Chip and I had an early breakfast with Jonathan and Jack this morning to discuss future plans on work that needs to be done in the Visayas. Due to emergency situations that have arisen over the past several trips, we have not been able to press into areas we had planned to go. Several invitations from denominational and institutional groups have gone unanswered for over a year in some cases. With the success in Tacloban and Manny’s zeal to continue reaching others in the city, we also need to visit this part of Leyte again as soon as possible. Truly, the field is white unto harvest!
We left the hotel about 8:30am for a 10am flight from Tacloban to Manila. Our landing in Manila was delayed by air traffic congestion in the area, but we had plenty of time to make our connecting flight at 2pm to Tuguegarao. We arrived safely about 3pm and were met at the airport by many of the brethren in this area. We then went to our hotel and got settled in before leaving for the 6pm Wednesday evening service with the Metro Tuguegarao congregation.
Rody Gumpad led the singing for the service and they asked me to bring a lesson. We discussed 2 Timothy 1:3-7 on “A Heritage of Faith to a Life of Faith.” It was a blessing to be with all of the Gumpad family as well as the other brethren of the congregation. It was an uplifting time as we joined hearts in worship to our God.
After the service, we ate at the best restaurant in the Philippines – Tessie’s Kitchen!!! As usual, it was fantastic and we enjoyed every bite! After supper, we went back to our hotel where we both needed to do some work in preparation for the Bible lectures that start tomorrow in Tabuk City, Kalinga. It will be a little more than a 2-hour drive and we will be there Thursday and Friday, the Lord willing.
One of the other things I needed to do tonight was check up on a disturbing report, publicly posted on my Facebook page by a young Filipino. I have received word by post and calls that many others have seen the charges made and I think it is best to address them briefly. The young man made three main charges:
- He claimed that we used a human institution to fund the benevolent help delivered last week in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. The truth is that 100% of the funds were given by churches and individuals specified for that purpose and no human institution provided any of those funds.
- He was upset that food and other provisions were distributed rather than us just giving him and others money. Why he only wanted money is between him and God, but it is clear that the “bounty” Paul delivered in benevolent aid is a term that is inclusive of more than just monetary currency.
- He was upset that he and the preacher working with him to spread this criticism were not giving a leading role in planning and distribution of the relief. The fact that I did not have sufficient confidence in either of them to entrust them with such a task has been confirmed in my mind by their actions. These men used a radio program intended for preaching the gospel to spread their criticisms and charges to an audience of non-Christians. Frankly, their actions disgust me beyond expression.
Please let me assure you that most Filipino brethren to the benevolent help given do NOT share these two men’s attitude! In fact, no one else that I have been able to contact has reacted with anything remotely similar in attitude or content to these two men. Without exception, every brother or sister I have spoken with or heard from has expressed their deepest gratitude and joy at the gracious and loving help from American brethren. To the person, they are absolutely embarrassed by these two individuals who have acted with such unbelievable lack of thanks and total disregard for the facts. They want American brethren to know that these two men do NOT speak for them! Please do not take the actions of these two men as being even remotely representative of the brethren who were helped in this effort. It is not! Every other brother or sister who has been helped in this relief that I have communicated with in any form has profusely expressed their thanks to their loving brethren in the US and have shown great happiness for the provisions they have received.
Thank you again for your continuing prayers and help as we are involved in this effort. Without your joining with us in support and encouragement, we could not carry on this work. Please
continue to ask the Lord to open doors of opportunity for the spread of His word and for us to speak it as we ought. May God bless and keep you all by His tender mercy and grace.
Brotherly, Harry O.
