ISRAEL FIELD: Faith and Obedience First
“The Sabbath is only for the Jews. Why do you, Filipina caregiver, keep the Sabbath? You should keep Sunday as your day of worship. I need you on Sabbath. I will double your salary if you work on Saturdays,” was the resolute remark of Helen, the employer.
With kindness, Linda, the Filipina caregiver, responded that there were no Jews when the Sabbath was observed in the Garden of Eden. The Sabbath was for all humanity. It is not only for Jews but also for Filipinos. “In fact,” she continued, “there are 1 million Filipino Sabbath keepers in our country and 20 million Seventh-day Adventists around the world, and I am one of them.”
Helen explained that as Jews, they had known God’s laws better than the Christians. She further inquired how Christians could keep the Sabbath. Linda explained that God, who created the heavens and earth, commanded us to keep the Sabbath. Linda recited the fourth commandment from Exodus 20:8-11. Helen, a retired editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, and her husband, a retired lawyer, were so amazed at Linda’s knowledge and understanding about the observance of the Sabbath that the husband exclaimed that Linda had been sent by God to take care of his wife. Together, the couple told her, “You are hired.”
Linda told them that they were also the answer to her prayers. She had been praying that she would meet an employer who would grant her the Sabbath off. She met many prospective employers, but they wanted her to work on Saturdays and have her day off on Sundays. She couldn’t compromise her Sabbath, especially the Lord of the Sabbath. She accepted no offers until she met Helen and Haim.
Helen hired Linda as her caregiver. They built such a loving bond with each other that even when Helen died, the husband and the children treated Linda as a member of the family, letting her continue to live in their home with them.
Linda Sison Munoz is a teacher by profession. She left her teaching ministry and applied as a caregiver in Israel to support her family and the education of her children, including her nephews and nieces. She practices faithfulness in the observance of the Sabbath and shares her financial blessings with the kingdom of God through tithes and offerings. She is amiable and humble, kind and generous.
Linda is one of the church elders in the English-speaking congregations composed of Filipinos and Africans. Her example of faithfulness to the Lord has influenced many of the church members. She exemplified Jesus’ teaching, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
When the leadership of our local churches sets an example of faithfulness, great things will happen in the mission of the church. In 2004, the English-speaking congregations were at the bottom in membership and tithe remittances. At the end of 2019, these congregations were highest in baptism and increase in tithe remittances. We praise God for this. He deserves all the honor and glory.
