Arrived in Tacloban

Atoy Franco picked me up from the hotel this morning and dropped me off at the airport where I met Lordy Salunga. Lordy and I then flew to Tacloban on the island of Leyte. When we arrived at Tacloban, Jonathan Carino and 3 other brethren from Cebu met us. On the way to the hotel, I found out that our schedule was slightly altered due to a change of venues. As a result of the change, we had no lectures scheduled this afternoon, but all were shifted to begin tomorrow and run through Saturday evening rather than ending on Saturday afternoon.

Having the afternoon free gave us an opportunity to print all outlines for the studies ahead of time rather than having to send them for printing just prior to each lesson. We also had time to plan the lesson order and set a schedule as to who would cover the various topics to be addressed. In the past, we have always started these lectures with denominational preachers immediately upon arrival and we have had no opportunity for preparatory time. I feel things are in better order for the start of this lectureship than any over the past years. This evening, we also made some contingency plans if the typhoon causes a change in our schedule.

Typhoon Mirinae (known as Santi in the Philippines) continues to bear down on the Philippines as it gets much stronger. Maximum sustained winds are now over 100mph and are expected to increase until time of impact. The forward speed has increased so that landfall is now expected to be about 2am Saturday, local time. At present, Manila still seems likely to receive a direct hit. Though the Philippine models have forecast a northern drift, it has continued to go south of projections. The only good news at this point seems to be that it is moving faster than expected so as to clear the area faster and yield less total rainfall. Please pray that the storm will spare this country of further damage.

The hotel in which we are staying has many pictures related to the World War II invasion of General Douglas MacArthur and the US forces to re-take the Philippine Islands from Japanese control. There is even a museum attached to the hotel with artifacts of the event. The décor and furnishings seem to be of 1940’s origin as well.

Must go for now and get some charts ready for tomorrow. Your prayers and support are so encouraging. Please keep praying that we may be used by the Lord to preach His word as we ought and honest souls may receive it gladly.

Brotherly, Harry O.