Please excuse the absence of a report yesterday, but it could not be helped. Upon arrival at the airport yesterday, we found the Cebu Pacific flight was delayed because of bad weather at Tuguegarao. At 1PM, they canceled the flight and the scramble was on for finding another route. After two hours of trying to get a refund, Ron came back to tell us that no refund was forthcoming. They said their cancelation fee would amount to well over half the price of the ticket and take several months. However, if we use the return half of the ticket to fly back, they will give us about $14 dollars of return if we care to stand in another 2+ hour line. Customer service is not a high priority over here.
Alternate transportation to Tuguegarao is limited to a bus or a hired van. I have tried both before and they are both very unpleasant. Since Ron and Steve preferred the van, we decided on it. Sometime after 3PM, we took off in a van towards Tuguegarao. It is impossible to put in adequate words the nature of that journey. After several hours of fighting stop and go traffic on fair freeways in crowded Manila, we came to stop and go traffic on terrible two-lane roads through various towns and mountainous regions. In places, the bumps were so bad it jarred every part of the body. Every few miles, you would see a sign that read, “Slow Down, Accident Prone Area.” How one could speed up was a point of wonder to me. If one did so, he would immediately meet the bumper of the vehicle six inches in front of him. As one goes through the town, every imaginable thing needed for daily life in the Philippines is on display for those driving down the roads. At times when traffic stops, it is brought to your window if they.JPG)
recognize you are a Westerner. The amusing signs were too plentiful to recall, especially in my present state of travel weariness.
We finally arrived in Tuguegarao on Friday morning at 3AM. By the time I checked in, got to the room, cooled it to a level where human habitation was possible, and got things arranged, it was well after 4AM. I awoke this morning at 10:15 got to Rody’s about 11:15 to start the day. Steve and Ron have taken the time this morning and I will begin with my afternoon classes with 3 straight hour of teaching.
My first class was on “Church History” and covered the period of the first century. We noted the nature of the church as described in Acts and the Epistles. We also discussed the problems that.JPG)
arose in the 1st century church as well as how those problems were resolved. This set the stage for future studies of the digression that developed in later centuries. Next was the New Testament survey class where I covered an introduction to the New Testament and a brief synopsis of Matthew. To stay on schedule, I must combine Mark and Luke for the survey class tomorrow. Have not yet figured our how to do that, but I have all night to do so J. The last class was the “Denominational Doctrines” class where I covered the first of two lessons on Catholicism. We mainly discussed two basic points. First, we examined the Catholic idea that grace is dispensed by the Church versus the New Testament concept of it being dispensed by Christ to the individual Christian who acts without mediation of a special clergy, but directly to God as a priest -- a priesthood of believers. Second, we noted the Catholic concept of truth being a product of a reservoir controlled by the Church. It is interesting that John 1:17 plainly shows the error of both ideas. We also discussed the change in organization that came with the Catholic digression.
After supper, we were to begin our work with the students on using Bible study aids such as the concordance, maps, cross-reference helps and so forth. Though we were late getting started, we will be even later on getting to this part of the work because Philippine customs agents will not release the material. It seems obvious they want a bribe, which will not be forthcoming from us.
With the classes now in full swing, we are trying to use every minute in order to catch up to our schedule. Please keep us in your prayers that things may go well, the students be edified and, above all, the Lord be glorified.
P.S. Though we were not happy at the cancelation of our flights, we were caused to reflect about the matter with today’s news here in Tuguegarao. It seems a small plane took off from Tuguegarao despite the weather around the time we were scheduled to be arriving. The plane remains missing and feared to be lost. It was the very same plane I flew on to Batanes about a year ago.
Alternate transportation to Tuguegarao is limited to a bus or a hired van. I have tried both before and they are both very unpleasant. Since Ron and Steve preferred the van, we decided on it. Sometime after 3PM, we took off in a van towards Tuguegarao. It is impossible to put in adequate words the nature of that journey. After several hours of fighting stop and go traffic on fair freeways in crowded Manila, we came to stop and go traffic on terrible two-lane roads through various towns and mountainous regions. In places, the bumps were so bad it jarred every part of the body. Every few miles, you would see a sign that read, “Slow Down, Accident Prone Area.” How one could speed up was a point of wonder to me. If one did so, he would immediately meet the bumper of the vehicle six inches in front of him. As one goes through the town, every imaginable thing needed for daily life in the Philippines is on display for those driving down the roads. At times when traffic stops, it is brought to your window if they
.JPG)
recognize you are a Westerner. The amusing signs were too plentiful to recall, especially in my present state of travel weariness.We finally arrived in Tuguegarao on Friday morning at 3AM. By the time I checked in, got to the room, cooled it to a level where human habitation was possible, and got things arranged, it was well after 4AM. I awoke this morning at 10:15 got to Rody’s about 11:15 to start the day. Steve and Ron have taken the time this morning and I will begin with my afternoon classes with 3 straight hour of teaching.
My first class was on “Church History” and covered the period of the first century. We noted the nature of the church as described in Acts and the Epistles. We also discussed the problems that
.JPG)
arose in the 1st century church as well as how those problems were resolved. This set the stage for future studies of the digression that developed in later centuries. Next was the New Testament survey class where I covered an introduction to the New Testament and a brief synopsis of Matthew. To stay on schedule, I must combine Mark and Luke for the survey class tomorrow. Have not yet figured our how to do that, but I have all night to do so J. The last class was the “Denominational Doctrines” class where I covered the first of two lessons on Catholicism. We mainly discussed two basic points. First, we examined the Catholic idea that grace is dispensed by the Church versus the New Testament concept of it being dispensed by Christ to the individual Christian who acts without mediation of a special clergy, but directly to God as a priest -- a priesthood of believers. Second, we noted the Catholic concept of truth being a product of a reservoir controlled by the Church. It is interesting that John 1:17 plainly shows the error of both ideas. We also discussed the change in organization that came with the Catholic digression.After supper, we were to begin our work with the students on using Bible study aids such as the concordance, maps, cross-reference helps and so forth. Though we were late getting started, we will be even later on getting to this part of the work because Philippine customs agents will not release the material. It seems obvious they want a bribe, which will not be forthcoming from us.
With the classes now in full swing, we are trying to use every minute in order to catch up to our schedule. Please keep us in your prayers that things may go well, the students be edified and, above all, the Lord be glorified.
P.S. Though we were not happy at the cancelation of our flights, we were caused to reflect about the matter with today’s news here in Tuguegarao. It seems a small plane took off from Tuguegarao despite the weather around the time we were scheduled to be arriving. The plane remains missing and feared to be lost. It was the very same plane I flew on to Batanes about a year ago.
