Halbrook Philippine Trip Update December 16-20, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015th Year of Our Lord
Dear family, brethren, & friends,
On Wednesday morning, December 16, Jim and Steven left the hotel in Davao City at 8:00 A.M. to allow plenty of time for their check-in for the flight to Manila. Steven called at 1:00 P.M. when the plane landed safely in Manila, much to my relief. They proceeded to the hotel, having made their first “solo” flight without any problem. The next morning they were up early to go to the international airport to begin their long journey home. By the time this report goes out, they should be resting at their homes with their loved ones.
Meanwhile, I spent Wednesday morning with Juanito and Connie Balbin as we went to survey the large lot he has purchased at a strategic location for a new church building for the New Matina church. It may take some years to clear all the legal hurdles on this property because there are other claimants, but Juanito believes he has dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” to assure he is the rightful owner, barring some unforeseen corrupt maneuver, which can easily occur in this nation. Juanito is confident enough that he going ahead with plans to start building the new meeting house within the next couple of years. Juanito and his family have been sacrificing for years to make regular payments for this property, receiving donations only recently in order to complete certain legal requirements. He wants to see this project completed in his life time.
Wednesday afternoon Jonathan Carino and Keith Alagano accompanied me by van from Davao City to General Santos City. We arrived about 4:30 P.M. Having this day off from preaching helped my voice as my body continues to fight the infection. The medicines suggested by Dr. Teresa Toreja are doing their job by God’s good grace and the prayers of many saints.
As Steven and Jim were somewhere high in the sky headed for home, the gospel meeting scheduled for the Lanton church of Christ was underway on Thursday. It is good to work with Jolly Julom and other brethren preaching in the General Santos area. Today’s attendance was 80 including several denominational preachers. My morning lessons were “The Message of the Bible: Salvation in Jesus Christ” and “The Two Covenants.” My voice was not back 100% but was definitely improving.
I returned to the hotel to rest during the lunch break and Jonathan began preaching when the audience finished their lunch. My next two lessons were a verse by verse study of Acts 2 entitled “The First Gospel Sermon.” The audience paid close attention. When the floor was opened for questions, everyone felt the studies were simple and clear, so that no one had any questions – now that is unusual in the Philippines. Jonathan had answered a few questions shortly before I returned, so doubtless that is one reason the audience was satisfied at the end of the day.
The last several minutes of my sermon were interrupted by the Muslim call to prayer over a very loud loudspeaker. May God open doors for them to hear the true gospel and be saved!
There is not a good place to walk or exercise here, but there is a mall about a 5 minute walk from the hotel where I can walk. Returning from the mall tonight I saw the moon just barely through the clouds for the first time on this trip. It was really relaying all your messages and I sent mine to all of you in return (smile).
Again on Friday, the last day of the meeting in Lanton, the church building was filled and the audience was very attentive. This morning Julie Notarte and his family came early and he started preaching immediately to maximize the use of our time. When I arrived, my first lesson was a study of Acts 8:26-39, “Ethiopian Official Submits to Christ.” The next study focused on Matthew 16:13-19, “When Peter Confessed Christ.”
It is supposed to be winter, but both days I was soaked with sweat by noon and returned to the hotel for a quick lunch, to change into dry clothes, and to rest a few minutes. Jonathan Carino resumed the preaching immediately after lunch. I followed with a sermon on “Instrumental Music” and the final one on “The Prison of Sin” (1 Pet. 3:18-4:11). Again this last lesson was interrupted by the Muslim call to prayer on a loudspeaker which blasted and blared throughout the whole area, but we pressed on to the finish.
At the invitation no one responded, but Jolly Julom later told me a lady married to a Muslim was convinced and asked him to baptize her without her husband’s knowledge out of fear he would kill her. Also two denominational preachers said they are convinced but wanted to study a little further before submitting to baptism. Many expressed their gratitude for the lessons, and we also distributed books, workbooks, tracts, and CD’s to aid the attendees in further study.
Tonight while returning from my walk at the mall I faintly saw the moon again through the clouds and your loving messages came through loud and clear. I hope you are able to see it there and to receive my love in return.
