A Child Is Born to Us

(Original Letter: December 21, 2003)
“Letters from my Sojourn”
© 2008 by Peter Allan C. Mariano

To my dear friends in Christ;


Greetings my friends!!! I hope all is fine with every one of you back there. It has been a while since I have last sent an installment to these “Letters from my Sojourn” series. The Eid Holidays after the month-long Ramadan came…. and went away… giving some short interlude to our work here in Saudi Arabia….but after that… working time again! Now, it is your turn back there to have your holidays with the coming Christmas season. I can only do a few touch-up jobs here to make my room have some holiday decoration with whatever materials I can get my hands on.

Christmas doesn’t mean much here…. in fact, it doesn’t mean anything at all… except for the Christian workers here, mostly Filipinos, and probably a handful from other races as well. It does, however, signal the Mutawa, or the Saudi Religious Police, to be more vigilant in catching merrymakers who want to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday with a bottle or two of the forbidden sadike, the homemade liquor which is very famous here (underground)… which caused quite a little too many headaches, hangovers…. and perpetrators who got caught being sent to jail. Ouch!

LETTERS : Desert 1 - Our Personal Deserts

( Original Letter - November 5, 2002 )


To my dear friends in Christ;


Greetings!

May the peace of the Lord and the joy that His knowledge brings be with you all. I hope that all of you are in good health, not only in mind and body, but also in the soul as well.

Since the start of my sojourn in Saudi Arabia, I have been meaning to write a letter to my friends, particularly for the members of Singles For Christ, but alas, I failed to do so as other things caught up my time. But the Lord made promptings in my heart, and He urged me to write, not only a letter, but a series of letters. This I believe is my ministry to my friends, and other readers as well… during the time that I’m away.

I remembered the early days of my sojourn vividly. As my plane approached the airport in Riyadh, I saw how vast the desert is in this country. There were only a few patches of vegetation here and there. And it was hot! Kainitan daw, during the period when I arrived. As the plane was about to touch down, I can’t help but hear the song playing in my head: “I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name…” (by America ). Maybe some of you know this song. It was perfect background music for the desolation that I’m seeing.

Each one of us has his or her own “desert” that he faces and must go through, once, twice, or even more in his life. It could be unemployment, a break-up with your sweetheart, the loss of a loved one, and so on. It could be as serious as being accused of a heinous crime, or as mundane as the loss of your dog, just like what happened to Buloy in the song by Parokya ni Edgar.

We all must pass through these “deserts” in our lives (in my case, it was a literal desert). We must journey through this desert alone… so in our loneliness we begin to rely on God… and when we rely only in Him, we can then see Him. We must be broken down by this desert. All our walls that we built around ourselves in our pride must be torn down… just like Job… just like Paul… and in our brokenness we seek Him… we rely on Him… just like a helpless child longing for his Father.

During those first few months after I arrived in Saudi Arabia, I have felt the terrible loneliness of being away from my loved ones. This loneliness could really eat you up from the inside. Those of you, who have experienced working abroad, or just being away from home for a considerable amount of time, would understand why.

Homesick…homesick…homesick…. Do you know that I’ve heard a lot of crazy things happening to people here who suffered from homesickness (but I’ll tell you all that in a different letter.) Well, in my loneliness out there, I have relied only in God, and in His Word. He has revealed to me a lot of things while reading His Word. I’m so grateful that someone gave me a Bible to read here, despite the danger of having one. You might have heard that possession of it here, as well as other religious items not related to Islam, is strictly forbidden, and perpetrators are severely punished. Anyway, the Lord will make the way, and He did just that.

I have learned, once more, to communicate with Him diligently everyday, through prayers and reading Scriptures. I said “once more” because it truly was like that. For members of Couples For Christ and Singles for Christ, we have learned this very thing during our Christian Life Program. It’s even included in our Covenant as SFC members, but we seem to have forgotten it. And I tell you, you’ll really get to know Him more and more each time if you do this, just like what John have said…

“We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:3 – 6 NIV

To know Him is to obey His commands. How do we obey His commands? By obeying His Words! And how do we get to know His Words? By learning it through Scriptures! Most of the Muslim people here are very diligent in their prayers, which they call “salah”. These are done five times a day, in different time slots, one of which is near the 3:00 to 3:30 AM time zone. The duration is usually 15 minutes per prayer, totaling 1.25 hours daily. Does this remind you of something? The Lord, in the Gospel, specifically asked that we devote at least one hour for Him daily…

“Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter.”
Matthew 26: 40 NIV

If the Muslims can do it, then so can we. Right, my friends? In doing so, we would be like the man who built his house on a rock, whose faith could not be shaken by the problems and anxieties in life. And this would come only through prayer and studying Scriptures.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these Words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7: 24 – 27 NIV

I urge you also, brothers and sisters, specially the leaders and those whose job is to facilitate or to shepherd God’s flock, to do the same. Rely on Him! Overcome your deserts through diligent prayer and reading Scriptures. Get to know Him more. Like the man who built his house on the rock, we should put our hearts, our minds, and our bodies on The Rock, who is Jesus Christ. And this is what you should impart to your new brothers and sisters, particularly the new participants in the Christian Life Program and other spiritual renewal programs out there from different communities.

May the Lord bless you at all times and provide for everything that you need, and may He let the fruit of the Spirit grow more and more in each and everyone of you, and I ask this in His most Holy Name.


