We read in Ezra 1:1, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,
that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled,
the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…..”
Throughout scripture we see God working in the hearts and minds of
unsaved people in order to either help or discipline His people. There
is a situation here where we are asking God to “stir up the minds” of
some people to help New Tribes Mission Aviation (NTMA).
After many months of searching for land within a reasonable distance of
the NTM guesthouse where a helicopter pad and hangar could be built and
being frustrated all along the way by suitability, title issues, and
requests for huge lease fees, NTMA is now in the final stages of
securing a reasonably priced lease on a very suitable piece of land
owned by the town water board. Towns and cities here in the Philippines
are divided into barangays. The last thing needed before signing the
lease is to get clearance from the barangay the land is in.
NTMA has met with the officials of that barangay and they want to hold a
public hearing about it before deciding which is a reasonable thing to
do. However, a few months ago when considering a very suitable pieces
of land NTMA asked nearby residents if they had any objections to a
helicopter being flown from that land as a helicopter does make some
noise. A religious order which lives in a house about 100 meters (330
feet) from that land objected. The present piece of land that NTMA
needs a barangay clearance for is about one-half kilometer (one-third
mile) from the house of that same religious order and is also in the
same barangay.
Is it expected that members of the religious order will attend the
barangay clearance public hearing. Most, if not all, of the residents
attending the meeting will be of the same religion as the religious
order so If the religious order objects most likely the other people
will also.
So, please *PRAY* that, if it be His will, God will move the minds of
those attending to approve the barangay clearance. No date has yet been
set for the public hearing.