I went on a family mission trip from Hong Kong to the Philippines over Christmas 2008. We held a seminar and led about 50 pastors in hearing God’s voice for themselves. These were all denominational leaders, and for many it was the first time being exposed to the flow and presence of God’s Spirit. I had a word for one lady that God was calling her to serve him as a prophet, and I was careful how I opened up this idea to her. When I finally asked her what she would do if God ever called her into that kind of ministry, she just stopped and looked at me in 100% serious reflection–she looked right into my eyes and said with such honesty, “If God is calling me to serve him as a prophet, I will obey.” She was ready to jump out of an airplane with no parachute if God asked her too! This is why revival is coming here, there are people like this, untrained in the spiritual ways of the Lord, but devoted with sincere faith and pure hearts that you just almost never see in such stunning sincerity in more developed nations. I was taken aback by her response.
I then saw a vision of people being raised up as prophets or intercessors all across the local area. We were in Silay and Bacolod on the Island of Negros, which is divided into two provinces, but it looked like people were going to be raised up across the whole island, maybe beyond. Then I saw lines descend from above like metal bars and they ‘connected the prophets and intercessors’ in a kind of crisscrossing grid over the land. Then on top of this grid a Mattress descended and rested over the land. I had no explanation but it seemed like God’s Presence would come to Rest over the Land upon the foundation of the prophets and intercessors once they were raised up across the land.
Invited to Bohol by God
A few days later, as we had instructions from God to take a break and DO NO WORK for a few days, we took our first family vacation in a very long time to a nearby tourist island with beautiful beaches and SCUBA diving, that was called Bohol, which is near Cebu. So it was now Jan 2 or 3, 2009, and I heard God say, “I do not invite many people here.” I was confused what he meant since Bohol is a popular tourist destination and realized what he said that HE does not invite a lot of people here. What does this mean I asked and He said I should return as soon as I could to understand more about what God was going to do in this chosen place. He also said I should leave my SCUBA things (which I did not even own) in my house there, and to start a publishing company there as well. ((??!!))
I got back to Hong Kong and made some contacts on line who invited me to return and God said Bohol was opening it’s doors to welcome me. I booked a flight within three months and prepared to go back.
The week I was preparing to leave Maurice Sklar visited Hong Kong and imparted a healing mantle to me, which I’ll share later.
My flight was very early in the morning and a friend came out at 4 am to see me off. It was like I was actually being sent officially, even though I was just going all on my own, at my expense, by my own obedience to the Lord. On the plane God even said,”You’re actually going as called!” Like it was a big deal! I felt like it was official, not by man’s direction but it was the Lord leading this trip and me going on mission for him!
So I got back to Bohol within about three months and spent a week learning and praying and had 100 visions and revelations of God’s plans for me in Bohol over that week alone. I can only share a few.
You Will Conquer Bohol
One day I met with some pastors who asked if I wanted to look for land for sale in Carmen, where the famous Chocolate Hills are. He got goosebumps so hard all his hair on his arms was standing up! He was sure it the Holy Spirit’s direction. The next day we met another pastor, Benny, and a YWAM base leader and we went to Carmen. God told me to wear my sneakers but I didn’t think it was really God, it’s a tropical place, very hot to me and I had good sandals on. I didn’t obey what I soon confirmed was God’s word. We trekked off the main road to a small hill, a Chocolate Hill, looking for the land the owners wanted to use for the ministry somehow.
We got to the bottom of the hill and borrowed a machete from a farmer who lived here, which they call a ‘bolo,’ and one of us didn’t want to climb up the hill, so now we were three, and wouldn’t you know it? We had to climb up a VERY STEEP hill of about 45 degrees slope, covered only in loose limestone rocks and sharp grass, with no trail or trees to hold onto. And I was wearing something like beach sandals! It was very difficult and took a long time, but at the top finally first the view was beautiful. Second, I saw three eagles.
Eagles are very rare here, and I don’t know if they were real Philippine Eagles, I think they were eagle-hawks, but wow so beautiful! They had a white chest and were in the air current just hovering almost within reach. We were three pastors, and there were three eagles. And Jesus spoke, “You will CONQUER Bohol. Do you want the rest of the vision now or when you get home.”
I told the Lord I was a little tired, and could he just tell me when we get home? I didn’t know the vision would be so big, I’m glad I waited.
So after that week of recon in 2009, when I got back to Hong Kong I had the hardest time financially I ever had in my life. It was so severe and we struggled for food and rent like never before. I didn’t know it, but God was preparing me for the long-term mission trip he would soon send me on. And he also began to unfold his huge plans.