Yours in Christ,
Brod. Pete


“Letters from my Sojourn”
© 2008 by Peter Allan C. Mariano

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“I write to you, dear children, because your sins have
been forgiven on account of His Name.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him
Who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you have
overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children, because you
have known the Father.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him
Who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
and the Word of God lives in you, and you have
overcome the evil one."


1 John 2: 12-14

LETTERS : The Plans Of The Master Builder

Have you ever been in a desert? Have you ever wondered what it would be like living in utter desolation, devoid of life except your own... no joy... and no hope. One doesn't have to be in a literal "desert", with its sand dunes and extreme weather, to experience the nothingness of a life usually associated with such a place. Each one of us probably had encountered a certain "desert" in our lives - during those times when we have no one.. no love... no joy... no hope.... nothing, nada, nil, zero.

This could apply to any aspect of our lives: in work, at school, in our family, in our circle of friends, and in our relationship with the Lord, our Master Builder. The only question here is - what have become of us after passing through this "desert".

Due to certain unavoidable circumstances in my life, I ended up working in Saudi Arabia for over three years... straight. This was one of those "deserts" in my life but in this case it was a literal desert. It was supposed to be a two-year stay only, as stipulated in my contract, but because of the difficulty in finding a replacement for me after I finished my contract (the owners were urging me to renew), I was forced to extend my stay here, to the ire of my wife and family. Further delays in my homecoming were caused by the difficulty of obtaining my exit papers from the Saudi Immigration office.

During that time, the officials were extra-strict in processing documents, due to the onslaught of terrorist acts, most of which have never even reached the news. This was also compounded by the fact that it was the Hajj season at that time, and things were slowly grinding to a halt as the Muslim people prepare for the upcoming Eid Al Adaha Holidays. This is their equivalent of the New Year season, and the Saudi government agencies, typical of such offices, were at less than 50% efficiency level - if you know what I mean. It was a good thing that my employers had an uncle who was a high ranking official in the Jawasat, equivalent to our deportation office. He took the matters into his hands and forced Immigration to release my passport and exit papers. Sa wakas!(At last!)

At this point, I can't but help reminisce the days of my sojourn in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia : from the moment I got there and having to spend overnight at the airport ala-Tom Hanks in his movie "Terminal" (yes, it happened to me, but it was only for one night); to the very confusing early periods of my stay; until the Lord revealed to me my Sacred Duty. In a land where Christianity is forbidden, I experienced a spiritual reawakening, and it was at this time when I began the series of "Letters From My Sojourn" which I regularly send to friends and family. For three years I stayed there, up to my extended length of stay, and with it the emotional struggle that me and my family had to go through. And finally it came... the long awaited time of my return home.

Through all those moments of ups and downs, I have felt the loving touch of the Master Builder. During those moments of hardships and trials there, I have learned to lean on Him for support - and what a support He gave me!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV

Just before I left Saudi Arabia, I have sent the last installment to these "Letters from My Sojourn" series.... but I knew for a fact that the Lord wold not want me to end this work when I get back home... but to continue sending these words of encouragement to my friends, family and others as well. I will continue to give glory to His Name through my writings... as well as perform the other tasks that I knew He had already lined up for me when I get back home.

" Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess His Name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Hebrews 13: 15-16 NIV

And as for you, my brothers and sisters, to those whose lives have been touched by the Lord in one way or another, I urge you to be steadfast in your faith and heed the words spoken in Proverbs 3: 5-6. As the song goes, He has taken us out of the dark and led us into the light... He has removed us from the crooked path that we were taking, and built for us a straight and beautiful highway.

Don't let yourselves be dragged by the world back into the darkness... and don't let yourselves be blinded and fooled by the fake glitter and glamour that lies within the crooked path. It's all up to us, my brothers and sisters, if we want to continue with what the Lord have started in our lives. It's up to us if we'll turn our backs to Him... or press on towards His direction. And know this for a fact, my friends - only we ourselves can turn our own backs to Him... for He will never turn His back to us... and He will never forsake us.

" I Thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1: 3-6 NIV

He is the Master Builder. He will continue to work on us, never abandoning what He started, until the time comes when He sees His own image in us... like a master craftsman refining silver. He will continue to mold us into perfection... until His work in us is complete. We are like vessels that He is shaping... but it would be up to us as to what material we will put inside these vessels, our own beings :

" In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."
2 Timothy 2: 20-21 NIV

Be VESSELS OF GOLD my dear friends... be an instrument for noble and honorable purposes... and not for the opposite, which is ignoble, shameful, without honor... which would be a shame and waste to the beautiful vessels that He has intended us to be.

If you remember the words of the song "Once No People", you must realize that He has taken you out of the darkness and are being built into His spiritual house as a royal priesthood. For we were once nothing, not a people... but we are now the Children of the Light.... God's People.... intended to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

" But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
1 Peter 2 : 9 NIV

My sojourn into that spiritual and physical desert I described earlier is now at an end, my dear friends, but my journey has not -- it has started onto another phase. And I am confident that the Lord, the Master Builder, will continue to mold me into what He intends me to be.

And the same goes for all of you.

I pray that the Lord continue to provide us all with wisdom and guidance, so we might trek the right paths together! I pray that He continue to shower us with His blessings without measure so that we may all be satisfied and may be able to offer Him our spiritual sacrifices of praise and good works. Now I know, and felt secure, that the Master Builder, who began a good work in each and everyone of us, will be faithful to complete His work.... in Jesus' Name!


"Letters From My Sojourn"
© 2008

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