HAJJI RAUBAN “ ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’ “ Mark 8:34 Hajji Rauban was strong, muscular, and wellknown in his hometown of Marawi, an Islamic city in the South Philippines. Looked up to by some, detested by others, and feared by most, he enjoyed the kind of respect the power of the darker sort commands. Rauban was a fearless outlaw, a ruthless gang lord whose name was associated with kidnaping, smuggling, and other illegal activities, including murder. The respect he commanded was born of fear. Belonging to the Marian tribe, Rauban held regard for his Islamic roots. He had made his pilgrimage to Mecca but did not stop there. Over a number of years, he made eleven such pilgrimages more, earning him the honoured title of “Hajji,” by which he was known. He found his life’s companion while attending a musical contest in Marawi. Performing there was Myrna, a pretty sixteen-year-old singer who captured his fancy. He aspired to take her for himself as a wife, and that is what he did. He kidnapped her and forced her to become his bride. Such were the ways of Rauban Manta! Anxiety filled Myrna’s heart. For the first several years, she lived in constant fear of her husband’s illegal activities. It seemed he was always in trouble. Sometimes he would come home badly stabbed in a fight. But eventually Myrna became hardened to her environment, and she became more and more a part of it. She even joined her husband in search of the fast cash that came from his outlaw escapades. One day a caller visited the home of the Mantas. It was Mr. Casiano Oclarit, a literature evangelist. Rauban was not in when he called, but Myrna was, and she became interested in what he had to say. He gave a good canvass, to which she responded by purchasing a full set of books from him. She was delighted when she found she was entitled to study the Voice of Prophecy Bible lessons, and she readily agreed. Upon completion of the correspondence course, brother Oclarit returned to follow through with further Bible studies in their home. Rauban soon objected to these studies, however, and contrived to discontinue them by harming this faithful worker, but he could not. He was puzzled that there could be a force greater than himself holding him back from harming the literature evangelist. Myrna persevered in her study of God’s Word and rejoiced in the truths she was learning. One year later, while Rauban was in Mecca again, she requested baptism. Myrna, three of her children, and twenty members of her extended family were all baptized on the same day. But this is not the end of the story. What was Rauban going to do on his return? Miracles of Grace
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:09:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015