Late tonight I said good bye to Jolly Julom and Jonathan Carino, then got up at 5:30 A.M. Saturday to travel to the General Santos City Airport. The front end of typhoon Onyok was hitting northern Mindanao as we were flying out of southern Mindanao, and the tail end of typhoon Melor was dumping torrential rain on Manila as the plane landed. I come at this time of the year because it is not the typhoon season, but the typhoons outsmarted me this time!
Anyway, I was safely in the hotel by noon, but the trip to the Philippine Bible Society to purchase Bibles in various dialects had to be cancelled. The order can be submitted via email and the money sent via bank wire after I get home, God willing. I spent the afternoon and evening resting, exercising, reading a few emails, and preparing to preach in the prison tomorrow.
The weather was breaking this morning so that the sun shone through the clouds for a couple of hours before another big thick cloud cover moved in. So, Atoy Franco drove me from the hotel to the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila where we met Ely Ebuenga to enter the prison. Recent incidents of fighting and contraband have resulted in heightened security, so we were not permitted to bring the laptop and projector in as we normally do.
This national prison is like a city divided into sectors: RDC (Receiving and Diagnostics Center where all newcomers are evaluated for a couple of months), minimum security (for inmates nearing release), medium security, and maximum security. As of 2012 the total population was over 36,000 inmates with almost half of them in maximum security.
Willie Pastor pioneered the current work of the gospel being done in the prison during his incarceration 2010-2014, but his parole officer forbids him to visit for the time being. His brother Kenneth was very active in entering the prison to labor with Willie while he was there. Willie trained Sonny Ibanez, another trusted inmate who keeps the work going from the inside with help from Ely and other preachers from the outside.
As a trusted inmate Willie was retained to perform duties in the RDC which providentially gave him access to every incoming prisoner. During the last couple of years several inmates at the Ilocos Provincial Jail in Laoag City were converted by the efforts of Mat Sibayan, Sr., his son Junior, and other brethren. Some of those inmates were recently transferred to the Bilibid Prison and Sonny has guided them to join the services. 150 attended this morning’s service.
Before I preached we went immediately to a small outdoor baptistry and baptized 31 men who had been previously convinced of the truth. The brethren have to go through bureaucratic red tape and pay to have the baptistry filled. We were fearful the typhoon rains would prevent us from holding today’s service and baptizing these men in spite of all the preparations which had been made. Praise be to God who gave us a break from the rains! As I write this report in my hotel room, the sky is filled with dark heavy clouds which look like they will bring another downpour at any moment.
I preached from Matthew 5 on “Attitudes Essential in God’s Kingdom” to emphasize that baptism is not merely a ritual but signifies a genuine change of heart that radically changes our lives. Ely translated and the men were very attentive, several smiling and nodding their heads as they understood key points. At the invitation, another six confessed Christ and were baptized for the remission of their sins by Ely.
When I baptized the initial 31, I stood at the side of the small baptistry and Ely helped to assure that their bodies were completely immersed. Only one had to be repeated. The immersions caused the water to splash out and overflow the baptistry until I was soaked as if I too had been immersed. There is rejoicing in heaven and on earth today for the salvation of 37 inmates in an overcrowded Philippine prison!
It is hard to realize the 60th trip is now history. It is hard to realize these three weeks passed so quickly. It is hard to realize 2015 will soon be gone and we will celebrate the beginning of a new year, if God permits. Time is rapidly passing and our lives will soon be finished on this earth. Let us be thankful and praise God for every moment we have to serve Him in this life as we prepare for even greater joys around His throne in heaven. I thank God for all the saints who have prayed for Jim Barnett, Steven Saunders, and myself and for all who have had financial fellowship with us to make this trip possible. May God be glorified in all that we do as laborers together with Him and for Him!
Special thanks is due to Steven and Jim for sacrificing their time and using their good talents to teach singing and song leading. Filipino brethren will remember their service with loving gratitude for years to come. They are longing to have more such classes in the future.
God willing, I will start the long journey home tomorrow and I am very anxious to see Donna and all the saints at the Hebron Lane church. I am also anxious to administer Dr. Lolo’s kiss to Paige Halbrook who has six new stitches on her head – only a grandfather’s kiss can assure a quick recovery! (My grandchildren call me Lolo, the Philippine word for grandfather.)
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
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