had to wait for materials, they would keep busy with other projects or listen to religious music on Adventist World Radio. I’d visit often to ensure they had enough to eat. I believe there’s beauty in waiting, and in every season there’s a reason. No matter how much we tried to provide materials, there were still delays we believe were orchestrated by God.
When the men started building the baptistry, the fourth season of “My Journey With God” also began. It was a 36-day, in-depth Bible study aired on TV and streamed online. Different mission and conference presidents throughout South Philippine Union Conference were nightly speakers, thoroughly discussing the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. Every night, students and teachers gathered to listen and participate in the Bible quiz.
As the days went by, the two Kuyas grew more excited to finish the project. One day they said to me, “Sir, when this baptismal pool is ready, we will be the first to be baptized.”
I felt such joy when I heard those words. In our daily conversations, I saw how their appearances and vocabularies had changed—even their choice of music was different now. God had a plan for Kuya Marvin and Kuya Egong. They heard the Word of God through the delays they experienced. While waiting, they met Jesus.
Promise fulfilled
I thank God that I witnessed their growth in Christ. At the culmination of “My Journey With God,” the two men, true to their word, were the first to step into the water and bury their old selves.
In total, 15 people that day accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior. It was no accident that Kuya Marvin and Kuya Egong worked on the baptistry. We were called to the project, just as we are called to be builders for eternity. I am grateful to have witnessed the transforming power of God. Praise the Lord.