Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Wednesday we flew to Laoag City in the Province of Ilocos Norte to labor in this area along with Ilocos Sur.  Many brethren including Rolly Salvador met us when we arrived about 10:00 PM.  As we disembarked from the plane, we were greeted by a full, brightly beaming moon!  I hope you saw it, too!

John and I are on separate schedules for the next three days.  Thursday morning, Rolly brought me to the church meeting in the foothills of Escoda, Marcos where Rex Bayaca labors in the gospel.  This church has been meeting for many years and over 100 souls gathered to hear God’s Word (many more attend on Sunday).  “Come Out of Her, My People” was the sermon and Rex translated.  Three precious souls were baptized for the remission of their sins.  Meanwhile, John was preaching at Tanap with Roger Borja, where one was baptized.  

In the afternoon I addressed the saints gathered at Crispina where Jensen Pascua preaches.  The lesson was “Assurance by Faith,” to show we have strong confidence in God’s promise to bring us to heaven but not the false claim of “once saved, always saved” preached in many denominations.  A loud rainstorm with lightening and thunder hit just as we were finishing the service.  The rain beating down on the tin roof was deafening.  John preached at San Nicolas with Francis Calastravao.

Although the drive back to our hotel took over an hour, my clothes were still wet with sweat when we arrived.  John and I thanked God for this wonderful day spent serving Filipino saints as we worshiped with them and preached the gospel.  Seeing the conditions under which they serve the Lord strengthens our faith, hope, and love.

Friday brought me to San Agustin, Elizabeth, Dingras where Leon Villanueva labors in the gospel.  Over 70 souls heard my sermon entitled “Purify Your Souls” in spite of the hot and humid atmosphere.  After a light lunch, I took a short rest and the brethren dried my shirt which was soaking wet with sweat.  John preached at Binacag, Banna with Efren Ramos and three people submitted to Christ in baptism.

My afternoon appointment was at Cacafean, Marcos with Angel Pascua in the foothills of mountains once infested with the NPA (New Peoples Army, communists) for many years.  Many tribal people have been converted to Christ and have put down their arms as a result of brethren bringing the gospel here.  The saints are gradually improving their meetinghouse but need additional funds to continue.  The building was filled with 98 people present.  My lesson was “Modest Dress through the Ages.” 

A severe rainstorm hit while I was preaching and I had to step away from water dripping through the roof.  It was so loud that a young lady who wanted to obey the gospel did not come forward until after we dismissed and the rain had moderated.  She was baptized in a farm canal with much rejoicing in heaven and on earth!  Meanwhile, John was at Barikir, Nueva Era with Efren Ramos.

On Saturday Rolly Salvador brought me to the Espiritu, Dingras congregation where Anselmo Esteban is laboring in the gospel.  The church building is not complete because of lack of funds, but 40 people filled the little building as we studied the lesson “Good People Suffer Bad Things.”  This is a study of Psalm 22 which begins, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” but which progresses to show God delivers His faithful people rather than forsaking them.  Jesus appeared to the Jews to be forsaken by God, so he quoted that verse on the cross to signify he would be delivered from death rather than forsaken as it appeared.  John was preaching at Parado, Dingras with Waner Macusi where one soul obeyed the gospel. 

After lunch Rolly brought me to the new congregation meeting on the side of a house in Imelda, Marcos where Freddie Pascua and Remigio Vicente have been preaching.  42 people assembled to hear the sermon on “God’s Great Plan of Salvation.”  John preached at Aguitap, Solsona with Melisand Paguirigan where three souls submitted to Christ in baptism.

It was another hot and humid day in the Philippines, but we escaped the afternoon storms this time.  John and I rejoiced at the day’s end for the power of the gospel and the dedication of the saints in this land.

John and I stayed together on the Lord’s Day as Rolly introduced us to the church at Calayab, Laoag City, where 51 souls were assembled.  I preached by request “God’s Great Plan of Salvation,” followed by John’s sermon on conversion.  Our audience was very attentive, including visitors from several denominations.  

When the service ended, we returned to our hotel nearby to eat lunch and check out. Mariann checked us out and she has worked here 20 years. In the past I have invited her to our services and she still has James Cope’s “The One True Church” foldout tract which I gave her some years ago.  I told her about the church meeting nearby, introduced her to Rolly, and got her to exchange cell phone numbers with Rolly in order to set up a home Bible study.  She thanked us with tears.

We drove to Batac City where Rolly has preached for years and 62 souls were waiting for us.  John emphasized the importance of passing the true faith to the next generation and I preached “Purify Your Souls” by request.  A young lady confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized in the rain in the outdoor baptistry.

It has been a joy to have Willie Pastor visiting and traveling with us.  Rolly and Willie brought us to Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.  We arrived at our hotel about 7:00 PM.  This has been a full but rewarding day, and now we must prepare for three days of classes on the home.

We thank God for all the saints praying for us as we travel and preach His Word, and for the saints who make these trips possible.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook