May 10

Home Again by God’s Grace

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I reached home before midnight last night by the grace of God but was delayed in sending this notice by computer problems.  I am thankful to be home with Donna and to see she is doing so well.  David and Joel arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska just shortly after I arrived at the airport in Louisville, Kentucky.

This trip to the Philippines was fruitful in every way.  Having David and Joel to help was a great blessing.  David’s preaching was edifying and encouraging, and Joel’s public relations presence topped it off — everyone loves a 10-year-old as sweet as Joel!  Joel was attentive to the lessons and encouraged other young people to be attentive.  All of our travels were safe and there was no sickness.
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May 10

Philippine Trip April 27-May 2, 2023

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Having completed our schedule in the Ilocos region, we said our goodbyes to our dear brethren there and flew from Laoag City, Ilocos Norte to Manila on Thursday, April 27, arriving in the late afternoon.  James Paet took us to the Asian Mall (the third largest mall in the world) so that David and Joel could look for souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

On Friday I woke up with the gift of knowing it was Donna’s birthday (at least in the Philippines – we are 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time here).  Then I had the honor and privilege of purchasing 750 Bibles in various dialects to be shipped to brethren in many parts of the Philippines by the Philippine Bible Society, thanks to the generous donations of many saints.  Joel went with James and me, but David stayed behind to rest because his energy was depleted and he did not want to crash and miss the special classes planned for Saturday-Monday.
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May 10

Philippine Trip April 22-26, 2023

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Early Saturday morning (Apr. 22) Rody and Tessie Gumpad picked up David, Joel, and me to take us from the Cagayan region to the Ilocos region in northwest Luzon.  First, we drove three hours to reach Magacan, Pamplona in the Province of Cagayan to preach to the Negritos, one of the poorest of all the tribal groups.  They live in little huts made of native materials with the ground as the floor and cook over open fires.  In spite of their deep poverty, they are intelligent and humble people.  Danilo Bautista is a Negrito and works among them proclaiming the gospel.

More than 120 attended as David preached from Psalms 145-146 about putting our trust in God who alone can give us true happiness.  I spoke from Psalm 23 on “The Lord Is Our Shepherd King.”  Robinson Pulveras translated in the dialect.  Ten souls responded to the gospel call and were immediately baptized into Christ with great rejoicing all around.
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April 25

Philippine Trip April 19-21, 2023

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Wednesday morning Rody Gumpad drove David, Joel, and me about an hour from our hotel in Tuguegararo City to Remus, Baggao, Cagayan Valley where Abraham and Sammy Paet serve as evangelists.  They have just constructed a new church building which lacks only a few finishing touches in a couple of rooms and on the outside, in addition to putting up a fence to be complete.

71 souls were gathered including visitors, one of whom is a denominational pastor who attended high school with Sammy.  Sammy has been studying with his friend Joel and I have also been sharing study materials with him via email.  He was very happy to be with us today to hear David’s lesson from Ecclesiastes on the three R’s (rejoice, remove, and remember) followed by my sermon “When Peter Confessed Christ.”  Rody summarized our presentations in the dialect because this is another remote place.  These saints want me to relay their appreciation for the financial help which enabled them to construct this new building.
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April 25

Philippine Trip April 12-18, 2023

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The last night in the Bicol Region was Tuesday, April 11, and a low pressure cell brought steady rain and some high winds.  The weak internet prevented me from working on email, so I swam 50 laps in the very deserted pool and went to bed at 10:30.  I am almost ashamed to admit I slept 10 ½ hours, but maybe my body was sending a message about needing to catch up on rest.

Wednesday I walked and took a short swim but also talked with Donna on the phone, as I do morning and evening each day.  There were also several calls with David about last minute details preparing for his coming with Joel. Jhun Layusa with a contingent of dear saints took me to the airport that afternoon to catch a plane back to Manila.  After arriving about 7:00 P.M., getting checked in at the hotel, and eating supper, I dove into the backlog of emails and also worked on sermon charts before sleeping at midnight.
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April 14

​​​​​​​Philippine Trip April 8-11, 2023

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Jhun Layusa brought us from Naga to Pulanglupa Pasacao, Camarines Sur on Saturday to labor with Rico and Rocky Ruado.  The audience of 44 people were crammed into a house with some listening on the outside as I taught on “Selecting a Mate: The Lord Builds the House” (Ps. 127:1).  Before lunch the focus was on what God does to help us find the right mate and after lunch what God teaches us to do to find the right mate.  The key on our side is to be the right kind of person in order to find and attract the right kind of person.

