Classes and Shake-up

Jonathan and Nanette Carino picked me up at the hotel this morning at 7:30. We made the trip to the building in less than ten minutes, so we were able to start on time at 8am. We started by reviewing the things learned yesterday. The students are asked to share things they learned yesterday that they had not known before. It is always interesting to hear the things learned in the previous day’s study. It helps them to review and me to get feedback on what was or was not clearly conveyed.

Our material today started with 1^st Corinthians 3:1 and ended with 6:20. In the morning study, we covered chapters three and four dealing with the problem of factionalism and conflict in the Corinthian church. I finished that section a little before 11am, so Jonathan and Lordy took over at that point to clarify any matter needing to be clarified in their native dialects. Just after they began their part of the work, we had a blackout with all electrical power being lost. After a little less than an hour, it was restored. It did not stop the classes as they are accustomed to such. [Note the difference in lighting between this photo and the one below.]

After lunch, we began at 1pm to deal with chapters five and six. We were in the midst of dealing with the case of church discipline raised in chapter five when a 6.4 earthquake hit. It was centered on Samar, an island within sight of Cebu across the water to the east. Since we were on the 14^th floor, we felt it very clearly as the whole building swayed as well as feeling some up and down motion. We stopped our study until the swaying ceased which seemed to take a good while. It was the second most intense earthquake I have felt here, but the longest lasting by far. We have not yet had an aftershock, but are expecting them soon. Since I am now on the 16^th floor in my hotel, I am not looking forward to that experience.

After the quake, we continued our study of chapter five and continued on to chapter six since we were all wide-awake and wanting to finish before any further shaking took place. We spent an extended period discussing the problem of fornication and its consequences. I ended my part about 3:30pm, so Jonathan and Lordy took over at that point.

Thanks for your continued prayers for this effort. Please give supplication that the effects of the earthquake or any aftershock may not alter these studies. God bless!