This is my former 1978 Mitsubishi Lancer that we affectionately named “Sporty.” For the past six years, I have had many great memories with Sporty doing ministry trips and even using her as an ambulance during the toughest time of my life. We realized that buying parts for a 38 year old vehicle had grown to be too expensive for our meager missionary budget so I reluctantly decided to let her go.
In the Philippines they don’t put the same value on vintage vehicles as in the USA, so I had to sell her for only $1,500 to a nice man named Donnie who happens to live on the other side of the Island of Mindanao. He traveled 12 hours by bus to buy Sporty and fell in love with her the first time he saw her. Donnie had broken his forearm in a freak soccer accident and was not even able to drive at the time. When he finally was able to drive the car across the Island, he brought a mechanic friend with him to drive and help Sporty make the treacherous trip from Davao City to Iligan City.
I was getting all choked up yesterday as they were about to drive away and God reminded me that I had originally bought that cool-looking car to attract people, strike up conversation, and lead them to Jesus. I asked Donnie if I could pray for him before his trip and he agreed. Standing outside the car under the shade of a tree, I laid hands on his broken forearm and commanded the arm to be healed and the pain to go by the Stripes of Jesus and in the Name of Jesus! The pain immediately left Donnie’s arm! After that I asked the two men if they would like to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and they instantly agreed. I had them repeat a prayer of repentance and salvation with me and their faces glowed with big smiles after they prayed. Donnie even thanked me today for praying for them after they safely reached Iligan City.
Praise God for his miracles and salvation!
Goodbye Old Friend.