August 15, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

I have been getting 8 hours of sleep the last couple of nights, plus on Tuesday I walked three times: an hour before lunch, 20 minutes in the late afternoon, and 30-40 minutes after the evening service.  Therefore, my strength and stamina are good at this time by God’s grace.  This helps to overcome the wear and tear of traveling and jet lag.  The brethren are kind and hospitable in providing plenty of healthy food.  The Cabrillas were at work today, so I spent the day preparing tonight’s lesson and working on a ton of email messages, important work which it seems is never caught up (apologies to those of you wondering why I have not responded to your message).

By the way, speaking of apologies, I need to correct this sentence from the previous report: “This is winter in New Zealand and temperatures are running mid-40’s to mid-50’s (7-13 centigrade).”  Celsius, not centigrade – what was I thinking???
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August 12, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Thursday, August 8, I awoke at my hotel in Manila before 4:00 A.M. to go to the Philippine Air Lines international airport for a 9 hours flight to Auckland, New Zealand.   I left the hot summer monsoon rains of the Philippines and arrived in the cold winter rains of New Zealand because it is well south of the equator.  Thank God I was able to study and nap off and on with smooth flying.

Randy Cabillas was waiting for me at the arrival area to take me to his house.  I appreciate their hospitality for my 8th visit with the Meadowood church.  The Ronnie Salunga family kept me in past years, but they have just returned from the Philippines because Ronnie’s brother, Ramil, died suddenly.  He was a faithful member of the Southside church of Christ in Angeles City where his brother, Lordy, preaches.  We offer our sympathy and prayers on behalf of all the Salunga family, and yet also we rejoice with you because Ramil was faithful to the end and died in the hope of heaven.
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Dear brethren,

Elias Cruz and other brethren met me at the hotel in Manila on May 11 to repack and ship ahead boxes of Bibles & study material to be distributed along the way.  I flew to Tuguegarao, Cagayan the next day and traveled with Jerome Forelo, Dennis Yuson, and Mark Daquioag to the Pamplona area to preach at Dubeng with Robinson Pulveras on the 13^th.  After preaching on “Helping Each Other” and  “Born of Water and of the Spirit,” I proceeded to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.  Sunday was spent laboring with Mat Sibayan, Sr. who is 80 but very active.  Our visits included churches in Laoag City, at the Provincial Jail (3 baptized), and at Sinai, Ilocos Sur.  Monday-Wednesday at the Laoag City church were devoted to the theme “The Bible Is the Word of God” with the attendance reaching 63.  Rody Gumpad joined in teaching.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

While I was battling sinus and bronchial infection, it was good that Tueday, April 30, was scheduled to prepare for the upcoming week’s work.  By staying in the hotel to study and rest, I stayed out of the extreme heat and humidity which facilitate the infection.

Though not feeling at the top of my game Wednesday morning, I was picked up by James Paet and we drove 80 kilometers to reach a small house to work with Ely Ebuenga where 30 souls gathered to hear God’s Word in San Ildefonso, Bulacan Province.  Catholics and Baptists were welcomed as our guests to study God’s Word.  I taught from 11:00 A.M.-12:00 noon on “The Prison of Sin,” followed by a 30 minute open forum covering several questions on baptism.
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