Help A Neighbor Inc

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January 10

Sagay City Church of Christ/Dalia church of Christ

The smaller group of people is the Sagay City Church of Christ in the Negros Occidental Province on Negros Island. Brother Jack Jaco was the messenger who carried the funds to these brethren and he commented (1-7-2014): “There were 53 recipients who were able to come in spite of rain since this morning. The Brothers and Sisters were very happy and after the distribution they approached me with tears of joy to extend their gratefulness to you and to all the American Brethren who sacrificially contributed to help us here.”

The larger group is the Dalia church of Christ at Dalia, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Brother Jaco commented (1-8-2014): “There were 85 Brethren recipients and there are few who were not able to arrive due to heavy rain and dangerous for them to cross the flooded river.”

These brethren followed the typical procedure of gathering the saints so that when the messenger arrived and delivered the funds to the congregation, distribution then was immediately made and the recipients signed their names. This documents both the delivery of the funds by the messenger, and the distribution of the funds in the congregation, to avoid later charges that the messenger or some local member abused the funds for personal advantage.

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December 21

Home From the Philippines

December 20, 2013

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By the good grace of God Keith Greer and I landed at the Louisville, KY airport this afternoon about 1:30 PM, thus completing our three week trip to the Philippines. We know many prayers have been offered on our behalf since we left and especially after we both had some health problems, but we are better in every way and thankful to be home!

It was a privilege to work alongside many faithful Filipino saints again and to have opportunities to see their faith, hope, and love demonstrated in many ways. It was also a privilege to act as messengers for saints here in the U.S. and in other countries to deliver benevolence to brethren suffering from the devastation of typhoon Haiyan (named Yolanda in the Philippines). We visited suffering saints in Leyte and in northern Cebu. They are pressing forward by faith in God. It should be noted that Filipino brethren also sent benevolence to the affected areas.

Please forgive me if I am slow in corresponding because in addition to a mountain of work waiting for attention, next week I will spend time with my family. Later I plan to send a full report about the trip.

May God bless you all to have a happy holiday season with your loved ones and a very Happy New Year!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

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December 21

Halbrook Philippine Report Dec 9-19, 2013

Dec. 19, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family and friends,

Since my report on the 8th, this trip has kept me so busy there has been no time to send additional reports. A preacher training class was scheduled for December 9-13 (Monday-Friday) in Cebu City on the island of Cebu in the central Philippines. The previous Saturday I consulted with Dr. Teresa Toreja about an incision on my left big toe which had become infected and she insisted I come to Manila for treatment. By God’s providence, Rody Gumpad was coming to Cebu for three days and he had taught the lessons we were using, Robert Harkrider’s Basic Bible Doctrine. He agreed to replace me in teaching alongside Keith Greer, Lordy Salunga, Jack Jaco, and Jonathan Carino.

Teresa worked for half an hour without using anesthesia because it doesn’t take effect on an inflamed wound. That was such a fun pedicure I got enough to last a lifetime in one sitting, but it got my toe to gradually healing with the help of some medications. I was able to return on the 11th and resumed teaching the next day. The classes did just fine without me but I missed being there. Over 90 attended the first day even though we had Bibles and workbooks for only 24 men! The number settled in at 75 participants who stayed for the week. The class is for our own brethren but denominational “pastors” heard about it and signed up.

After teaching on Wednesday, Rody left and I stepped in the next day, but Keith got sick the previous night and was not able to teach the last two days. Jonathan, Jack, and Lordy divided his lessons and we kept our stride. My lessons were on the Holy Spirit and on biblical vs. Calvinistic predestination, and an evening session on using the Bible concordance and Bible dictionary. Friday was a full day for me with four lessons on premillennialism, another on the deity of Christ vs. Jehovah’s Witnesses error, another session with the concordance, and a closing lesson on how to use the center column reference Bible we distributed.

Because of our visitors, we extended an invitation which resulted in four being baptized into Christ. Before the participants go home we always distribute a variety of Bible study materials for them to take home and continue their studies. There were many expressions of appreciation for the class and the materials.

I got back to the hotel in time to eat a bowl of soup for supper about 10:00 PM and fell into the bed exhausted at midnight. A wake-up call came at 4:00 AM as we headed to the port for a Saturday fastcraft ferry to Ormoc City, Leyte. Keith was too sick to join us, but Jonathan, Jack, and I arrived in Ormoc City at 8:30 AM. From there we traveled almost three hours by van to Tacloban City to visit victims of Haiyan (Yolanda), the worst typhoon in recorded history. Sustained winds of 175 miles per hour with gusts over 200 miles per hour created a sea surge twenty feet high which slammed into Leyte like a tsunami wiping out everything in its path.

Imagine driving almost three hours viewing devastation all the way, yet realizing the storm reached much, much further-to Samar, to northern Cebu, to Negros, to Panay, and even as far away as northern Palawan. One measure of the typhoon’s power is the fact that it lifted huge ships and deposited them inland, one sitting squarely on a main street of Tacloban! Not boats, ships! One was a half mile inland.

In Tacloban we met Nilo Zabala and the church for which he preaches to distribute benevolence. Each family received enough money to provide food for two-three weeks. Some lost their homes and others suffered great damage. We hope to address these needs as funds permit. The brethren were so very happy and thankful for the aid they received.

