Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Thursday, January 5, brought mixed emotions because I always look forward to working with Manila brethren, but I hated to leave Donna, Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, Seth, and Arabelle (with her arrival still pending) in Brisbane.  The plane flew from Brisbane to Darwin, Australia, and on to Manila, a trip of 8-9 hours.  There was much turbulence between Darwin and Manila, but I managed to do a little work and I was tired enough to sleep through much of it.  After checking in at the hotel about 8:30 P.M., I ate a snack and went to the exercise room for about 40 minutes even though I felt like dropping in the bed.  I knew it would help me adjust to the trip and the change of the time zone again.

Checking email Friday morning, I learned that my good friend Mark Mayberry slipped on the ice and snow while visiting his son Nathan, Sarah, and the grandchildren in the Louisville, KY area.  Unlike my wrist injury which escaped broken bones, Mark broke seven ribs and punctured a lung.  He had just begun serving as editor of Truth Magazine this month, so he certainly did not need this setback at this time, but we are praying he can recover without any serious complications.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The New Year began here in Australia 15 hours before it began in New York City.  How appropriate that the first day of the New Year began on the Lord’s Day when the saints gather to thank God for our Savior and for all the blessings of our lives!

It was a beautiful Lord’s Day here in Brisbane and we began the day with a Bible lesson I wanted to teach Timothy and Seth from Joshua 22.  After Joshua secured the land of Canaan for Israel, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh were given the land of Gilead east of the Jordan River as they had requested.  Soon word reached the remaining tribes on the west bank that a huge new altar was being built at the ford of the Jordan River on the east bank.  Everyone assumed this was an act of apostasy in rejecting the worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh and the ten tribes quickly prepared to declare war on their brethren.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

It is a blessing to be with Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth Williams for several days in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.  They live in Gladstone but have been staying in Brisbane awaiting the birth of Arabelle where there are better medical facilities after Deborah had some complications.

On Wednesday, December 28, we attended evening Bible study with the saints of the Rochedale church of Christ.  Peter Cardinal taught Proverbs 16 and had another good lesson.

Thursday we took the boys to a baseball game after supper at a good Mexican restaurant.  Deborah had an appointment with her doctor who assured her she will have a baby, but there are no signs she will immediately appear.  We continue to pray all will go well when the time comes.  Meanwhile, Donna and I are enjoying our time visiting with the family.  Timothy is 7 and Seth is 5, and both of them enjoy having us read to them – and they are reaching the point where they can do some reading too.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

After finishing the last lesson at Auckland on Tuesday, December 20, I went to the Holiday Inn near the airport where I slept for 3 ½ hours before catching an early flight to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.  As far as I know it was a good flight because I fell asleep before we took off.  After about four hours we landed in Brisbane Wednesday morning.

It was good to spend the day with Jamie, Deborah, Timothy, and Seth Williams at a hotel near the hospital where Deborah expects to deliver a daughter by about January 1. They came here early as a precaution after Deborah had some complications though she seems to be doing well at the moment.  Donna got here a few days ahead of me – it was definitely good to see her again!

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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

God continues to open doors here in New Zealand for the proclamation of the gospel.  Our five-hour journey on Friday, December 16, began with prayer and thanksgiving because this is the third time we have been invited to work with the new congregation in Ohope, Whakatane District, Bay of Plenty Region.  Abner and Lani Salinguit started this work in 2011.  They were formerly with the International Churches of Christ (the old Crossroads Movement which began in Gainsville, FL in 1967), but they have moved beyond those errors.  Ronnie Salunga and I visited these brethren first in December of 2011, again in December of 2014, so this latest trip is our third visit.

We stopped in route to see beautiful scenery by riding a gondola to the top of Mount Ngongotaha overlooking the city of Rotorua and the huge lake which is the city’s namesake.  After lunch Ronnie presented me with a five-dip ice cream cone that looked like a skyscraper – I had ordered one dip but somehow managed to set a new record by eating the whole thing!  It were good and I were full.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s good grace and providence the work in New Zealand continues to progress.  Twelve souls gathered in the basement of Ronnie Salunga’s house on Monday, December 12.  I had used the day to prepare to teach one of several lessons, depending on the audience, in addition to catching up on some email and working on a report.  Since the weather was better today, I walked and jogged for an hour, which increases my energy and stamina.

Tonight Kyle was back and RonRon’s girlfriend Jean was also present.  In view of having those young people with us, I chose to teach on “The Purpose of Our Lives” (Gen. 1:27).  We are created to be friends and companions of God.  He showers our lives with blessings including the great gift of marriage.  He sent Christ to die as the perfect sacrifice for sin and to prepare to receive us in heaven forever.  Most people wander aimlessly in life, squandering the years in sin and rebellion to their own confusion and destruction in hell in the end.  Our study began at 8:00 P.M. and finished at 11:00 P.M. because once again there were excellent questions and follow-up discussion.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The Lord continues to pour out His blessings and to open doors for spreading the gospel.  On Thursday night and Friday (Dec. 8-9) I flew from Manila to Cairns, Queensland, Australia and on to Auckland, New Zealand, a 12 hour trip.  The seats on the Philippine Airline plane were so close together my knees were against the seat in front of me.  As it turned out, I alone occupied the three-seat section where I was assigned near the back, so I was able to lie down and sleep through most of the flight.  It was almost like having a first class seat in the economy section!  “Count Your Blessings,” as the song says.
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Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s good grace my 64th preaching trip to the Philippines is well underway, beginning with travel to Manila on November 29-30.  Monday night I was fortunate enough to get a couple of hours sleep (often I get none the last night before leaving), which gave me more energy than usual in flying from Louisville to Atlanta to Tokyo to Manila. The flights were safe and smooth.  In fact, I worked on two new sermons en route, one on “Preserving Unity in Christ” (Jn. 17:17-21) and the other entitled “Christ’s Authority Over All Men” (Matt. 28:18-20), which will become my report on this trip after I return from the Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia.
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