Since I touched on avoiding dances in order to maintain moral purity, someone during the open forum asked if folk dances are appropriate for Christians. If the dance does not involve males and females in inappropriate touching and sexual moves, it may be innocent.  This led into a more detailed discussion about the dangers of temptation involved in most dancing.  The dangers center around lasciviousness or conduct which stirs the desire for fornication.
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April 14

Philippine Trip April 4-7, 2023

Philippine trip Apr. 4-6

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The April 4-May 2 Philippine trip got off to a very good start Tuesday and Wednesday.  First, I got to sleep almost 3 hours Monday night (often it is only 15 minutes to an hour the last night at home).  Second, the flights from Louisville to Detroit to Tokyo to Manila were on time and encountered very little turbulence, allowing me to get a lot of work done between naps.

Third, we arrived in Manila about 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, much earlier than normal.  This gave me time to get to the hotel before bedtime to work out for 40 minutes in the fitness room plus to swim 30 minutes (only a few young boys swimming, no women in the pool).  That combination really loosens cramping muscles and builds stamina for the next day.

And, to top it off, a beautiful moon was smiling down on the scene with greetings from many loved ones and friends!  I got to bed at a decent hour and slept over 8 hours.
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April 5

Philippine Trip Itinerary April 4 – May 2, 2023

PHILIPPINE TRIP ITINERARY April 4-May 2, 2023

Apr 4-5 (Tues-Wed) Travel from Louisville, Kentucky to Manila, Philippines
Apr 6 (Thur) Re-pack boxes to ship with Elias Cruz & James Paet; rest, prepare

Apr 7 (Fri) Travel from Manila to Legazpi City, Albay to work with Jhun Layusa, Larry Ebuenga, & other brethren in the Bicol
Apr 8 (Sat) 10:00 AM-3:00PM preach at Pulanglupa Pasacao, Camarines Sur with Rico Ruado & Rocky Ruado, then travel to Camarines
Apr 9 (Sun) 8:00-11:00 AM Preach at Del Rosario, Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Bicol Region with Jhun Layusa & JohnRey Morales
1:00-2:30 PM preach at Brgy. Tres, Mercedes Sammy Velasco & Carlo Palmes;
3:00-5:00 PM Preach at Purok 4 San Roque, Mercedes with JohnLeanard Layusa & Jison Agbuya
Apr 10 (Mon) 9:00-12:00 Preach at Sitio Iyawan, Brgy. Batobalani, Paracale, Camarines Norte with Reymond Señar & Rolando Moreno;
travel to Prieto-Diaz, Sorsogon Province, Bicol Region)
Apr 11 (Tues) Preach at San Isidro, Prieto-Diaz, Sorsogon church with Larry Ebuenga
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April 5

Pray for Toreja Family

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I spoke with Teresa Toreja in Manila this morning (night there) and learned that her husband Jerry passed away.  He was normal, active, and happy on Friday but has had health problems in recent months.  She woke up about 2:00 AM Saturday because he was groaning.  She tried to resuscitate him without success.  She said it seems his heart failed.

Jerry had served as an elder for the Kapitbahayan church of Christ in Navotas.  The church split over covid issues but was reunited and worshiped again as one church on March 12.  He was hoping to devote the remainder of his life to preaching the gospel as he told me when I saw them on March 2.
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April 5

Philippine Preaching April 4 – May 2, 2023

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES!
March 14, 2023rd Year of Our Lord
                              
Dear brethren,

For the 82nd time since Jim McDonald introduced me to the Philippine work, a schedule of preaching is now ready, for April 4-May 2, God willing.  This will be a unique opportunity because my son David, will join me for the 8th time and his son Joel, will be with us for the 1st time – to put a fire in his heart!

Thousands of young people have been baptized into Christ. This trip will focus on “Young in Age, Strong in Faith.”  Paul challenged Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
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