Halbrook Report: 53rd Philippine Trip
March 6, 2014th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 53rd PHILIPPINE TRIP
Feb. 18-Mar. 6, 2014
Dear brethren,
By God’s gracious providence my 53rd Philippine trip was completed February 18-March 6. The main focus was to relieve saints suffering from typhoon Yolanda which struck November 8. 10,000 people died, 550,000 homes were destroyed, and it will take five years to fully recover according to Filipino officials. All in all, 38 lessons were taught, 7 were baptized into Christ, and benevolence was distributed to hundreds of brethren on Leyte, Samar, and Negros.
February 20 Elias Cruz met me in Manila to ship benevolence items, Bibles, and study material ahead. Friday I met Cyrus Gesulga and Rody Gumpad to study various aspects of premillennialism. Cyrus lives in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Province, on Mindanao but had come to Manila for a few days. He gave up the premillennial system in 2011 but is still puzzled about a few passages, which we are studying little by little. Saturday the three of us conducted a gospel meeting north of Manila at Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Bulacan Province with 35-40 in attendance. During the open forum which followed questions ranged from the Sabbath Day observance to the proper use of the church treasury.
Atoy Franco took me on the Lord’s Day to Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, where Willie Pastor has been incarcerated since 2010. Trusting God’s providence, he has persistently taught the gospel, baptizing 500. Three churches now meet in the prison and Willie’s brother Kenneth works with them. Willie hopes to be released this summer and return to his wife Kathy and their precious children. They struggle financially in his absence, though compassionate brethren are giving some help. In the afternoon we went to the home of Jimmy Battung, where a church of 15-20 meets. After the lesson, questions about the plan of salvation and our existence in the hadean realm were discussed in an open forum.
February 24-26 was dedicated to benevolence work in the Visayan Islands. Jonathan Carino and I took an early morning ferry Tuesday to Ormoc City, Southern Leyte. We rented a van with the driver for the day to visit area churches. Funds for food were delivered to churches at Baybay, Candadan, Ampihonon Caibu, Mahaplag (two churches), San Vicente, and Ormoc City. The next day we returned to Leyte to bring funds to the saints at Tacloban City, Northern Leyte where brethren from Samar also met us to receive help. I gave a short lesson on “Benevolence” to show it expresses God’s love for us and our love for each other, it meets a temporary emergency, and it tests our honesty in handling church funds.
The devastation caused by Yolanda is startling. Decomposed bodies are still being discovered. An estimated ten million people have been seriously affected by the typhoon. Much of the damage to homes and other buildings still has not been repaired. Construction materials are scarce and expensive for the average Filipino. Electricity is still not generally available. Many school buildings are so severely damaged they cannot be used at all. The mind can hardly comprehend what the eyes see! Most of our brethren are among the poorest peoples and they suffer the most. The brethren who received benevolence expressed their thanksgiving and love again and again to all the saints who donated the funds.
February 27-March 2 I visited churches on Negros Oriental with the help of Jonathan Carino and Jack Jaco. Friday-Saturday our circuit included Buenavista, Santa Bangkal, JonobJonob, Escalante City proper, Drier, Old Poblacion, Balintawak, Amparo, Japitan, Bago, Sagay City, Toboso, Tinabuan, Pur. Dalia, Narra, Complex Cadiz City, Minaposok, Kawayanan, Kapisan, and Victorias City. 972 saints on Negros received benevolence. They feel so small and ignored in this world that their spirits are greatly uplifted by our coming to bring help from saints so far away.
Jonathan, Jack, and I flew March 3 to Masbate Island for a gospel meeting March 3-4. Former Baptist preachers Greg Jumao-as and Edgar Diaz invited contacts who were curious to understand why they left the Baptist faith. I presented a series of lessons on “The Authority of Christ.” The open forums were lively especially regarding baptism and instrumental music, but the audience was receptive. One was converted. The great joy of the Philippine work is seeing the hunger of souls to learn God’s Word!
The next day I went to Manila to buy 1,112 Bibles in several dialects to ship throughout the Philippines, especially to brethren affected by the typhoon. Thursday I had a safe trip home to Louisville.
I rejoice for the love of saints who make this work possible and for God’s providence in it all!
In Christian love, Ron Halbrook
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