Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Friday, August 4, I flew from Manila to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on the island of Negros and was met by Jack Jaco, Mario Rubio, and Efren Miraflor.  Jonathan Carino was not able to come because of his health problems – we are praying for his recovery and he is making progress.

The weather has been overcast and rainy at times because of a typhoon which passed through the Philippines this past week and another one which appears to be on the way.  There is a lighted boulevard on the ocean across the street from the Bethel Guest House (our hotel) where I was able to walk tonight for an hour.  The moon was glowing behind the clouds as it captured the love I was sending to all of you and as it relayed your love to me.

Our Saturday morning began with a drive in a van into the mountains up a winding road which became narrower as we ascended.  Leaving the pavement behind we traversed roads with inclines which required us to gather rocks from the roadside and put them in the path of the tires and even to push until we finally had to abandon the vehicle and walk up the road about a mile to the church building.  The building is still under construction as funds permit, but it can be used.

The faithful preacher working here at Baslay, Dauing is Macario Mag-abo. Because of our delays, the service began at 10:30 A.M. with about 50 people filling the building and overflowing at the back.  Pablo Quimada translated since people in the remote areas do not speak English well.  The lesson on “Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost” was followed by a Q & A period and there were several good questions about baptism.

We broke at 12:45 for lunch and resumed at 1:00 P.M. with a study of “How Sinners Receive Salvation.”  Some of the audience tried to defend instrumental music in worship during the open forum and the discussion went quite well.  Finally, Jack Jaco preached on baptisms found in the Bible and stressed the imperative need for all men to submit to the baptism Jesus commanded in the Great Commission, and we sang an invitation song. First, a lady came forward to be baptized and then a man soon followed.  The gold fish in the vat of water did not seem to mind, and angels in heaven rejoiced!

God blessed us with a mountain breeze today, but it was still so hot my clothes were soaking wet all day.

Never say never.  I said many times I would never drive in the Philippines, but when our driver once had a stroke several years ago and no one else in the vehicle knew how to drive…I did!  While I preached today, Jack went down to where we left the van and drove it to a school on another road closer to us.  How did we get to it after the service?  I have been on a motorcycle only a couple of times in my life, both times of necessity in the Philippines, and it was necessary today to ride one with Pablo in order to follow a narrow winding path with plenty of rocks which had several steep descents.  The sensation was like one of those wild rides at a state fair or a theme park.  It was truly treacherous in places, but we made it by God’s good grace.

I am not renewing my membership in the Off-road Outback Motorcycle Club any time soon!

In all seriousness, such events remind me of how important and precious your prayers are when I am preaching in the Philippines.

On the Lord’s Day Jack drove us an hour to reach a rural area called Siaton where Pablo Quimada has preached since 1999.  He was a Methodist preacher who gathered his congregation to hear me preach on April 28 of that year.  We arrived after dark from a distant appointment and I preached extemporaneously in the open air with their small oil lamps giving only the dimmest light.  I spoke on “The Original Gospel” though I could not see my Bible.  About 10:00 P.M. we wadded through the bushes to reach a river where Pablo, his wife, and several other Methodists submitted to Christ in baptism for the remission of their sins.  I always remember him as the preacher I baptized in the darkness of the night.

Since April 28, 1999 Pablo has worked steadily in this rural area of Negros Oriental.  Today’s attendance was 50-60.  My first lesson was designed to edify the saints: “Why Saints Assemble” (Heb. 10:24-25).  Next we studied “The Bread of Life” (Jn. 6:35).  Jack gave a lesson on baptism and I finished the day by proclaiming “The Resurrection of Christ” (textual study of Mk. 16).  Three precious souls confessed Christ and were baptized in the nearby ocean.  One of them was a Catholic lady who has heard several brethren preach through the years including myself but was hindered by her husband who objects to the gospel.  Today she put Christ first in her life!

It is summertime so it is no surprise that I preached again in wet clothes today, a small price to pay for the privilege of proclaiming the gospel of Christ to souls who hunger and thirst for salvation.  After returning to the hotel and eating supper, I walked again tonight and admired the full moon shining in all of its God-given glory.  It reminds me of brethren at home who observe the same moon and who make this work possible by constant prayers and financial help.  We serve a great and good God!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com