Words fail me to describe what I have seen today. Trees twisted, beams twisted, and vehicles twisted like pretzels. Smells I do not know and do not want to know. Virtually every building in sight damaged or destroyed. Piles and piles and piles of rubble filled with every imaginable article common to normal life but now reduced to unrecognizable rubble. People along the road holding out their hands to solicit aid.

People living in small lean-to’s covered by plastic, in small tents, and in tent cities provided by relief organizations. The Red Cross, the Red Crescent (the Muslim equivalent of the Red Cross), the United Nations, and numerous relief agencies.

Handmade signs asking for help. Handmade signs expressing appreciation for help given.

No electricity still after five weeks, only gas generators for those few who can afford them.

Facilities set up by various countries from around the world extending aid. Trucks delivering rice guarded by armed soldiers. American flags flying to express appreciation for our nation’s help-the arrival of our troops had given the first semblance of stability after the chaos created in the aftermath of the storm.

Entire coconut groves flattened.

Reports of fishermen finding multiple human bodies when they pulled up their ocean nets. The death toll now tops 6,000 with almost 1,800 officially listed missing. Mass graves. Bodies found in such a state of decomposition as to be unrecognizable.

Our eyes could not take in what we saw hour after hour and mile after mile. Our minds could not adequately comprehend all the personal tragedies, horrors, and heartaches these people have experienced. But, one shovel full at a time and one nail at a time, they are cleaning the streets and countryside, and rebuilding. The Philippine government estimates it will take four to five years to fully recover. May God have mercy on them!

This is a Catholic culture with basilicas and cathedrals dotting the landscape. Not only are these church buildings filled with images, the images are in businesses, in homes, in schools, in government offices, along streets and highways-in all places public and private! It has been interesting to observe that these revered images did not protect the Philippine nation and people from harm. In fact, I saw images broken and fallen down. In some cases the images are still standing, but their surroundings are demolished. A miracle? Hardly, how could it be a divine sign for the image to save itself while not saving the people praying to it?! Idolatry does not bless or protect people but corrupts their faith in God. Perhaps the typhoon and its aftermath will cause people to reflect and to see the need to abandon their useless images and search for the true and living God!

This area from Tacloban City to Ormoc City is at the epicenter of the devastation, and yet severe devastation reached out in all directions. Electric wires and poles are down in all directions. There is no electricity on the whole island of Leyte and no one knows when there will be.

After returning to Ormoc City, a ferryboat took us back to Cebu City where I slept for 3 hours, then got up again at 4:00 AM Sunday to meet Jonathan and Jack at 4:30. Our ferry arrived again at Ormoc City at 8:30 AM. We spent the day visiting four far-flung congregations to deliver benevolence: Abuyog, Cagang Mahablad, Babybay, and Candadan Brandy Island. It is frustrating to know limited time and limited funds prevent us from reaching all of our brethren who are in need. Some are far off the beaten path and it is not now safe for us to go to such places. The U.S. State Dept. does not recommend Americans to go to Leyte at all.

There was not sufficient time to preach at most places because we had to complete our circuit and get back to Ormoc City to catch the fastcraft back to Cebu. I did present a short lesson on “The Great Commission” at Abuyog. The distribution was accompanied with expressions of appreciation for the gifts of love delivered from fellow saints and with prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God. Some of the brethren wiped away tears and others returned to shake our hands and thank us again and again. Our return to Cebu was safe if late, and I got to bed at 1:00 AM.

Monday the 16th we drove to Bogo City, almost three hours north of Cebu City. Three congregations in that area have been growing all year. It was too risky for us to visit each place, but the brethren met us in Bogo at a hotel where distribution was made to each congregation and in turn to its members. Again there was much rejoicing and thanksgiving.

Before returning to Cebu, we drove to the nearby house of brother Gil Suico, our faithful laborer in Bogo for several years. His house was severely damaged. In fact, the largest coconut tree I believe I have ever seen fell during the storm and was only deflected by striking another huge tree so that both were uprooted and crashed to the ground right next to the house. I earlier sent Gil funds to buy a chainsaw and he is cutting the coconut tree up and making rough lumber to use for repairs to his house and the meeting place. It is a joy to help those who help themselves. Other brethren are using the saw as well.

Martin “Rhupert” Ramirez is a preacher converted from denominationalism in recent months. He continues teaching and baptizing the members of his former group. Other denominational preachers are opposing him, but he is zealous and militant in fighting the good fight of faith. He shared some of these trials but rejoiced to suffer for Christ. He is not ashamed of the gospel.

On Wednesday our faithful brethren Atoy Franco, Elijah Sikat, and Ely Ebuenga accompanied me to the Bilibid Prison to visit Willie Pastor and to preach to inmates he gathered. 140 heard my lesson on “The Prison of Sin” (1 Pet. 3:18-4:11). I explained that all men are in the prison of sin, but Christ can set us free, teach us not to go back, and lead us to live a new fruitful life in fellowship with God. I discussed how Satan entices us and then holds us in a prison we did not expect and from which we cannot escape. It was clear many understood because they responded in answering my questions even before Willie gave the translation. When he extended the invitation, 46 made the good confession and requested to be baptized into Christ.

Willie wishes to express his love for all the deeds of kindness shown to his wife and four children by many U.S. saints from time to time. They continue to struggle financially and in every other way in his absence. The work he has done in the prison is truly amazing-he is a modern day Joseph!

