Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Sunday night, December 10, we arrived safely with Ronnie Salunga back in Auckland after traveling from Whakatane, New Zealand.  Monday I tried to catch up on some email, took some exercise, and prepared for the all-night trip to Manila.  We left Ronnie’s house at 6:30 P.M. and drove near the airport to meet Randy Cabrilla’s family and the Salunga family including Marius Purcaru to enjoy a final visit over supper.

I checked in at the airport about 9:30 P.M. and paid another $50.00 to sit in an emergency row on the plane where there was plenty of leg room.  The plane left Auckland about 1:00 A.M. Tuesday and arrived in Manila at 6:00 A.M. on the same day (a 10 hour flight, adjusting for the change in time zones) and I managed to stretch out my legs and sleep most of the trip.  I came to my hotel in Manila and immediately went to exercise for 30-40 minutes which helps shake off the jet lag.  After eating breakfast, I used the rest of the day to catch up on more email (I think it is not possible to catch up on all of it) and to prepare for preaching and classes this week.

Several months ago I learned that a new congregation had been planted at Malabon City, Metro Manila.  It meets in the apartment of Anna Lynn C. Dela Cruz, sister to Cipriano Carpentero, Jr.  Brethren such as Jechres Mancia, Elias Cruz, Alex Estoy, and Roland Hilamon have shared in the preaching.  Wednesday afternoon I went there to preach “Young People, Read the Bible” and “New Beginnings in Christ” followed by an open forum.

Cipriano traveled from Mindanao to help us and he invited classmates and friends from his school days.  We had a large number of young people among the 40 who attended.  This is a Catholic culture and the very first question in the open forum was why we do not celebrate Christmas.  That gave me a perfect opening to explain more about the authority of Christ expressed in Scripture and how we dare not go beyond that authority to add anything or subtract anything. This was a profitable afternoon of study, though I was quite tired after standing for more than 4 hours on my feet.

Just as I finished eating supper back at the hotel, my stomach notified me something was wrong.  I had my laptop open at the table preparing for the next day’s classes as I ate and I left it there thinking I would return within a few minutes.  Instead, I was sick all night and Dr. Teresa Toreja brought me to her clinic to spend the next day on IV’s (Elias and Arnold were very attentive and helpful also).  With food poisoning you are first so sick you are afraid you will die, and then you are so sick you are afraid you will not die!  But I survived by God’s grace, and once again by the mercies of Teresa.  By Sunday I felt fully recovered.

I had expected to send a couple of shorter reports, but this food poisoning really set my energy back and I have diligently struggled just to keep my focus on the work at hand.  Now I am playing catch up and I thank those who are taking the time to read this report for your patience.  Also I apologize for falling behind in reading and responding to many emails.  It is not my intention to ignore anyone.

Thursday–Friday, Lordy Salunga and I were scheduled to teach classes on How to Study the Bible at the Sampoloc church in Metro Manila.  This is a deaf mute congregation where Tony Boy Hornado has done consistent work for many years.  Lordy taught the first day without me, but I was able to participate on Friday by teaching four lessons, though still weak.  Though we do not speak, it is laborious work to present the lessons on Power Point charts and make additional notes on a white board at the side,while  someone signs for us as we go.  In addition to the two men who often sign, we were served by a young man name Levi Demson who did his work in a very diligent way.

During the Q & A someone asked if a person who has been baptized in the past needs to be baptized again.  I used Mark 16:15-16 with Acts 19:1-5 to show that if the past baptism is not the true baptism commanded by Christ in the Great Commission, then, yes, a person should be baptized again. Two ladies decided to obey the gospel today, in addition to two yesterday.

The Saturday schedule was at the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City with Ely Ebuenga and his son-in-law Ceriaco Evangelistta.  Sammy Paet drove me there and we entered just past 9:00 A.M.  Ely arranged with a Presbyterian “pastor” for us to use their facility as we have done in the past.  This fellow is very attentive when I preach and Ely thinks he will eventually be converted – he seems to genuinely appreciate the lessons even when I expose errors of denominationalism.  The audience numbered 125 men and they heard lessons on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom” (verse by verse study of Matt. 5), “True Repentance” (2 Cor 7:10), and “The Great Invitation” (Matt. 11:28-30).  Seven men responded to the gospel call, asking to be baptized into Christ.

While waiting for everyone to arrive, I was introduced to a former Baptist “pastor” who is an inmate.  We had a friendly discussion about the terms and conditions of pardon.  I showed him a simple chart on a notepad based on Mark 16:15-16 as follows: 1. Believe + 2. Be baptized — 3. Saved.  When I showed him next how the Catholic Church changes it (1. Baptize infant — 2. Saved + 3. Believe later), he said that doctrine is wrong.  When I showed him how the Baptist Church changes what Jesus said (1. Believe — 2. Saved + 3. Be baptized later), he tried to defend the Baptist doctrine.  He appealed to the case of the thief on the cross.  I pointed out the thief died about 50 days before Jesus gave the Great Commission in Mark 16, but Jesus said it now applies to “all the world” and to “every creature” (vs. 15).  The “pastor” finally just stood up and walked away without saying a word.  Let us hope the truth will penetrate his heart and lead to his conversion before he leaves this world unprepared.

On the Lord’s Day Sammy brought me to the Edsa-Pasay church where he labors with Rody and Junior Gumpad.  Most of the members came from scattered provinces to find work and they have begun going back to their homes for the extended holiday season, but we still had 49 souls present.  Knowing this is a Catholic culture, I presented a study in two parts at the Bible study period and the worship hour on “Holy Days and Holidays” (Gal. 4:8-11).  I was happy to meet a Filipino American visitor who is Catholic but has been introduced to the original gospel of Christ through Sammy’s daughter.  The study was well received even by our visitor.

Sammy drove a hour to bring me to Paranaque City where a church meets in a converted garage in the home of Jimmy Battung.  There were 15-20 souls assembled as we studied the two lessons on “Holy Days and Holidays,” followed by an open forum.  Jimmy was a police chief in Makati for years and he asked a perceptive question: Since we know Christmas even with its emphasis on love and peace is a false “holy day,” why does society see a good result of a lower crime rate during this season?  The answer is that Satan mixes truth with error to make false religion more attractive, but the truth at times exerts a good influence in spite of the error mixed with it.  The error cannot claim credit for the good influence of truth any more than we can blame the truth for the bad influence of error.

Jimmy is having heart problems and needs our prayers.  The small congregation meeting at this house has proven to be steadfast.  A visitor I met here on my August trip has continued attending and was back again today.  Sammy and I talked with him about obeying the gospel and he appears to be very near the kingdom of God.

This morning (Monday) was the joyous occasion when we go to the Philippine Bible Society to purchase Bibles which will be shipped to many places in the Philippines.  This time 485 Bibles in several dialects were purchased thanks to the generous donations given by many loving saints.  Only God can measure how much good all of those Bibles will do in the hearts and lives of many precious souls, but we know His Word does not return to Him void!

As we complete the schedule for this trip, there have been 12 people willing to receive the blood of Christ by submitting to Him in water baptism.  They are saved by the amazing grace of God and God is glorified by the power of the gospel unto salvation.

With mixed emotions I am preparing everything for the return flight to the U.S. and home tomorrow morning.  Traveling for 24 hours, I will fall further behind in answering email and must ask for your patience and understanding.  Also, a part of my heart will remain in the Philippines and New Zealand, but I miss Donna and all of our loved ones at home and I am really longing to see them.  The completion of this 68th trip is just another reminder that our years are quickly passing and we soon come to the end of life’s journey.  May God bless and guide us all until we can truly be at home with Him in heaven!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com