Today and tomorrow are holidays in the Philippines rarely
observed in the U.S. and never observed in the way done here, as far as I have
seen. It is called “All Saints Day” and is celebrated by people socializing at
the gravesites of dead relatives. The day before (Oct. 31) is spent cooking and
preparing for the gatherings. In many places, roads are shut to normal traffic
today and tomorrow so that people can have their traditional walking
processions to the cemeteries. While businesses are shut down and it is an
official paid holiday, few will go to places other than the cemeteries. So, we
felt very good that our venue in Tacloban was full today with about 50 present
at the first day of the lectures – more than anticipated in our plans.
We start the day with a brief introduction to the lectures, focusing
on the seed of God’s word by which we may be born again as we are purified through
the blood of Christ in obeying the gospel (1 Pet. 1:17-25). We then studied “God’s
Inspiration of His Word.” Jonathan followed with a study showing the
distinction between the different period presented in the Scripture and the law
governing each one. Since both of these lessons were presented in some detail,
they took us to the lunch break.
The afternoon session started with a lesson on “Confusing
the Issue.” It demonstrated how confusion has come as men have taught and
practice things that are in conflict to the plain teaching of God’s word.
Jonathan then gave a lesson on the New Testament church. I gave the final
lesson on “Salvation and Saul.” It was obvious at the close of the day that a
good number were very seriously thinking about the things they had learned.
Several were saying they were considering and leaning towards being baptized
into Christ. Please pray that these and more make the commitment to obey the
Lord.
Both going to the lectures and coming back to the hotel, we
took the only transportation available here in Tacloban – tricycles. These are
motorcycles with a one-wheeled sidecar. They are not made for American-sized
people. It is always an adventure for me to contort my body in the way needed
to get in these things. While sitting in them, my knees are literally at face
level in order to fit.
