by SATURNINO SABALLA JR.

I am a SULAD, a student missionary, teaching in a newly opened village in Mindanao, Philippines. These villagers found God through a dream.

One night the datu (chief) dreamed that a Man dressed in white and carrying a big black book came to him. "Whoever obeys the commands written in this book will be my people," the Man said. Then he explained the importance of the Sabbath.

The datu called the villagers together and shared his dream. The people agreed that they would worship the creator God on His sacred day. On Saturday they gathered to worship in the only way they knew-chewing betel nut and talking to an unseen spirit.

Then a villager met an Adventist tailor while visiting town. The villager told the tailor about their new religion, which required them to worship on Saturday and related the chief's dream about the Man with a black book.

"I also am a Sabbath keeper!" the tailor said. "May I visit your village and worship with you?" The villager eagerly agreed.

The tailor and a lay worker set out on Friday for the six-hour hike to the village. They carried a large Bible. When they reached the village, they met the datu, who stared at the Bible. "This is the book I saw in my dream!" he said. "You must be Sabbath keepers too!"

The next morning the villagers gathered for worship followed by a feast of roasted pig and vegetables. Then the datu invited the visitors to speak at the afternoon meeting.

The lay worker read the Sabbath commandment from the Bible and explained how God wanted them to worship. The chief and villagers cheered in agreement. Then the lay worker explained God's other laws, laws of good health. He explained that the pig is a scavenger and is not fit for food, and that betel nut is a drug that God does not want His followers to use.

The datu again responded. "My dear people," he said. "This black book tells us many important things. We shall eat pig flesh no more. We shall use betel nut no more." The datu turned to the two men and invited them to teach them more. "We will gladly obey," he said.

In time every villager was baptized. Today SULAD missionaries are teaching the villagers to read the black book for themselves.

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