Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Our work in Iloilo City being concluded, I flew Tuesday to Manila without incident.  Upon arriving in the afternoon, I received a message from Teresa Toreja requesting that we meet to discuss something.  Jerry and Teresa joined me for supper about 7:00 P.M. and then we came to my room.  In past years when there was spare time Teresa would open her notepad filled with Bible questions she encountered in her study and in the process of teaching God’s Word, and we would study and discuss these questions, but in recent years we have not had the opportunity to do so.  Tonight she opened her notepad as before and began to offer her questions, some regarding key passages in Romans 7, others regarding Luke 17:1-10, others regarding heavy burdens carried by the service of a Christian doctor, etc.  Our study continued for at least an hour and then we turned to God in fervent prayers, knowing that His eyes and ears are always open to His people.  It is always a joy to be with Jerry and Teresa.

After they left, I went to exercise, worked in preparing for tomorrow, talked with Donna, and got to bed by midnight.

Ely Ebuenga planned to take me to the Bilibid Prison to preach Wednesday, but the person responsible to approve our admittance papers was away in training for 2-3 weeks.  James Paet drove me instead to the church meeting at Santa Maria in the Bulacan Province where Alex Estoy works alongside Dominador Guevara.  We left the hotel at 8:00 A.M. and arrived at 10:00.  The church meets on the second floor of a building owned by Dominador, a businessman and former denominational preacher who was converted in December of 2015 through Mark Copeland’s website.

At least 40 attended today including many young people because the holiday season has begun here.  In the morning we studied a two part lesson on Acts 2 entitled “The First Gospel Sermon.”  After lunch there was a study of “True VS False Worship” followed by “Modest Dress through the Ages.”  Finally, time was given for open forum and there were many good questions including several about death, hades, and the resurrection.  Everyone was very appreciative for our time and study together.

Then at the request of Dominador, I had a private study with him in which he explained his background.  After spending several years with Herbert W. Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God (a denomination observing the Sabbath) and later with the Methodist Church, he was converted to the true gospel of Christ and helped to plant the church at Santa Maria where Alex and he work together now.  He was curious about how local churches grow and mature, how they go through the process of appointing elders and deacons, and how to clarify the local autonomy of each congregation.  He is 75 but still wants to learn and grow more.

A brother named Sonny Ibenez was converted by Willie Pastor in the Bilibid Prison many years ago but was recently released.  He traveled several hours to meet Ely so that he could join us today – it was good to see he is still serving the Lord after his release.

James Paet drove three hours in heavy traffic to bring me back to the hotel.  Arriving back at 8:30 P.M., I was ready to eat, to exercise, to work on email, to talk with Donna, and to find some rest by 2:00 A.M.  God has blessed us with another wonderful day in His service!

When I arose Thursday morning, I did some light exercise before breakfast in an effort to build strength and stamina for the upcoming trip home tomorrow.  James Paet took me to the Philippine Bible Society where I ordered 809 Bibles in various Filipino dialects to be shipped throughout the islands to our brethren.  That is always one of the highlights of each trip – thank you, brethren, on behalf of Filipino saints, for your donations which make this great blessing possible!

After completing this report, I will exercise for at least an hour to work on stamina again, and hope I can get to bed early in preparation for the long trip home.

Reports continue to pour in from southern Mindanao where many saints are suffering the effects of the series of severe earthquakes and about 3,000 aftershocks (3,000 is not a typo).  Though Mindanao was not on the schedule this time, these brethren have been in my heart, my thoughts, and my prayers every day.  Just as Paul raised funds for the needy saints in Jerusalem over a period of months in the first century, we need to continue to do all we can to extend benevolence to the saints who are affected.  Meanwhile, saints are also suffering from flooding as a result of a late typhoon which wreaked devastation upon northern Luzon.  While Satan uses natural disasters to discourage Christians and to assail their faith, God by His loving providence guides His people through these tragedies so as to increase their faith in Him.  We know He will never leave us or forsake us.

I ask for the prayers of the saints as I travel home to Donna and all the beloved brethren at home tomorrow.  I thank God for all the saints who made this 76th Philippine trip possible – may souls be saved and our brethren edified by the power of the gospel as a result of our efforts together.  May God alone be glorified in all of our labors for Him!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook