Lord's Day in Manila Area - Three Baptized

The work for this trip is now history as we have just finished our last schedule and returned to the hotel this Lord’s Day. We left at 6:30am with brother Atoy Franco who took us to Kapitbahayan for their services that start at 7:30am. Lody Salunga then went on with Atoy to worship with the congregation meeting in the Makati area.

Chip spoke in the Bible study hour, preaching on “Blessings in Christ.” I followed with a study on “Defeating the Devil” for the second hour. After the preaching, we observed the Lord’s Supper and had the collection. The singing was excellent with several young men leading and doing excellent jobs as the whole congregation engaged in spirited worship through songs. At the close of the service, one young lady made known her desire to be baptized into Christ.

We had a very short time to visit with Jerry and Teresa Toreja. Teresa is a medical doctor and she is the daughter of the late Ben Cruz. Teresa was the one who helped advise me concerning the illness I had early in this trip. It was also good to speak for a short time with her mother and extend my personal sympathies over the passing of her dear husband, Ben, late last year. We had to hurry to make it to Muntinlupa for the afternoon schedule. So we got on our way quickly – still without coffee! While I know this does not rank up there with being beaten, stoned or shipwrecked, it classifies as “suffering” to Chip and me with our coffee-dependent bodies.

Elias Cruz, one of Ben’s sons, along with Freddie Ong took us to Muntinlupa where we were to meet Atoy and Lordy for a 1pm schedule. On the way there, I received a text message from Kenneth Pastor, Willy’s brother, who was expecting us at 9am for their first service at the RDC facility in the prison. There was no way we could get there, but I told him we planned to be at the 1pm schedule. As it turned out, not only were we badly delayed getting there, but so were Atoy and Lordy. We also learned on the way that we could not be with Willy if we went to the medium security facility to preach there. With about 30 minutes of our time and my voice gone, we decided to let Lordy preach in the medium security prison as no translation would be needed with him. After a short greeting with Willy and Kathy, his wife, Lordy, Atoy and Kenneth left to do the preaching, while Chip and I stayed to visit longer with Willey and Kathy. It is a great encouragement for me to be with them each time as we shed tears of joy and sorrow and help build each other’s faith. I love and admire them both as they have endured this hardship with grace, dignity and great faith.

Willy is still waiting on word for the pardon or parole that could be coming any day. As most of you know, he was cleared of wrong-doing in a simple case of self-defense where a woman entered his house with a gun, stating the intent to kill. However, because the woman’s family is rich, they pursued charges against Willy and bought vengeance through a very corrupt system in this country. Willy’s case has been recommended as one of 16 to the Philippine President for a full and complete pardon. It could come at any day, but until then he continues to teach in the prison and bring many to Christ. I have forgotten how many hundreds have been baptized through his work. Please keep him and Kathy in your prayers. He is also in need of some monthly help as well as about $1300 for legal fees involved with his pardon. If you could be of any help, I will be glad to talk with you about it.

The Lord willing, tomorrow will be a day of rest and material preparation for my Wednesday class on study aids with the high school and junior high classes. Our flights home are scheduled to leave early Tuesday morning. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel home. Thank you again for helping to make this trip possible. I will not know for sure until I do the final math on the flight home, but it looks like I will return with a surplus of just under $200 for this trip which will be used to defray a deficit of over $700 in my account used for preaching in the Philippines.

Brotherly, Harry O.


P.S. Just got word that two men decided to be baptized after the session at the prison.

From Urdaneta to Manila

We left San Fernando this morning for what was supposed to be a one-hour drive to Urdaneta. Over three hours later, we arrived at the building of the congregation in Urdaneta. The traffic was horrible throughout the trip as each town became a clogged mess with vehicles (motorized and non-motorized), parades, funeral processions, business activity, portions of the main highway used (at snail’s pace) as bus-turn-around zones and various slowing factors that were beyond belief. The people were waiting as they knew we were on our way. However, our time was shortened to be with them by these things.

I started by preaching on “Salvation & Cornelius” from Acts 10-11, showing that even morally good people were still sinners in need of hearing and obeying the full message of salvation found in the gospel of Christ. Chip followed with a short lesson on the need to “Grow in Christ.” Rody Gumpad summarized both of those lessons into the Ilocano dialect and added some words of exhortation and invitation. When the gospel was extended, no one responded to be baptized into Christ.

After a quick lunch, we left with Rody to get to the bus stop at a nearby shopping center in town. On the way there, we spotted an air conditioned bus headed to the right area (Pasay) and Rody pulled up beside it as the traffic stopped. We asked if he had three seats and he said “yes,” so we pulled in ahead of the bus at the stop. We had just gotten on when the bus took off and it was an adventure getting to our seats near the back as the bus accelerated, braked, bobbed and weaved. We took the only 3 seats remaining – all separated from each other. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of riding on a Philippine bus, you are the object of my envy as I write this report on board the bus. Imagine the smallest airline seat you have ever experienced and divide it in half. Now, subtract two-thirds of the leg room and add twice the turbulence of your worst flight. Put that together with the smell of pungent garlic and a fragrant locker room. Got it? Mix in 5 hours pressed against total strangers and you have our afternoon journey. All I can say is that I am very happy to now be in Manila!

We are scheduled to end the preaching portion of our work tomorrow with two more places to go – Kapitbahayan and the Mantinlupa. I will post a last report after we return Sunday night, the Lord willing.

Brotherly, Harry O.

Studies in Caba

After a very late and grueling bus ride last night, we would have definitely liked more sleep than was possible this morning. However, the schedule today was very demanding, so we had to get started earlier. The studies today were held at the building of the brethren in Caba, La Union. It was about a 30-40 minute drive south of our hotel. Rody and Tessie Gumpad had arrived a little earlier than we got in last night, coming to help in the work to be done. Rody drove us to the meeting place and we got started a little after 9am. Some brethren from Baguio had made the trip over to hear the lessons. Several said that they would also be in Urdaneta tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Denver Domingo began the meeting with some words of welcome and introduction. Denver was a student in one of the preacher training programs in Tuguegarao. He is well educated and has a high level of ability for his age. Denver has stepped up to take a more active role during a very difficult time. He is a very good man who is badly in need of added support to have the necessary means to meet this added responsibility. Chip Foster started with a lesson on the “Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch.” Lordy Salunga summarized it in the dialect. I then preached on “Create in Me a Clean Heart” from Psalm 51. Lordy the summarized that lesson as well and, then, we had the lunch break.

In less than an hour, we started the afternoon portion of the lectures. Chip started the afternoon studies with a lesson on “Identifying the NT Church.” I then spoke on “Salvation & God’s Word, the Seed” from 1 Peter 1:17-25. Rody Gumpad gave the summary for the lessons and gave some further admonitions. An invitation was extended, but none responded to obey the Lord.

The most difficult part of the day took place outside the lectures. First, early in the day, we received word that one of the preachers from the province of Isabela had committed suicide. We are not yet sure of the circumstances, but we were understandably shocked and saddened. Second, another matter has caused a great deal of concern since I arrived in the Philippines. One of the men who has actively taught the gospel in this area has been found to be living a life of ungodliness while publicly presenting himself as a gospel preacher. He has done much damage to the church in this area and his hypocrisy has caused many to leave the church. His son has stepped up to expose the sin and has taken a greater load in teaching, but it has been very difficult on him and the church. After finishing the lectures, Rody and I talked with this man, his wife and the family. It was a difficult meeting and I frankly doubt that much good was done. Whatever the case, he has done so much harm to the cause of Christ, his family and the name of the congregation that it will take years to rebuild. At this point, he appears unwilling to repent. Please pray for him and especially for his family and the church in this place.

Tomorrow promises to be another difficult day with an early start needed to drive several hours to our morning schedule in Urdaneta. In the afternoon, Chip, Lordy and I will again travel by bus all of the way down to Manila. Please remember us in your prayers.

Brotherly, Harry O.

Last Day in Laoag

This was our last day in the Laoag City area. Our studies for the day were at the building of the Laoag City congregation, in the middle of the town’s central section. Brother Mat Sibayan, Sr. started this congregation and continues to labor with them. Their building is a very good facility for teaching. Like several congregations in the Philippines, they separate the men and women on different sides of the auditorium during their regular worship. In their classes, men and women gather on the second and first level respectively. There is a third level for the young people’s classes as well having a place for baptizing.

The morning session was entirely taken up with a study on “How Did God Use Prophets to Speak His Word?” It was a careful examination of the doctrine of inspiration and its implications. The point was to reinforce why we can have absolute confidence in God’s word and why we cannot make any changes to its teaching. Mat Sibayan, Jr. translated for this study and my later lesson. We broke for the lunch hour a little after noon.

The afternoon session began with Chip preaching on “Things We Can Do.” Rex Bayaca again interpreted for Chip throughout the day. I followed with a lesson on “Salvation & Saul” showing that Saul was not saved at the ways often claimed by denominational preachers, but at the point of baptism as he was cleansed by Christ’s blood. Chip gave the last lesson on “As a Child” which was a lesson of exhortation to Christians urging growth and service. An invitation was extended, but there were no visible responses as almost all of the people present were already Christians -- mostly preachers and their wives.

After eating supper, we were taken by Mat Sr. and Mat Jr. to the bus station where we caught a 7pm bus towards our next destination – the San Fernando / La Union area. Five, uncomfortable hours later, we have just arrived at our destination where I can send this report. Since we must get going in about 6 hours, I will close for now. God bless.

Brotherly, Harry O.

Preaching in Pagudpud - Nine Baptized

Today’s schedule took us to the far northwest portion of Luzon, the town of Pagudpud. We first went to the Subec congregation on the north side of Pagudpud. Abraham Aguete labors with that congregation in preaching. Their building is on the main highway, built at the base of a steep hill. Since I was there the last time, a landslide had destroyed the building and it was rebuilt with help we had delivered from individual brethren in the US. It was a relatively cool day since it was very cloudy, so it was more comfortable than a normal day in this area. There were about 150 or more gathered for our morning studies, including members of this congregation as well as other brethren and denominational visitors. A number of the people had come from far up in the mountains.

The first study was on “Holy Living in Christ” from 1 Peter 1:14-17. It dealt with the application of the principle of holiness to various aspects of our lives as Christians. Matt Sibayan, Jr. interpreted the lesson for me again on this occasion. Chip followed by preaching his lesson on the “Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch” from Acts 8. It was an examination of what he did in response to the message of Jesus. Rex Bayaca translated into the Ilocano dialect. Brother Aguete then made some follow-up comments, encouraged those who desired to obey the gospel and led a song. Six souls (5 young ladies and 1 young man) responded and confessed Christ. They were taken with us to the next place where they could be baptized.

After a lunch break, we traveled for a long time into the mountains for our next schedule at the Ayoyo congregation. I had never visited this group, but was glad to meet the members as well as several visitors. Again, even more people had come from further into the mountains to hear the preaching. Since it was a fairly primitive building, it was not conducive to using the computer and projector, so I reverted to chalkboard preaching. I must admit that it still feels more natural to me than using PowerPoint. I preached on “What Happened on Pentecost?” from Acts 2. It was a basic lesson on the example of conversion and an application of the principles to answer what one must do to be saved. At the end of the lesson, a man and woman came to obey the gospel. (I think they were a married couple and she was expecting another child.)

A third place was added to the schedule, so we went next to work with the Nagsurot Burgos congregation. Oscar Gumallaoi regularly preaches with this group that I had last visited about 10 years ago. Chip took the preaching duties at this appointment, giving a lesson on “Borrowed Time.” Gil Caindec did the interpreting for the lesson. Angel Pascua extended the invitation and led the song. One young lady came to be baptized into Christ.

It was a very long day, but very fruitful as well! The temperature was also better today than I have experienced in several years over here -- probably in the mid 80's. (Note the jacket on the man pictured from the second place.) I appreciate all of you that have made this work possible.

Brotherly, Harry O.

More from Ilocos

We started the day by driving south from Laoag to Siniat. Our first schedule of the day was with the Katipunan congregation with whom Mat Sibayan, Sr. labors. The building is affixed to Mat’s house there. There had been a mistake and the announcements of the meeting did not get distributed, so the attendance was much less than anticipated. It was still a good number of interested people who showed great desire to serve the Lord. The singing was excellent and very spirited.

Chip preached first on the “Conversion of the Ethiopian” from Acts 8. Rex Bayaca interpreted for Chip. I followed with a study on “Create in Me a Clean Heart” from Psalm 51 and Mat Sibayan, Jr. translated for that message. There was excellent attention shown throughout both lessons. Mat Sr. extended the invitation and one young lady responded. After lunch, the brethren baptized her in the South China Sea less than a mile away – it was a beautiful scene in every way.

The afternoon schedule was with the Nueva Era congregation. Several congregations from the area met with these saints along with a number of visitors who were not Christians. The building was filled as was the yard in front of the building as well as the area all along the side of the building – about 160 to 170 people in total. The building itself is an attached addition to the house of Efren Ramos.

Efren works with this congregation and translated for us in both lessons preached there. I went first speaking on “Cornelius & Salvation” from Acts 10-11. Chip delivered a lesson on “Identifying the NT Church.” After the lessons, an invitation to obey the Lord was extended by Efren and his son, T.J., led the song of invitation. (Anothter son, Christian, also led singing earlier.) There were no visible responses on this occasion. After the studies, Efren and his wife asked all present to come into their house for refreshment before all traveled back to their homes. It was an enjoyable time to talk to them and others present about the work in their places. We were repeatedly asked to return in April of this year or next year to hold more classes during vacation time when more could be gathered and their young people.

Brotherly, Harry O.