79th Philippine Trip Report August 2-31, 2022
Dear brethren,
Jim McDonald blessed me by taking me to the Philippines in 1995 and my 79th trip was completed August 2-31. Mark Mayberry from Alvin, TX joined me on the 10th and Trey Torno from McKinney, TX participated August 10-22 for the Mindanao leg of our trip. (Aug. 2-30 Keith Greer worked with Rody Gumpad on Luzon.) I taught 62 lessons – Mark taught a like number of lessons, plus lessons by Trey – and 141 submitted to Christ in baptism for the remission of their sins through these combined efforts.
3,000 obeyed the gospel on Pentecost and the church immediately faced many benevolence needs. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). 16 earthquakes hit Mindanao October 2019 – May 2020 . Hundreds of saints in remote areas lost their homes. Saints in the Philippines, the U.S., and other nations have been sending funds to meet this unique emergency. Our sermons aimed to edify these saints. We can verify that men such as Julie Notarte, Franklin Isla, Salvador Parbo, Nardo Francisco, Jolly Julom, Connie Balbin and others have been doing their best to handle the benevolence funds in an honorable and effective manner. As donations permit we will try to complete this work as best we can.
The trip from Louisville to Manila via Detroit and South Korea went well. On August 4 Elias Cruz and James Paet helped re-pack 8 boxes of teaching materials to send ahead to be used at our destinations. I preached Friday about our unity in Christ with Elias Cruz at Kapitbahayan and with Jerry Toreja at LapuLapu, Malabon nearby. All day Saturday was devoted to the church at Meycauayan, Bulacan where Jaime Bobis labors. We studied “From Wretched Man to More Than Conqueror,” “Navigating the Present Distress,” “On to Canaan Or Back to Egypt?, and “Finishing the Race.” The Lord’s Day was spent with the Edsa-Pasay church where James Paet preaches and where Tonyboy Hornedo teaches deaf-mutes, and later with Jaime Battung at Parañaque.
August 8 I worked with Andrew Romero at the Phase 6 church in Caloocan City where 4 souls were baptized. Tuesday was spent teaching in the home of Simple Castro in Tondo. That night Trey Torno and Mark Mayberry arrived safely and we flew Thursday to General Santos City to visit churches on Mindanao, especially saints affected by the earthquakes. Julie Notarte, Jonathan Carino, and other brethren were waiting to work with us as the 3 of us scattered to visit as many churches as possible. We wanted to encourage the saints and see the little houses being built with the benevolence funds which had been donated. Recipients of the benevolence asked us again and again to relay their expressions of love, thanksgiving, and appreciation to the donors.
August 12 we preached to over 100 people at Kitakal, Malungon, Sarangani Province where Dondon Cadayona labors about an hour from General Santos City. With Julie Notarte’s help Trey and I also visited the church at J.P. Laurel while Mark continued preaching. I spoke from Psalm 23, “Do Not Be Afraid: The Lord Is Our Shepherd,” followed by Trey. Beginning Saturday the 3 of us split up to scatter and visit churches in the mountains and rural areas of Davao del Sur and surrounding provinces with the guidance of Julie, Nestor Francisco, Salvador Parbo, and Frank Isla. I visited 9 congregations on the 17th.
On the 19th Mark and I preached all day at the Downtown church, New Matina, Davao City with Juanito and Connie Balbin. Sunday Mark and Trey were with Julie at Digos and I was with Frank at Bansalan, and Trey started home that night. Mark and I taught Revelation at Bansalan the 22nd -24th.
Thursday we returned to Manila and I preached Saturday with Ciriaco Evangelista at Vicas, North Caloocan City, while Mark was with Alex Estoy and Dominador Guevarra at Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Sunday I worked with Edwin de Pedro at Canlubang, Laguna and at Turbina, Calamba City, Laguna. Mark joined Junie Samontina at Trece Martirez, Cavite and at Carmona, Cavite.
Monday we bought 1,260 Bibles in Filipino dialects at the Philippine Bible Society to be shipped far and wide throughout the islands. August 30-31 we traveled safely home by the grace of God..
Praise God for saints on both sides of the ocean who advance the cause of Christ in the Philippines!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook