Second Day in Caloocan City

Our schedule for today was again in Caloocan City at two places not visited yesterday. Yesterday’s trip was very delayed by traffic jams, so we tried another route. Rody and Tessie Gumpad joined Ely Ebuenga on the MRT (Metro Rail Transit), one of the three mass transit lines in the Manila area, at the station nearest the Gumpads. I got on the MRT at a station nearer my hotel. (More on this later.) We met up at the end of that line to begin our taxi portion of the journey. After a long and very winding 90+ minute ride, we arrived at our first appointment.

There was a good number present at a place where the saints meet in that community. It had a very rough dirt floor, half or less side walls and no roof. A plastic cover for part of the area was provided by the local congressman’s office. It was much needed as it began to rain during our meeting. This is the home congregation for Ely Ebuenga who has been so much help during this trip and who plans to start helping with the work in the New Bilibid prison as soon as travel funds can be located. After a few songs and a prayer, I preached on “The Exclusive Truth.” It was a lesson focusing on several statements from the NT about elements essential to our salvation and without which we would be lost. Rody then presented two of his sermons from tarpaulins – “The Bible” and “In Christ vs. Outside of Christ.” An invitation was extended, but there were no visible responses.

The second place for meeting was not far from the first. There had been some confusion about whether or not the appointment was confirmed, so some visitors previously expected were not present. Even so, I do not think we could have fit more than 3 or 4 more into the space. We met in a very small entry area to a house and more were in a room directly behind it. It was less than 6 feet in width and about 8 to 9 feet in length. Rody and I preached with an iron gate to the outside at our back. A very loud guard dog kept us apprised of each person who came past on the street. I preached a short lesson on “Identifying the Incorruptible Seed of God’s Word.” Rody preached on “So Great Salvation.” Ely extended an invitation and four responded to be baptized into Christ. These four will double the number of this very new congregation that began about 2 months ago. We are thankful to the Lord for the power of His gospel to save.

Our return journey took significantly less time than the morning trek. Both directions took us through some of the very poorest parts of the area with many shanty and squatter areas made of whatever pieces of wood, metal or plastic that could be found and put together to form some semblance of shelter. In most places, sanitation is non-existent. The sights and smells are unforgettable and heartrending. What we so often take for granted as expected necessities of life are entirely lacking for the vast bulk of this huge metropolitan area. Yet, the gospel has such a wonderfully rich harvest in this environment.

Where life is a continuous stream of hardships, it seems they place a higher value on the only true hope – salvation in Christ with the promise of a heavenly home. With every trip over here, my heart is caused to reflect more soberly upon my values and purpose. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to come here and reevaluate their priorities. I was told the first time that it would change me and it has.

On the lighter side, the trip this morning by MRT was a greater challenge in some ways than I had thought. The MRT station turned out to be a much longer walk from my hotel than I had anticipated. I had asked the night before as to its location and was told, “Oh, it is just on the other side of Landmark.” Since the Landmark is a store a short distance from the hotel, I thought it would be no problem. After finding that both escalators needed to get to Landmark were closed, requiring long climbs on stairs with a fully loaded briefcase, I began to see my underestimation of the task. Upon reaching the “other side of Landmark,” I asked further clarification as to the location of the MRT station. I was told with a big smile, “Oh yes, just straight.” After walking several hundred yards, asking again, and being told with a smile, “Oh yes, just straight,” I went on to repeat this routine two more times.

Finally reaching the station, I found another non-working escalator requiring another very long climb. Once in the station, I started to look for a ticket to the “Trinoma” station which my co-workers told me would be my destination. One problem – there was no “Trinoma” station listed. Upon asking several MRT employees, I discovered that their desire to help strangers was somewhat similar to customer service at our post offices. However, after finally securing a ticket, I was ready to board the train – after climbing and descending two more long flights of stairs. As you might have already guessed, I rode a taxi from the station to my hotel.