August 15, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It is a joy and a privilege to report on events which have occurred during the work we have done on Cebu Island.

On Monday we took Mark Mayberry to the airport to fly to Manila where he will begin working with Rody Gumpad on Luzon. Today Harry Osborne was scheduled to fly from Manila to Cebu City so that we can work with Jonathan Carino and Gil Suico in Bogo City. Because a typhoon passed near Cebu and headed toward Luzon, both flights were cancelled early in the day. By God’s good grace, the danger passed so that they both were allowed to fly. Harry and I met with Jonathan Carino late this afternoon to discuss our work together.

Jonathan took me to an optometrist who made some temporary glasses I can use until returning home to get new glasses. It is embarrassing to know that such blessings are freely available to most Americans while many of our Filipino brethren do not have access to the same blessings. I often bring used glasses which they are delighted to get.

Harry and I have visited Bogo City separately in the past and we planned to join hands for two days of follow-up work there, August 13-14. Bogo City is a good two hours to the north of Cebu City if all goes well. In spite of leaving at 7:00 AM, our van did not reach Bogo City until 10:AM because of several delays. At one point the highway was blocked by a tree that fell across the road and had to be cut up and carted off.

About 100 were present at the hotel function room rented for our meeting, and Gil Suico was teaching when we arrived. Harry then preached on the inspiration of the Scriptures. Afterward my series on “The Authority of Christ” began by emphasizing his authority is expressed exclusively in Scripture.

After lunch Harry studied the plan of salvation emphasizing the role of baptism, followed by two additional presentations by myself on the authority of Christ.

Questions during the open forum focused mostly on baptism. A Baptist preacher tried his best to defend salvation by faith only, but Harry showed that context of the passages offered taught salvation by faith – not salvation by faith only. Harry pointed out we agree salvation is by faith because the bible plainly says it is, and he asked the preacher if he agreed that “baptism doth also now save us” as is so plainly stated in 1 Peter 3:21. After several attempts to dodge, he finally agreed that is what the Bible says but could not explain what it meant. The audience saw the point. This man has attended our preaching in the past and promised to come again tomorrow. He was very respectful though he felt the force of the truth.

Our drive back to Cebu City took 3 hours. There was a delay because one of the buses which run these roads like tornados had collided with a truck. Thank God, we made it back safely tough exhausted.

And, I finally got a glimpse of the moon through the heavy clouds which have persisted since the typhoon passed our area. It was just a sliver, but it announced greetings from all of you there in the U.S.A.!

Today, Wednesday , I had hoped to return to Bogo City. When we finished there yesterday, my voice was fading because I preached in the path of air from an air condition unit blowing straight on me. That usually dries me out and cuts my voice. By the time we completed the long trip back to Cebu City, it was virtually gone. I hoped overnight sleep would restore it. I got up at 6:00 AM, ate breakfast, and went down to meet the brethren at the van. My voice might be slightly better but not enough to preach – if I tried I would completely strip my gears. So, I did something very painful – I let Harry and the Filipino brethren go without me. Everyone agreed that was my only choice. When I sent a text to Dr. Teresa Toreja describing the symptoms, she immediately put me on some medicine because there are signs of infection. I will rest today and start the journey to Manila and on to New Zealand tomorrow, God willing.

Harry and the other brethren had a fruitful day at Bogo City. The Baptist preacher who questioned us yesterday admitted today we are teaching the truth – he said he knows he must obey the gospel but is counting the cost before making the commitment. Three precious souls obeyed the gospel!

For several years we have been visiting and preaching in Bogo City without much result. It is uplifting to see how much the cause of Christ has advanced this year in this area. Gospel preaching requires persistence. Not only in Bogo City, but everywhere throughout the world.

I am sending this report on the 15th . I God’s grace, I am now safely in Manila and preparing for the eight-hour trip to Australia, and then on to New Zealand. My voice is gradually coming back. I hope to sleep on the plane during this night trip which also should help my voice. I look forward to seeing our brethren in New Zealand and working with them again.

Thank you for your prayers and the various notes of encouragement several of you have sent. I miss Donna, and all the family, and all the saints back home. May God bless and keep you all!

In Christian love, Ron