Today, the 19th, Atoy Franco took Keith and me to the Philippine Bible Society where we ordered almost 800 Bibles in Filipino dialects to be shipped to various areas. Most will go to the Visayan Islands which were devastated by the typhoon. It is good to see Keith finally recovering from his respiratory infection and symptoms of contaminated water.

After completing these orders, we visited Rody and Tessie Gumpad at the large room now rented for worship for the Edsa-Pasay church of Christ. Sunday their attendance was a record 60 and the old rented room is no longer sufficient to hold the people. It is a joy to see the progress of this thriving work in the city of Manila where there are 12,000,000 people! There are also other good congregations scattered throughout Metro Manila. The fields are truly white unto harvest!

Within a few hours Keith and I will board the Delta flight from Manila to Japan to Detroit and then on to Louisville to rejoin our families and loved ones. This has been an arduous but rewarding trip. Thank you to one and all who have donated funds and prayed for our efforts. May God be glorified in all our efforts to serve Him!

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

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December 13

Halbrook Philippine Report Dec 2-8, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Keith Greer and I were blessed with a safe trip December 2-4 flying from Louisville, KY to Nagoya, Japan, and into Manila about 1:15 A.M. (late because of technical delay in Japan). This 27 hour trip left us exhausted as we fell into our beds at the hotel afer 3:00 A.M. Wednesday Elias Cruz met us for a few minutes before our next flight from Manila to Cebu City, so that five large boxes we brought could be shipped ahead by air cargo to Cebu City.

First Time to Visit Masbate

After arriving in Cebu City on the 4th, where we met Jonathan Carino, we prepared for the next flight on Thursday the 5th into Masbate City on the island of Masbate. In addition to this heavy travel schedule, we are enduring the rigors of Philippine winter with temperatures ranging from the high 70’s to the mid 80’s! Do you pity us? 🙂 Actually, it feels uncomfortably hot because of the 40 degree jump above temperatures back home. We will soon adjust.

After being invited many times to visit Masbate, I was finally able to work it into the schedule. There are 7,000 islands in the Philippines and 70 of them have a substantial population, so it is entirely possible I will not live to visit them all! As a result of our preaching and many conversions in Bogo City, Cebu, this year, a few denominational preachers from Masbate Island who joined those studies have obeyed the gospel in recent months. This involved constant hard work by Filipino preachers with only occasional visits by Americans. These newly converted preachers have been laboring to teach their members in the denominations the true gospel and many have responded by obedient faith. Jonathan Carino brought Harry Osborne here last month and their lessons were well received.

After our early flight to Masbate City, we took a van to the rural community of Del Carmen. Gregg Jumao-as and his son Ronnel had gathered 50-60 souls, filling the nice church building. I preached a short lesson explaining our purpose in coming was to preach God’s Word and why. After the original Savior, gospel, and church came for man’s salvation, many changes were made resulting in the formation of Catholicism and later in denominationalism. We did not come to start a new religion or denomination but to teach men to follow the original Savior and gospel.

Then I proceeded to a study of “The Message of the Bible: Salvation in Christ.” Keith taught on God’s dealing with men in the three dispensations: the patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the Christian ages. Time was given to answer questions. After lunch I preached “The Two Covenants (Gal. 4:24)” and Keith taught an important lesson on godly living. More questions were again addressed regarding such things as inherited sin, instrumental music in worship, and how obeying the gospel often leads to persecution. Many expressed appreciation for today’s preaching.

The moon cannot be seen here because of the all-day rains which are continuing tonight-steady but not monsoon storms, thank God.

Friday a van took us from Masbate City back to Del Carmen. The Jumao-as family was converted from the Baptist faith to New Testament Christianity and the father and a son have been converting their former Baptist members. Keith began the day with a study of receiving salvation by God’s grace, and I followed with “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God.” After Keith’s next message on counting the cost to become a follower of Christ, I finished the day by focusing on “The Purpose of Our Lives.” No one asked any questions but 12 obeyed the gospel, men and woman, young and old.

The members here at Del Carmen almost surely will be driven out of their church building by Baptist authorities who hold the deed to the property.

One of the Filipino ladies brought her husband Mark Klynen (Mark_Klynen@yahoo.com ) who is from Belgium in western Europe but has lived here for six years. He stayed all day and was very attentive. Mark speaks Dutch and asked for help in finding a Dutch translation in current rather than archaic language. Can anyone reading this report offer any clues?

Preaching on Cebu Island

On Saturday, December 7, our early morning flight from Masbate to Cebu City allowed us to arrive for a short rest, and then we went to the suburb of Talamban. A former denominational preacher named Alejandro “Ahl” Bufral is teaching and baptizing the remaining members, though some who could not endure sound doctrine left. Several who stayed held onto their denominational baptism as equivalent to the one baptism of the gospel. I preached on “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God” which includes a section contrasting the one baptism with denominational error. Keith followed with a good lesson on godly lesson. Eight responded to the gospel and were baptized in a pool nearby (we had to pay a fee for each one who entered the water). Four former deaconesses previously holding onto their old baptism were in this group.

On the 8th it was necessary to leave Cebu City at 7:00 A.M. and travel almost three hours to meet with the saints in the Bogo City area. This part of Cebu Island was hit hard by typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda). As we drew near, the devastation was evident roofless, collapsed, or blown away. Trees were blown over and rooted up one after another. We rented a function room in a hotel that was structurally sound in Bobo City. The assembly numbered 77 including saints and sinners. Because of the devastation Keith addressed why we live in a world of suffering, then I spoke on “The Resurrection of Christ,” a verse by verse study of Mark 16. Nine responded to the gospel call and were baptized into Christ. Gil Suico continues his steady sound work in this area, helping three congregations.

A brother in the area named Felix Cantulan has disappointed us and returned to his former denominational group called “The Church,” a sect formed by a Chinese man named Watchman Nee in 1922. Felix has been driving a van for this group and he even invited some of our brethren to get onboard, but they declined. We pity him and pray he will be like Simon in Acts 8:22-24 by repenting and returning to the Lord and to the truth. Such tragedies occur wherever the gospel goes because Satan launches a counterattack every time a precious soul escapes his captivity.

Because we spent over five hours in round trip travel, we were not able to make side trips to see the damaged and destroyed houses of saints, but we saw one of their homes near the highway totally demolished. We will be teaching preacher training classes August 9-13 in Cebu City. One reason this central location was chosen is that brethren from the devastated areas can come to report more details about the ongoing needs. Then when the classes end, the benevolence we have in hand can be delivered to the respective congregations according to the needs in the Bogo City area, on Leyte, on Negros, or elsewhere.

Side Trip to Manila to Dr. Toreja’s Clinic

Though this report is being sent on Wednesday the 11th, unfortunately I cannot give a report on the classes in Cebu City until later. Saturday night the 7th I consulted with Dr. Teresa Toreja in Manila by phone about a procedure done November 14 on my big left toe to resolve an ingrown nail problem. It was not healing properly and after her asking some questions she insisted I come to see her ASAP because she was sure there was serious infection. I did not want to miss the scheduled classes, but no one is indispensable and wisdom dictated I should listen to the good doctor.

By God’s providence Rody Gumpad was arriving in Cebu Monday to deliver some benevolence to the men gathered from areas hard hit by the typhoon. He had previously taught the books we were to use as a guide, Basic Bible Doctrine by Robert Harkrider. Rody agreed to take my classes and I forwarded my charts to him. He arrived Monday in Cebu City just in time to join Jonathan Carino, Jack Jaco, Keith Greer, and Lordy Salunga for the classes.

I flew from Cebu City to Manila arriving at Dr. Toreja’s clinic late Monday afternoon. I waited until she finished seeing her patients. She then worked on the toe for 30-40 minutes without anesthesia (which I learned is not effective on an inflamed wound)-now that was real sho’nuff fun! Fortunately, she did not amputate and I survived! She put me on some medications to promote healing and fight infection. Teresa was satisfied with the incision’s progress on Tuesday and released me to return to Cebu City the next day so I could teach on Thursday.

It has been such a blessing to have Teresa near when traveling in the Philippines and encountering several health problems through the years. She is knowledgeable, sacrificial, and compassionate in her medical practice. In addition she uses every possible opportunity to teach her patients the gospel.

Rody had to leave Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, I learned the classes were doing just fine without me! Over 90 attended the first day even though we have Bibles and workbooks for only 24 men!

I have not panicked in all this because the skies cleared and I could see the moon a couple of nights, reminding me of the love and prayers of so many brethren and loved ones. May God bless you all.

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com

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December 2

11-30-2013 Update on Helping Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Dear brethren,

It is heart wrenching to see pictures of the severe devastation which hit the central Philippine islands called the Visayas (for the Visayan Sea), especially in Leyte and Samar. News is still dribbling out from the areas most severely affected, and we have brethren in those areas. The official death toll as of today is 5,632 with another 1,759 missing and unaccounted for. So far we know of five saints killed and many others who suffered losses ranging from homes and belongings badly damaged to their being demolished and swept away.

Three reports are provided below which came from Filipino brethren: 1. Jonathan Carino, 2. Willie Pelino, and 3. Rody Gumpad. Jonathan lives in Cebu City on the island of Cebu which is about 70 miles from Ormoc City, Leyte. He is helping to relay benevolence to brethren who are suffering in the northern part of Cebu Island and in Leyte. Willie lives in Ormoc City and works with three congregations there, so his is a firsthand report from one of the hardest hit areas. Rody and Lordy Salunga live on Luzon and they recently served as messengers for Filipino and U.S. brethren to bring help.

Many churches and individual saints across the U.S. and even in Canada and Australia have asked Keith Greer and myself to act as their messengers to take funds to brethren in the affected areas. Although our trip Dec. 2-20 was originally planned as a teaching trip, we will set aside part of the itinerary to meet with brethren representing various churches in need and we may make day trips into the affected areas. It will not be safe for us to stay in those areas any length of time. We will pray for God’s providence and for prudence in making specific decisions. We will keep careful records of the distribution made.

I suggest that additional churches which may be planning to ask us to deliver funds should wait until we distribute the funds in hand and can report on the ongoing needs. I will try to send some reports while in the Philippines and will definitely send a follow-up report soon after my return home. There will be ongoing needs for the next several months and I will be able to offer suggestions as to how we might best relay and deliver funds after my return.

