Last month, I had the opportunity to hold a weeklong Evangelism Series at the Airai SDA Church on the Island of Palau. It had been about 8 years since I had preached an evangelistic series so I was a little nervous because I did not know how I would do.

After months of preparation, I arrived on the island on a Friday night and was received by a wonderful delegation of kids, youth, student missionaries and pastors. On Saturday morning I woke up excited and ready to preach. As I stepped out of my room I realized that I was going to have to get used to the 86 degree weather and the humidity. Before I even got into the vehicle that was to transport me to the church, I was already drenched in sweat.

That day at church I was greeted by a wonderful group of people who treated me like I was family. I discovered that Palauans are very friendly people. They are so warm and hospitable. They reminded me of my first church in Galeana, Mexico. That night we started the Evangelistic Meetings and we had a good attendance. Each night the people kept coming back and by the end of the week we had 42 decisions for baptism. I have to mention that the Pastor and members there and the Palau Mission Academy staff did an excellent job preparing for these meetings. I have to especially thank Pastor Eliki at the Academy and Abner Sanchez the academy principal for all their support and follow up. On my last day there, I had the privilege of witnessing 20 individuals being baptized, many of them young people. As I boarded the plane headed back home, I thought about how nervous I was going into this. I was reminded that it's God who does the work, not us.


PS I would encourage anyone who wants to go on a mission trip, to consider Palau, Guam and/or the Micronesian Islands.