Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Our Tuesday, July 17, started in a leisurely way because the morning was free and we did not fly from Laoag City to Manila until 2:10 P.M. – then we were supposed to change planes and arrive in Cebu City on Cebu Island by 7:30 P.M.  Oh, well!  As it turned out our day lasted about 19 hours because the heavy evening rains delayed and backed up so many flights waiting to leave Manila.  By God’s grace, we finally arrived in Cebu City and were met by Jonathan and Kristopher Carino who took us to our hotel.  I got to bed about 2:00 A.M. Wednesday.  To say we all slept well is an understatement, but all is well that ends well.

Two days of lessons on “The Bible Is the Word of God” were planned for Cebu City, beginning Wednesday.  We slept a little late because the classes did not begin until 10:00 A.M. to allow time for brethren coming from distant places to arrive.  Zach got us off to a great start with his study in Acts 8 of Philip and the Ethiopian official.  At the same time Taya conducted morning classes for 36 ladies.  And meanwhile my first lesson was on “The Glory of God” proclaimed in the creation and in Scripture, based on Psalm 19.  There were 30 men in attendance as we taught.

After the lunch break, Zach taught his very effective lessons on the uniqueness of the New Testament church.  I followed with studies on “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” and on “The Writing and Canon of Scripture,” proving that our 66 books of the Bible are the true and original books given by God.  Zach was able to join Kristopher who works as a medical technician in viewing the facilities and equipment at another hospital.

During the open forum, one of the questions was why some Bibles do not include Mark 16:9-20 in the text.  The answer is that a few manuscripts have the shorter ending, but the vast majority have the complete ending.  The complete ending also appears in early translations such as the Syriac and Latin versions, and early Christian writers quoted from the complete ending – which means it existed in very early manuscripts.  The shorter version ends with the women who came to the tomb fleeing the empty tomb trembling and afraid without Jesus appearing as the resurrected Savior, an incomprehensible conclusion to the story of his mission on earth.

On Thursday morning Zach preached his sermon from 1 Timothy 4:12 on the importance of young people serving the Lord without shame.  My study followed on “The Apocrypha and Other False Scriptures,” proving such books are not part of the inspired Word of God.  Meanwhile, Taya taught another morning session for the ladies.  After lunch Zach preached about handling stress in the proper way.  I spent the rest of the afternoon conducting two studies on “The Bible:  God’s Only True Word,” a discussion of evidences that God inspired the Scripture and of the absence of evidence in support of false revelations.  When I opened the floor for questions, the response was that the evidence for the Bible was quite clear and no questions were needed.

After the lessons are completed on the last day, I always distribute Bibles, books, workbooks, and tracts so that the brethren have materials to study when they go home.  It puts tears in my eyes to see how hungry and appreciative they are as they select from the materials which are spread out before them.  Of course, this is made possible by many of you who donate funds to sponsor these trips and by Truth Publications which donates outdated and damaged materials which are still quite useful here in the Philippines.

Our two days of studies have been very profitable with brethren attending not only from Cebu but also from other islands such as Masbate, Negros, and Palawan.  The ladies were blessed to have the classes taught by Taya, an unusual opportunity.  We greatly appreciate the hard work of Jonathan Carino, his wife, and other brethren working so diligently behind the scenes to host these two days of Bible study.

After completing tonight’s session, we went to a restaurant for supper with Jonathan and his family.  After supper we could not see the moon because of the clouds, but finally a small part of the moon shined through the clouds – the first glimpse I have had of the moon on this trip.  It was backlogged with your many messages of love and encouragement which I quickly and thankfully downloaded!  I appreciate all my moon watchers back home!

Our Friday was used mostly for travel from Cebu City to Manila.  We left our hotel about 9:00 A.M. to go to the airport, but a typhoon named Inday is moving through the Philippines and our flight was delayed.  We waited in the airport, then waited in the airplane on the tarmac for another hour, but finally got to Manila about 3:00 P.M.  Zach and Taya have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our Filipino brethren and working with them in serving God, but they are now ready and anxious to go home.  We pray the typhoon will be gone by tomorrow morning when they are scheduled to fly home.

Quick addition to the report before I send it:  It is now Saturday and early this morning Zach and Taya and I had a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s love and providence in bringing us safely to the Philippines, for the love and fellowship of our Filipino brethren, and for the privilege of serving in His kingdom on this trip.  We prayed for their safe passage home.  I then took “my children” to the airport under cloud-covered skies and bid them Godspeed back to the U.S.

We were amused several times by people commenting on “my children,” and I would certainly be honored to count them among our children – except their parents might claim prior proprietorship.  Zach may give a report Sunday to the Hebron Lane church of Christ in Shepherdsville, KY where we all are members and how I wish I could be there to hear it.  How thankful I am to know such young people who are so devoted to the Lord. I will miss them as I now proceed to Davao City on Mindanao.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbook

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