I suggest that individuals planning to give might go ahead and send additional funds with the following thoughts in mind. There is more flexibility in how individual donations are used such as providing help to obtain, repair, and construct church buildings. Also shortly before typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda hit the Visayas, parts of central and northern Luzon were hit by a strong typhoon which did not get much publicity because of the severity of Haiyan. With your permission, part of the funds provided by individuals could be shared with saints suffering in these areas where we have many brethren whose cries have been drowned out by Haiyan.

Rather than attempting to summarize the reports written by our Filipino brethren, I will reproduce them in their own words below.

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

http://www.biblework.com

http://www.truthmagazine.com

http://www.CEIbooks.com

JONATHAN CARINO REPORT ON DISTRIBUTION OF BENEVOLENCE

AT BOGO CITY NOVEMBER 29, 2013

The recent typhoon that hit our country was the strongest and widest in area of coverage. Hardest hit were Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Baybay City and most of the towns in the island of Leyte. In the island of Cebu, the northern town and Bogo City were hardest hit. Some part of Negros Island were seriously damage. There are churches in these aforementioned places.

In Tacloban City the typhoon was coupled with storm surge (high strong waves) while the rest of the was just very strong wind. This explains why houses and buildings in Tacloban City were washed away. In the other areas, the strong wind uprooted big trees and the roofs of buildings. As a consequence, 7 houses of brethren Bogo City were either washed away (they were at the shoreline) or destroyed by the strong wind or fallen trees.

There was no food and water. No electricity power even as of this writing. There was anarchy in Tacloban City because of empty stomach and absence of water. The early arrival of the US Fleet with food and water supply prevented the situation from bad to worst. By God’s providence, Harry Osborne was here for a preaching trip. US brethren contacted him and immediately sent benevolence funds. He was at Cebu City when the calamity happened and made immediate distribution of rice (our staple food) to the suffering saints at Bogo City. As funds came in, he decided to go to Ormoc City and gave funds for the saints of Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Baybay City, Mahaplag, and Abuyog. Before leaving for home, Harry left with me the remaining funds he had.

Rody Gumpad (of Tuguegarao City) and Lordy Salunga (of Angeles City) both very sound and faithful gospel preachers came last November 21-23 to distribute also funds. We went to Ormoc City, Baybay City, Mahaplag, Abuyog and finally Tacloban City. After they left to their respective places, I decided to give rice and grocery and other basic needs after inquiring from the afftected saints. Not all the things I needed to buy were available in Cebu City. Even rice was scarce here so we have to go around the city and look for available grocery. The reasons we have to buy them here are because there is not enough supply, you have to queue in the long line, quantity is rationed, and obviously the prices are high. Taking all things equal, I decided to buy them here and bring them to the affected areas. The members of Cebu City church of Christ, where I preach, helped in the repacking and distribution.

We prepared a total of fifty seek (56) sets for each individual saint with each set costing a total of Pesos: Three Thousand Ninety Seven (P3,097) or roughly $72 at the exchange rate of P43 to the US Dollar. There are five (5) who received additional items because their houses banished and the total cost for each of the five is Pesos: Five Thousand Sixty One or roughly US Dollar $ 117.70. The total cost spent for the rice and commodities distributed yesterday (Nov 29) for the churches in Bogo City amounted to Pesos: One Hundred Eighty Three Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Two (P 183,252) or roughly US Dollar ($ 4,261.67). There are still others, whose houses were destroyed, but have not been reported.

The next distribution will be at Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Baybay City, Mahaplag, and Abuyog. We have to cross the channel to reach the island of Leyte.

The greatest impact of this benevolence on our suffering brethren is to know that there is a God in heaven who cares for His children through brethren on the other side of globe, whose act of love and concern has touched the lives of brethren in need and made the suffering bearable and relieve the pain thus giving comfort in this time of great need.

The brethren requested that their deep personal gratitude reach the heart and soul of every loving American brother and sister who sacrificed that others be relieved.

Thank you very much! May God bless us all.

Because of Him, Jonathan

JONATHAN R. CARIÑO

1031-C Juana Osmeña Ext.

Sacred Heart Hills, Capitol Site

Cebu City 6000, Philippines

jrcarino2@yahoo.com

You might like to view some pictures of the repacking and distribution of benevolence at Bogo City. Just copy and paste the link at the address bar on your browser.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.597407760295076.1073741862.100000775728663&type=1&l=e76b6311c3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.598208153548370.1073741863.100000775728663&type=1&l=938faeea5f

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WILFREDO “WILLIE” PELINO REPORT ON CONDITIONS

AT ORMOC CITY, LEYTE NOVEMBER 27, 2013

I apologize, I am sorry for I did not report immediately regarding our present situation because we were looking for our loved ones, brethren or were in shock and I thought I had already been dead. I give thanks to our Almighty God that gave us new lives together my family, my brethren at Ormoc City. We were blessed enough because we are not included those thousands of thousands of dead persons but we are thirsty and hunger, no network coverage here at Ormoc City, for it has not been restored, media has been shut down, no television, no cellphone signal for foreign countries. Right now I am at Cebu City, a hundreds of nautical miles from Ormoc City, just to report this important information to my loving brethren in Hebron Lane Church of Christ.

