By Gary Bistritan

A lot of exciting things are happening on the island of Yap, in Micronesia. Starting a Christian school in the church was a big step of faith. First, we promised parents that we would provide the best education possible on the island, and secondly, we made this promise with the full understanding that we would have to grow and expand to keep such a promise.

For the past four years, the church has been meeting in a rented building; however, this year the landlord refused to renew the lease as a friend of his is hoping to start a business there sometime in the future. Although we had been looking for suitable land, none had been found. Available property was either out of our reach financially or located in an out of the way place, making it unsuitable for a church and school.

Pastor Robert had basically given up. That’s when God stepped in and blessed us with an unbelievable piece of real estate. Robert’s brother, Chony, had heard of a land deal that had fallen through because the buyer could not come up with the cash. Chony knew the woman trying to sell the property, so he suggested she sell it to his brother for the church. She wanted $15,000 for a quarter acre located on the one main road coming into the village. After some negotiation, she agreed to take $10,000 in cash and the balance over the next five years.

Again, God provided the exact amount. Back on Guam, the Touchpoint Church of God there had a mission’s account that held a little over $10,000. The money in the account had been given several years ago and was to be used specifically for a mission’s project. The money was immediately released and sent to Yap—truly a miracle.

Alongside this miracle is the blessing of the neighboring landowner who has expressed willingness to subdivide and sell some of his land to the church to enable growth in the future.

Our financial resources are depleted, so it is difficult to develop the property right now, but we are sure God will supply what is needed at the right time.

Gwen and I feel privileged to be working with island people. We are thrilled to be a part of the ministry taking place in this region of the world.

To learn more about the ministry of Gary and Gwen Bistritan, career missionaries to Guam, click here.