March 21, 2019^th Year of Our Lord
HALBROOK REPORT: 73^rd PHILIPPINE TRIP Jan. 28-Mar. 1, 2019

Dear brethren,                                        

With much thanksgiving to God and brethren, I completed my 73^rd Philippine trip since first going with Jim McDonald in 1995.  This trip covered January 28-March 1, leaving a day early because of a winter storm and returning a day late because of an overbooked flight.  For the first time stops in London and Paris were included on the itinerary.  Jesus proclaimed, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:37-38).  Rivers of salvation flow around the world with the help of Filipino saints!

I taught 56 lessons and 15 precious souls submitted to Christ in baptism to wash away their sins.

January 29-February 4 found me in London, England where I rented a hotel function room and studied with residents and Filipino immigrants Teddy and Bing Gumpad (she is pregnant!).  Not only was I able to put Filipino brethren in touch with the church at Brighton, but also it was a privilege to meet Constant Coulibaly, Kenneth Peters, Adrian Limb, and other British brethren.  We studied a series on “The Authority of Christ” as well as other topics.  February 5-10 it was my privilege to work with Edwin Cortez and the saints worshiping with him in a suburb of Paris, France. Sessions ran three hours with high interest and wide-ranging discussions, especially on the work of the church.  Lyca Bernardo was baptized in a bathtub.  We visited typical Paris sites including basilicas and cathedrals such as Notre-Dame de Paris.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It is almost midnight on Friday, March 2, and I am finally at my house by God’s good providence.  My trip from Manila was delayed for a day because my original airplane was overbooked.  This trip has had more unusual twists and turns than any I can remember, but all is well that ends well.  When I feel a little frustrated over changes beyond my control, I just think how delighted Paul and the first Christians would have been if they could have had the facilities we have for travel.  What do I know about frustrations over changes in plans when I consider men like Paul:  beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, floating in the ocean, and numerous other perils they experienced!

I arrived home to find Donna well, and our children and their families are all well.  There is no time to rest.  Tomorrow we will meet some brethren to load and store Bible study materials which have been donated for the Philippine work and which eventually will be shipped to Filipino saints.  Then I must get ready to preach on Sunday.
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Wednesday, February 27, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Bible lectureships are good to encourage and edify preachers and hopefully to better equip them to be more effective in their local work.  It is also good to visit some local churches when possible to see the work firsthand and to help in harvesting souls – usually there are visitors.  On Monday James Paet and Junior Gumpad picked me up at 7:45 A.M. to visit two congregations, and I returned to the hotel about 8:00 P.M.

The first stop was at the church in San Pablo, Laguna Province, one of the churches Ely Ebuenga helps.  He as been working with this congregation 13 years.  Today 21 attended and my sermon was “Precious: The Death of God’s Saints” (Ps. 116:15).

In the open forum several points were discussed further including the question whether people baptized into the Catholic Church need to be baptized again (this nation is 80% Catholic).  In Acts 19:1-5 twelve people learned their baptism was not the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”  The Catholic religion changes it to mean, “The baby who is baptized shall be saved, and believe later at confirmation.”  This is not the baptism commanded by Christ.  Our visitors were very attentive to this answer to their question and we hope it will bear fruit soon.
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February 24, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

After the series was completed at Diffun, Quirino with Willie Pastor and all the brethren there on  Wednesday, Rody and Tessie Gumpad brought me to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan for the Wednesday evening service.  Thursday, February 21, I enjoyed their hospitality as Tessie served a delicious pancake breakfast, and then I flew to Manila.  Fortunately, the Manila-Tuguegarao flight was not cancelled this time!

After getting to the hotel in Manila I visited the moneychanger, took a short rest, and divided the remainder of the day between lesson preparation and exercise because I will need plenty of stamina.  Tomorrow I begin teaching the book of Revelation to the deaf mute church which now meets in a better location thanks to God’s providence working through Elias Cruz with TonyBoy Hornado.  I always look forward to my time with these saints.
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February 17, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

When I mentioned in the previous report that “international travel” has two “a’s” for double adventure, I failed to consider that Philippine Air Lines adds another “a” for triple adventure.  My suitcase which was diverted to China was next diverted to Canada.  You ask, “Why?”  Count the “a’s” again, or refer to Murphy’s law.  Wednesday I exercised a little by walking, rested, worked on email, and studied lessons for tomorrow.  So as not to get bored, I received several updates on my suitcase alternately offering and dashing hopes it would arrive anytime soon.

To say Thursday was a full day would be an understatement.  James Paet and Junior Gumpad drove for two and a half hours to bring me to the Phase 6 church in Caloocan City, Metro Manila where Andrew Romero preachers.  The vehicle has a GPS which said the trip was 45 minutes, but that definitely does not take into account Manila traffic!  While the brethren were patiently awaiting our arrival, Gert-Jan van Zanten visiting from Holland presented a lesson. I was thankful to meet him after hearing of his travels in the Philippines.
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February 12, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Each day has been a treasure this week getting to know Edwin Cortez better and better.  Friday, February 12, was no exception as we spent time again discussing many spiritual things while visiting historic sites in Paris.  Edwin had taken vacation days so that we would have this time together since the work schedules of other brethren did not permit us to immediately meet.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or Sacre-Coeur Basilica is an impressive structure of ancient Roman and Byzantine architecture rising 272 feet high, completed in 1914.  Previous cathedrals we visited were filled with huge paintings and sculptures dating 200-300 years ago, but this church is lavished with the most intricate mosaics of religious scenes created from millions of tiny pieces of stone, an enormous number of which are gold and silver or plated with gold and silver.  These scenes cover entire walls in the portals, coves, or side chapels as well as the entire dome above the huge area where the main altar is constructed.  The artwork is stunning beyond words.
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February 7, 2019th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

You may have noticed my first report began by saying, “This trip was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 29,” when it should have said January 29.  I won’t say the explanation is that I am not as sharp as I used to be because too many of you already know I was never that sharp to begin with.  At least the record is now set straight.  And, yes, I know there is no February 29 this year.

The next leg of this trip took me from London, England to Paris, France on Tuesday, February 5, to encourage a congregation made up primarily of Filipinos.  I had an adventure leaving London when a Delta message guided me to the wrong terminal to benefit from a new streamlined check-in process, which it turned out is in the works for the future but has not been enacted yet.  Fortunately I came early enough to get to the proper terminal and I made it to Paris okay by God’s good help.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

This trip was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 29.  Monday shortly before noon Delta Airlines notified me that I should leave that very afternoon to avoid the danger of the approaching winter storm which might trap me in Atlanta and prevent me from reaching London.  Donna and I went into emergency scramble mode to finish all the preparations and Doug Rush rushed me to the airport at 5:30 P.M.

I had a couple of hours layover in Atlanta and then flew all night to reach London.  England is five hours ahead of the U.S., and we arrived at 10:00 A.M.  Tuesday found me in a fog – I answered several emails, went to the exercise room, and took a nap.  A weather report here also predicted ice and snow, so I am just thankful to be here.
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