Yolanda is Haiyan, the international name with 260 KPH struck last November 8, 2013 in Leyte and Samar provinces. It has been one of the most powerful ever recorded in the Pacific and one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall at Leyte island that no amount of preparation could have been enough for Typhoon Yolanda. The magnitude of this devastation has not only shown the resilience of the Filipino at a time of great loss but has also awakened the Filipino and American brethren spirit of helping one another according to what our Lord teaches us. God is watching us every step of the way. And as we prepare for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, we must find it in our hearts to give, to share, and to care for the sick, the wounded and the dying.

After the strongest winds ever recorded and tsunami like waves destroyed dozens of coastal towns and killed thousands of Filipino people. The houses in our area including our brethren belongings were flattened when the storm surge. All our brethren live in a bungalow-type house before, but after the storm, every thing was gone. Our brethrens’ houses suffered more extensive damage because the dwelling house made from the lighter materials could not withstand the heavy winds and rains. Now we started rebuilding our homes, using whatever wood and materials we could find in the debris. But some of our brethren are staying inside the roofless house with a tent above our heads to shelter them from the rains and the elements. It would be a long process of rebuilding anew residence, for it would take a minimum of three to five years for new planting to bear fruits that all our agricultural plants – the base of the regions economy had been destroyed nothing left. Some left them homeless and economically dislocated, more of them would have no recourse to move out to nearby Cebu, Metro Manila, to Mindanao and elsewhere they have families or relatives to live with. And the official of our village urged residents to flee to other cities and find food and shelter with relatives.

Now we are all victims. Everybody was down and disable that we were walking with them, together with them. But we don’t want to die, we sustained injuries and went for days without food and shelter and believing has a reason – the importance of faith in God and do not put value in our possessions as what Job did as demonstration of life is full of struggles found in the Bible when Job with his calamity came ( Job 1-2,42 ). Imagine walking through the streets trying to look for shelter, scavenging for food to eat and water to drink, looking for loved ones underneath of the earth and desperately looking for a familiar place among the ruins. And we all crying with one voice, “Oh, please God help us for this disaster is a great for us. ”

We wish to thank to our Almighty God. We asked for His help for all our brethren who survive this typhoon to be able to eat and continue a life that is hopefully more blissful that God would always be here offered our comfort and we believe what saved us is our prayer.

After strong Typhoon Yolanda occurred in our area, we thank our brethren from United State of America in the person of Brother Harry Osborne with Brother Jonathan Carino of Cebu, and Brother Rody C. Gumpad with Brother Lordy Salunga both from Luzon to see and help our critical situation. In the name of the churches of Leyte, we would like to thank you, all American and Filipino brethren from the bottom of our hearts because you are the first responders to come and help us. The churches of Leyte who are most thankful for the cash money which you gave for our food relief and non food relief assistance for within few days of our existence. When we bought from the money of our brethren, we maximize it four the whole day due to we really wouldn’t know what to do or where to get all our needs for the next day. We appreciated the first group responders who did not mind getting wet and injured in a critical situation in Leyte just to give the supplies to the affected brethren. Again, we are grateful for the generosity of our brethren of United State of America whose earnings for their living offered to us in order to glorify our Lord and Savior. And to all our brethren within the congregations and individual brothers and sisters who will be willing in sending various forms of assistance, the churches of Leyte are profoundly grateful.

God bless and keep us always and more power to you all, I am.

In Him,

WILFREDO R. PELINO

Typhoon Yolanda Survivor

Brgy. San Vicente, Ormoc City

# 6541 Leyte, Philippines

churchofchristormoc@yahoo.com.ph

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

RODY C. GUMPAD REPORT ON FIRST DISTRIBUTION ON LEYTE

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Regarding our first trip-distribution of Benevolence to our severely devastated brethren in the Visayas (Nov. 21-23), bro. Lordy Salunga and I (With Tessie) flew to Cebu City. Our bro. Jonathan Carino came and pick up us at the Airport and took us at their home for meal! It was good to see bro. John again and his family. Tessie stayed there with sister Carino while the three of us (Rody, John, and Lordy) traveled at night by boat going first to Ormoc City! Just upon arrival early in the morning we already saw the tremendous devastation in that place! We met some of the Preachers who joined us and we continue our travel to other places/Congregations where we met brethren until we reached Tacloban City! I cannot really described here of all that what we saw on the way! It was already two weeks ago since the Typhoon passed and yet you can still see the many untouched things destroyed by the Typhoon (Houses and everything)! Report said that more than 5,000 now recovered dead and yet still many are missing! We are so thankful to God that all in all we heard only about 5 Christians as casualties in different places but many relatives or family members of Christians were dead!

In this said first trip distribution, I received a total of $18,580.00 from US Churches & Individuals, and also a total of P39,170.00 ($912.00) from Philippine Churches & Individuals. All this amount has been distributed to 20 affected Churches (With more than 300 members) and 14 Individuals! As it was directed to me I exclusively gave to the Tacloban Brethren all the donation from the Philippine Churches and Individuals (P39,170.00). We cannot describe the gratefulness of the recipient brethren as many of them secretly shed tears of thankfulness to you all, brethren who generously contributed! Before giving them, I explained that ye brethren are not rich materially but you were immediately moved when ye heard about what happened and even many of you are also hard in life, that even some of you were just like the woman that has her last mite and ye gave! All these words touched the hearts of the brethren and that made your gifts so very precious to them and encouraged them more in the Lord for knowing that they have brethren elsewhere who cares! God also knows all our hearts and works and he may be praised and be magnified always! Again, all those recipient brethren want to say to you all brethren who donated; “THANK YOU VERY MUCH”! May God bless more all of you! On my part, I urge you brethren that please give me more time and I will send you later the detailed report about the sources of these funds and the recipients for your record purposes. Thank you very much for your understanding!

Our Brother Lordy Salunga also made his own distribution to the funds that were sent or entrusted to him so he has another record of that. We are thankful to bro. R. H. of Shepherdsville, KY and a small Church in Georgia who generously shared us some amount for our travel distribution expenses! Thank you so much, brethren!

Tessie and I will go meet bro. Ron Halbrook and bro. Keith Greer when they arrive on Dec. 3 or morning of the 4th. Lord willing, Tessie and I will go back to the Visayas after next week! The reason is because we still have beloved US & Filipino brethren who want me to deliver also their help to our devastated brethren there! Hope & pray that all those pledges and those who would like to send funds to me exclusively for this purpose will all arrive before we go. The affected brethren in Visayas need more help for them to rebuild their homes and restore their losses, etc..! Brethren, let’s continue to pray for them, please!

Likewise, bro. Jonathan Carino requested me to go and help teach at their Preacher’s Lectures/training at Cebu City, so, I will be working with him and bro. Ron Halbrook, bro. Keith Greer, bro. Lordy Salunga, and bro. Jack Jaco, but only on Dec. 9-11 for we must get back to Manila and continue do works needed for our transfer to another building.

BECAUSE OF CALVARY,

Rody & Tessie Gumpad

P.O. Box 075

Tuguegarao, Cagayan 3500

Philippines

rodyc.gumpad@gmail.com

Category: Updates | Comments Off

November 26

11-22-2013 Update on Preaching Trip & Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Ron & Donna Halbrook

3505 Horse Run Ct.

Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954

PLEASE SHARE THIS LETTER ON GOSPEL PREACHING

IN THE PHILIPPINES!

FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON DEC. 2-20, 2013 TRIP

November 22, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear brethren,

Approaching my December 2-20 Philippine trip, for the first time ever I must revise much of my schedule. This is required in the aftermath of Haiyan, named Yolanda by Filipinos, the worst typhoon in recorded history. Keith Greer and I will teach God’s Word in concert with Filipino preachers. We also will deliver benevolence, knowing “the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (2 Cor. 9:12).

We will arrive in Manila late at night on December 3 and begin the next day by preaching to inmates in the Bilibid Prison at Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. This work is made possible by the presence of Willie Pastor in the prison, a brother sent to jail in 2010 after killing someone in self-defense many years earlier. Through his efforts along with his brother Kenneth who lives in the area, three congregations now meet in three of the prison’s sectors.

As a result of efforts in recent years in Bogo on northern Cebu, new congregations have been planted. This beachhead also led to conversions on the island of Masbate , located north of Cebu and west of Samar in the Visayan Sea (central Philippines). We will keep the appointment to preach December 5-6 on Masbate. (Jonathan Carino took Harry Osborne there in November with good success.) On the 7th we will travel to Cebu City and preach at the place of brother Ahl Bufral at Talamban, Cebu City.

The classes with preachers from churches of Christ using instrumental music in August were so successful that we scheduled additional classes at Ormoc City, Leyte for December 9-13. Just after completing my itinerary and sending out letters, typhoon Haiyan hit the Visayan Islands, especially Samar, Leyte, northern Cebu, and parts of Negros and Panay. The devastation was horrific and the death toll has passed 5,200 including saints of God. Bodies have been buried in mass graves to avoid spreading diseases, but more bodies are being found daily. The typhoon created a wall of water over 20 feet high that hit Tacloban City like a tsunami, destroying almost everything in its path. Ormoc City sits east of Tacloban on the other side of the island and was similarly destroyed. Law and order have been virtually non-existent. The U.S. State Department has issued a warning that it is not safe to go into these areas.

The classes for Ormoc City are cancelled. December 9-13 we will bring men from Masbate and invite others to join preacher training classes in Cebu City using Robert Harkrider’s Basic Bible Doctrine series, Bible dictionaries, and concordances. Jonathan Carino is our host, Jack Jaco will lead singing, and Lordy Salunga will also teach. Cebu is a safe haven for us to conduct classes.

Many brethren lost their homes and all possessions, and others suffered significant damage and losses. Church buildings were destroyed, Bibles and song books were ruined or swept away in the raging waters. The schedule for northern Mindanao is cancelled to make additional time December 14-17 to distribute benevolence. In some cases, men from congregations in the affected areas will come to us, in other cases we may go into the affected areas to find men if we can return to Cebu City the same day.

Thank you for your prayers and financial help! Following the pattern of 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, we will act as messengers to deliver funds from churches to representatives of churches in the affected areas. Individuals giving $500 or more for church buildings and similar needs can write checks to Help A Neighbor for a tax deduction. Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. Donors receive financial reports (2 Cor. 8:21).

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook

Phone 502-955-1748 or 957-6726

e-mail halbrook@twc.com

P.S. There is a dire need for songbooks! I can ship new or used copies very cheaply.

To see good Bible study material, go to:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2501471/Philippines-Typhoon-Haiyan-Bodies-piled-streets-makeshift-mortuaries-overrun.html

Category: Upcoming | Comments Off

November 14

11-13-2013 Update on Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Dear brethren,

Thank you for all of the messages and calls seeking information about our Filipino brethren who are affected by the worst typhoon on record which hit the Philippines on Friday, November 8.

