Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

We were blessed when a typhoon headed for the Philippines turned north out at sea, but Luzon has received a lot of rain.  We were worried that our Tuesday, July 10,  flight from Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan in northern Luzon might be cancelled, but instead the flight left Manila on time and arrived in Tuguegarao 25 minutes ahead of schedule.  Rody, Tessie, and Jay Gumpad along with Jerome Forelo warmly welcomed us.

After checking in at the hotel, we shared a late lunch, then rested.  Zach and I made our way on foot through the congested traffic and thick clouds of fumes to the track and field stadium of Cagayan State University where we walked for an hour. The heat should have been unbearable at this time of day, but dark clouds and strong winds moved in to cool the atmosphere, though it never rained.

About 7:00 P.M. Tessie served a delicious supper and we enjoyed our visit in the Gumpad home.  We returned to our rooms to finalize preparations for the next two days of teaching God’s Word and to get a good night’s rest.

Tuguegarao is often noted for setting record high temperatures during the summer, but Wednesday’s weather was moderate with overcast skies, temperatures in the 80’s, and light rain at the day’s end which turned into a thunderstorm with heavy rain for several hours.

The series on “The Bible Is the Word of God” got off to a good start today with Zach’s sermon on how a Christian can handle stress, followed by my study of Psalm 19 entitled “The Glory of God.”  God’s glory is proclaimed by the creation and by Scripture.

At 10:00 A.M. Zach accompanied Dr. Cathy Forelo to a hospital to learn more about how medicine in practiced in the Philippines.  Also 60 ladies gathered to study for two hours with Taya and we heard very good reports about her lessons.

After lunch I taught on “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” and also “The Writing and Canon of Scripture.”  These lessons prove we have the original 66 books of the Bible with nothing added and nothing lost, contrary to the claims of atheists, agnostics, and other unbelievers.  There were 128 in attendance today.  It was a joy to see many brethren whom I have known from the early days when I first came with Jim McDonald.  I expressed greetings from Jim and from Connie and Bobbie Adams, all of whom left a part of their heart here but are prevented from returning by the constraints of age.

As always, Tessie and the ladies helping her provide delicious meals and show the warmest hospitality in every way. We had an unexpected blessing when Frankie Jacob and his family attended, bringing greetings from Domie and Leah Jacob and two large packages of Domie’s tract on God’s divine nature which counteract false teaching by Jehovah’s Witnesses and other false religions.  Some of the tracts were distributed today and others will be taken to distribute at other places we visit.

The classes conducted on Thursday went very well again.  Zach started our day by spotlighting the uniqueness of the church of Christ as it is revealed in the New Testament.  Taya then took the ladies for two hours of study while I taught the men abut “The Apocrypha and Other False Scriptures.”  This lesson exposes the fanciful errors of the nine apocryphal books added to the Roman Catholic Bible, the false books produced 200 BC-AD 200 called pseuepigrapha, and the so-called “lost books” of the Bible.

The ladies enjoyed Taya’s lessons so much that they requested another class after lunch and Taya taught about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31.  Meanwhile, Zach preached to the men on the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.  My next two sermons focused on “The Bible: God’s Only True Word,” which is a study in evidences.

Today’s attendance was 124 and we could not have asked for a more attentive group.  Many brethren and visitors came to us after the dismissal thanking us for all the lessons.  I was able to study at Rody’s home with a 71 year old Christian Church preacher with whom he as been working and this man is very receptive to the truth.  The next day he told Rody our private study clarified some things and he wants to break with the Christian Church to strictly follow the New Testament.

Strangely, the temperatures stayed in the 80’s today with another evening rainstorm, but tomorrow’s forecast says Tuguegarao will go back to the 90’s.

We left Tuguegarao early Friday morning with Rody and Tessie Gumpad, Jerome and Cathy Forelo, and Mark Daquioag traveling west in northern Luzon.  At 10:00 A.M. we reached the Dubeng church in Pampona, Cagayan Province where Robinson Pulveras labors in the gospel.  About 50 were present to hear Zach’s study showing how the church of Christ is biblically unique, followed by my lesson from Psalm 57 entitled “Trust God Till the Danger Passes.”  Jerome summarized my lesson in the local dialect.

When the invitation song was sung, two precious souls stepped forward to confess Christ and to submit to him in baptism for the remission of their sins.  The angels of heaven rejoice with us!

Our good lunch was provided by the Pulveras family and then we drove into the countryside to teach the Negritos, one of the unique cultural minorities of the Philippines.  They are very poor and not well educated, but they have tender hearts and love to hear the gospel.  About 50-60 were gathered in an open air structure covered with dried nipa palm branches next to a school.

Three Negrito preachers had obtained permission for us to meet there, but another Negrito preacher angrily tried to prevent us from preaching by loudly insisting we were invading his territory and stealing his work.  (He is under the influence of a preacher with whom we no longer work because of his bad attitude and conduct.)  The brethren explained that they are doing their own work and have not interfered with him, and we invited him to join us for the studies.  We finally bypassed him in the road where he attempted to block us and he left.

The precious Negritos were very attentive as Zach preached from Acts 8 on the conversion of the Ethiopian official with Rody as his translator.  After the sermon, Jerome took Zach to visit and observe alongside Dr. Cathy Forelo in a primitive hospital which serves Negritos.  I then preached “Trust God Till the Danger Passes,” and Rody summarized it in the dialect.

Again, someone is praying for us because the weather continues to be quite moderate for the summer time which can be so punishing.  Please keep praying, whoever you are!

Saturday morning, July 14, we visited an encampment of Negritos surrounded by their simple huts covered in dried nipa palm branches with dirt floors. Some 60 or more heard Zach’s study on the conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer with Rody interpreting.  Then I preached “Trust God Till the Danger Passes” (Ps. 57).  As always they were completely attentive, some barely moving at all as they listened so intently.  Three confessed Christ and were immersed for the forgiveness of their sins.

As we started our afternoon journey to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, rain started falling and it continued off and on the whole afternoon.  We stopped a couple of times along the way to view some beautiful scenery.  For entertainment (translated: heart attack) value, Zach even crawled out on a tree overhanging a bluff which falls several hundred feet to the South China Sea to make pictures!  I was glad he did not fall, because if he had fallen I planned to jump too – knowing I dare not go home without him!

Almost immediately upon our arrival in Laoag City, the rain turned into a rainstorm which delayed the return of Rody and company to Tuguegarao, but they finally arrived safely at home about 12:30 A.M.  Our hotel is near the South China Sea and I walked in the edge of the surf for an hour after the rain stopped for my daily exercise.

Mat Sibayan, Sr. came to our hotel at 8:30 A.M. on the Lord’s Day and brought us to the Laoag City church of Christ which meets in their building in the downtown.  Many members here are professionals such as teachers and the attendance was estimated at 50 or more.  Zach’s lesson on handling stress was well received, as was my lesson on “The Tree of Life:  Lost and Found” (Rev. 22:1-2).

Next, we proceeded to a small church meeting in a home because two of the members living there cannot climb the steps at the Laoag church building.  Ten people heard Zach teach on Philip and the eunuch, his first experience preaching in a home.  We rushed to a McDonald’s and got lunch in the drive-through lane so that we could proceed to the jail service where several have been converted.  Knowing these Christians face many trials, I preached “Trust God Till the Danger Passes” to a very attentive audience of about 35 souls and Mat Jr. translated.

After the jail service, Mat Jr. took Zach to preach at another location in the countryside while Mat Sr. took me to the church which has met for many years in a side structure to his home in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.  At least 60 were gathered for our study on “The Tree of Life: Lost and Found” translated by Gilbert Ramos.  Five precious souls responded to the invitation song and we drove to the ocean to baptize them into Christ at dusk.  This was a busy but uplifting day!

Every day generous rain begins falling in mid-afternoon, then its intensity increases until about 8:00 P.M., followed by light rain until about 11:00 P.M.  This has been a blessing to us because it cools the atmosphere so that the temperatures range in the mid-80’s, and it blesses the rice farmers who are planting rice and need plenty of water.  I cannot remember a summer trip with such moderate temperatures.

Monday, July 16, Mat Sr. and Mat Jr. brought us to the Escoda church in Marcos, Ilocos Norte where Vic Domingo has labored for many years with good success.  This congregation is in the countryside near the foothills of the mountains.  The ladies were anxious to hear Taya teach as planned, but we advised her to stay and rest because she was not feeling well.  An hour’s travel brought us to the place where 70-80 people were singing praises to God while waiting for our arrival.

Zach preached his 15th time and his growing experience is evident in his presentation of the study on Philip and the eunuch.  Roger Borja translated for him.  Mat. Jr. translated for me in preaching “Trust God Till the Danger Passes” (Ps. 57).  Naturally, translating takes more time, so we broke for lunch after these two sermons.  Vic’s family always provides a delicious meal for us.

In the afternoon, we drove into the edge of the mountains to visit the Cacafean congregation.  This community was formed when the government gave small lots to resettle former communist rebels who laid down their arms.  About 50 people filled the little church building where Angel Pascua preaches.  Many young people attended and Zach preached a very encouraging lesson for them on 1 Timothy 4:12, urging them not to be ashamed to be Christians while young but to use their talents to serve God.  Rex Bayaca translated.  Then I preached “How Sinners Receive Salvation” (Rom. 10:1-17), translated by Mat, Jr.  At the invitation song a young lady 11 years old stepped forward to confess Christ and was baptized into Christ nearby in an irrigation creek.

This was a 12 hour day, tiring but rewarding.  Upon reaching our hotel at 8:00 P.M., we were delighted to learn Taya is feeling better, which is important because tomorrow is a long day of travel from northern Luzon to Cebu Island, about 850 miles requiring two flights.

This completes the second leg of our itinerary and we have been wonderfully blessed by safety in travel over hundreds of miles, by our association with so many dear brethren, and by the moderate weather.  Please forgive the long report, but I have been getting to bed about 12:30-1:00 A.M. every night and have not been able to send reports.  The overcast and rainy skies have prevented me from seeing the moon, but I can see it with eye of my heart and know that many of you view it at home – linking us together in spite of us being 10,000 miles apart.  Please continue to pray for us as we also are praying for you.

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