Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The Lord’s Day, February 26, began with the services at the Laoag City church of Christ where Mat Sibayan, Sr. has preached for many years.  This is a well established church with a good building in which to meet in the downtown.  They have elders and deacons.  I broke the sermon “Take Job as an Example” into two parts for the Bible study hour and the worship hour so as slow the pace.  There is never a need to translate here.  Some of the members are professionals.  About 65 attended this morning’s worship.  When Jim McDonald first brought me here in 1995, the brethren were meeting in a rented space at a hotel.  The work has come a long way over the years.

When the service ended, we proceeded out into the countryside where a retired army major has a small congregation meeting in his garage area.  His wife is visiting their children in the U.S. and others were sick, so only seven attended, but they could not have been more attentive to the verse by verse study of Mark 16 on “The Resurrection of Christ.”  The retired major used to be a member of the Pentecostal religion and he is now anxious for other people to learn the truth, so he asked about Catholic baptism on behalf of one of the ladies.  She listened intently as I explained the differences between Bible baptism and Catholic baptism.  The seed was sown!

After that service we immediately drove back to town to the provincial jail (Laoag City is the capital of Ilocos Norte).  Many have been converted in the jail and a congregation meets there every Sunday.  This was my third visit in recent years and about 60 were present including men and women who are incarcerated.  Because many inmates are poorly educated, Rex Bayaca translated as I preached on Jesus Christ as “The Bread of Life” (Jn. 6:35).  Many inmates made it a point to thank me for the lesson and to ask me to return.

For our final appointment we then drove to Basuquin about 30 minutes out of town.  Chris Basa was a Catholic priest in 2012 when he was converted to Christ and I preached to his Catholic congregation shortly after he obeyed the gospel.  In the end it was necessary for him to leave because they were not receptive to the truth.  He has been teaching other contacts and now has a group of 12 converts meeting at Basuquin.  We met under a nippa roof (dried palm leaves) in the open air in sight of the ocean and a strong breeze blew gusts of sand into our faces and hair at times, but the 40 people gathered paid close attention as I preached on “The Resurrection of Christ.”

In the open forum there were questions about baptism, conditions of pardon for erring Christians, and changes required to live a godly life. Though there were no conversions, some of the visitors are obviously learning the truth little by little.  It has been uplifting to see how Chris has grown and is working diligently to convert the lost!

The Monday morning appointment was at Escoda, Marcos, Ilocos Norte where Vic Domingo has spent much of his life laboring in the gospel.  There is now a large congregation there over an hour into the countryside from Laoag City in sight of the mountains.  Including those who joined us our attendance reached 185.  I taught them “Take Job as an Example” and Roger Borja translated as I spoke.

In these many years of visiting Escoda I have watched the church grow and seen the church building start from scratch and little by little reach completion.  I remember years ago sitting on the front row and observing bats hanging from the frame before a ceiling was installed.

In the afternoon we visited the Elizabeth East congregation in the foothills of the mountains, a thriving church planning to expand their modest building.  My topic was “Rejoice in the Lord Always” and Rex Bayaca translated as I addressed an audience whicch overflowed to include people sitting under a plastic cover stretching out from the entrance – there must have been at least 70 people present.  When we sang an invitation song two ladies responded and we took them to the creek with flowing cold water and baptized them –  we rejoiced in the Lord with them!

I always look forward to see sister Lingling there.  Once a soldier in the communist New Peoples Army, she has been a solider for Christ for many years.  She with two other ladies travel to several congregations where they teach young children, many of whom have grown to maturity and obeyed the gospel.  Could some kindhearted saint sent them $100 per month to share with their travel expenses?  They are doing an invaluable work and really need the help.

All day Tuesday was devoted to preaching at the Binacag church of Christ in Banna, Ilocos Norte where Efren Ramos preaches.  Many brethren joined us and we had a full house with some people sitting outside for a total of 120.  This morning I preached “Take Job for an Example,” then Rody summarized it in the Ilocan dialect.  After lunch my topic again was “Rejoice in the Lord Always,” followed by Rody’s summary and invitation.  A man and a lady came forward seeking salvation in Christ and they were baptized into Christ – now they are rejoicing in the Lord.

Many as asking me to relay their heartfelt love and appreciation for the help they have received in the forms of support and benevolence from U.S. brethren.  I learned of three additional congregations that had received no benevolence after typhoon Lawin and was able to share some funds for them.  A brother whose teenage daughter had been seriously injured by a drink in an accident need funds for her to have a CT scan, which costs about $200 over here  – because of your donations she will get the scan.  Others are struggling because they have lost their support due to changing circumstances here in the U.S.  We gathered all of these who approached us and I asked Rody to pray for them in their dialect.

Before making this trip I had selected a folder with many sermons to encourage and uplift our brethren in view of the severe typhoon they endured in October, but as it has turned out I am repeatedly using the two lessons on Job and rejoicing in the Lord.  This is because it immediately became apparent that they are striking a chord in the hearts of Filipino saints.  Again today several brethren approached me to say this was exactly what they needed.  Preachers are asking me to share the outlines with them so they can teach these lessons in the churches they serve.  By God’s providence this was the right time to make this trip and preach these lessons.

Thank you, brethren, for making it possible by your prayers, donations, and words of encouragement.

As I travel I am also encountering one request after another for Bibles.  I am collecting the names and addresses in the hope that when I get to Manila, I will have enough money remaining to submit these orders.  Even without stopping to get an exact count of the orders I have received so far, it is evident their pleas will outstrip my funds.  If anyone reading this report would like to buy Bibles for Filipinos, please send whatever donation you can and let me know.

What a tremendous joy and privilege it is to put the Holy Scriptures into the hands of brethren who hunger so deeply to read and study the Bible for themselves.  The Psalmist did not take God’s Word for granted but said, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97).

On Wednesday, March 1, we left Laoag City and drove almost two hours to Cabugao, Ilocos Sur to labor with Egdon Sabio.  Egdon and his wife Faith became dear friends from my first trip in 1995 with Jim McDonald.  The church meets in an extension to their house and almost every seat was filled today.  We studied “Take Job as an Example” and some brethren who heard the lesson during the last couple of days came to hear it again.  Rody summarized it in Ilocano.

After lunch we studied “Rejoice in the Lord Always,” and Rody summarized it again.  Although there were no baptisms, it was an uplifting day with these saints who are working together in the spirit of unity in Christ.

We left at 4:30 P.M. and drove four hours into the province of La Union.  An incident reminded us how many people are praying for us.  In one area the highway is being widened and Rody was driving in the middle lane behind three cars.  When they approached a place where this segment of cement ended and dropped off into a hole, the first three signaled a long flatbed truck that they were moving over into the right lane (to avoid the drop off), and he slowed down to let them get over.  Rody had to quickly signal for the same purpose as the other three vehicles moved to the right lane.  He thought he had permission and he had no choice but to move to the right, but the truck did not give him enough space and our right fender hit the side of the trailer far to the back where there was a lower extension we could not see.  We were startled when we felt the impact, heard the crunching metal, and realized the twisted fender panel got hooked to the side of the trailer!

Policemen and other helpful people aided in getting our vehicle unhooked from the trailer and we were able to travel again after losing about 45 minutes.  A fender panel will have to be replaced, but by God’s grace no one was injured.   We were reminded to count our blessings a few minutes later when we passed a wreck with injured people.  Please continue praying for us!

Again during the last few days I have not been able to get internet access, so this report was delayed.  God willing, my last report will be next Monday when I am in Manila as I prepare to go home to my loved ones whom I miss very much, especially Donna.

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