Much news about the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan (named Yolanda in the Philippines) is appearing in the media, but concrete information from our brethren is only dribbling out because lines of communication were damaged and destroyed. The storm surge 15-20 feet high sent tsunami-like waves 45 feet high crashing to shore in some places! Ships were left sitting in city streets! Especially hard hit areas include the island of Samar, Tacloban City on Leyte, and northern Cebu island. Surrounding islands in the central Visayas such as Panay and Bohol were heavily damaged, and also Oriental Mindoro and northern Palawan to the west as the storm headed back out to sea toward Viet Nam.

The number of dead bodies located keeps climbing as it passes 2,200 with many areas still inaccessible. In places like Tacloban City mass burials have been necessary because of the health risk with bodies decaying in the rubble and standing water. The airport there served as a makeshift morgue. Homes, crops, and trees were leveled by winds of 150-200 mph and the land was inundated with torrential rainfall. Nearly ten million people were affected and 600,000 displaced.

Pictures of the devastation can be seen at:

The Philippine government, U.S. military, other governmental bodies around the world, and international relief agencies are trying to get supplies to the devastated areas, but much of the infrastructure is destroyed. Supply trucks have been waylaid. In some cases, people foraging for food, water, and medicine are looting markets, grocery stores, and pharmacies in desperation. Mobs in Tacloban City attacked a rice warehouse and the walls collapsed killing and injuring more people. The Philippine military is trying to restore order.

Saints are scattered all through the regions hit by the storm. We are getting some news from saints on the island of Cebu. Jonathan Carino and other Filipino brethren in company with Harry Osborne were able to survey the damage at Bogo City in northern Cebu. Gil Suico who preaches there sent me a message that homes, fruit trees, and crops were severely damaged, which means the suffering will extend for weeks and months to come. A large percentage of the buildings in Bogo City were flattened and nearly all structures were damaged.

I received a report from brethren in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, that they suffered no major damage. There is word from Jack Jaco in the western part of the island, Negros Occidental, that brethren suffered damage there.

Regarding Leyte, Jonathan and Harry have been trying to get to Tacloban City but cancelled their plans because of the breakdown of peace and security. The New Peoples Army (Filipino communists) are flexing their muscle with raids because the government can hardly function. Brother Nilo Zabala fled the city after NPA’s invaded his home and threatened him with death if he did not provide them with supplies. His family is camped in a damaged bus terminal. It is now Thursday in the Philippines and Jonathan and Harry will take a ferry boat from Cebu City on Cebu Island to Ormoc City on Leyte. They hope to establish contact with brethren and assess their needs, and return to Cebu on Friday.

In view of the destruction of the infrastructure and communication, it is very hard to get a concrete assessment of our brethren’s needs, and also very hard to deliver funds and supplies when assessments can be made. We know immediate needs are the most basic items such as food, water, and medicines. Homes are destroyed. Church buildings collapsed and blew away. Bibles and song books were ruined and swept away.

Little by little with God’s help, we will begin to hear more and more definite information from the saints. Harry will come home Saturday, so it is too late to send funds to him in the Philippines. Those who want to help can communicate with Jonathan Carino (jrcarino2@yahoo.com) on Cebu Island and Jack Jaco on Negros (sigualdo@yahoo.com). Lordy Salunga (lordys2005@hotmail.com) and Rody Gumpad (rodyc.gumpad@gmail.com) plan to make a trip from Luzon and deliver whatever benevolence they can raise. Funds can be sent to Filipinos via MoneyGram, Western Union, and similar services. Also, Keith Greer and I are scheduled to be in the Philippines December 2-20 and we are willing to help get funds to the saints who are suffering.

The difficulty of getting definite news in hand has delayed my reporting to many brethren who are asking for information. I regret the delay but the reason should be obvious from the report itself. I will do my best to provide follow-up reports when possible. Let us fervently pray for these dear saints, send whatever financial help we can, and commit ourselves not to forget their needs in the weeks and months ahead.

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:

Category: Reports | Comments Off

November 14

Philippines Hit by Super-typhoon Haiyan

Super-typhoon Haiyan (Philippine name Yolanda) is likely the strongest typhoon or hurricane on record with sustained winds of 195-199 mph and gusts up to 235 mph. The storm itself was 300 miles wide and created additional cloud cover over nearly the whole Philippine nation. It was equal to a Category 5 hurricane. Category 5 hurricanes include Hurricane Camille which hit the U.S. with winds up to 190 mph in 1969, Katrina which hit with 175 mph winds in 2005, and Wilma which hit the Caribbean Sea with 185 mph winds in 2005.

The same type storms are called “hurricanes” in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, “typhoons” in the Northwest Pacific, and “cyclones” in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Haiyan hit the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines with the greatest concentration on Samar and Leyte. Damage is still being assessed but over 100 people are known to be dead. In spite of great devastation, many people were evacuated to places of relative safety.

We are beginning to get reports of widespread damage to the homes of brethren at Tacloban City and Ormoc City on Leyte, and at Bogo on Cebu. While waiting for more information, let us pray for our brethren as well as alien sinners who are suffering from the typhoon in many ways at this time.

To see good Bible study material, go to: