Philippines-Japan Trip Report #6 May 1-6
Dear family, brethren, and friends,
I got up before 5:00 AM Thursday to catch the flight to Narita, Japan where I was met by Kim Caa and two other men about 2:00 PM. After getting a McDonald’s burger in the airport, they drove four hours to reach Shizuoka. This drive was on a very modern freeway and it quickly became obvious that Japan is a highly industrialized nation as we passed factories and warehouses of all kinds and very modern looking city skylines. You know you are not in the Philippines any longer when the temperature is in the 60’s rather than the high 90’s and when you travel a couple of hundred miles and see only one motorcycle rather than hundreds!
Mt. Fuji greeted us as the sun was setting just next to it, a beautiful sight. While traveling we discussed the upcoming meetings and the efforts being made to gather not only saints scattered over here but also Filipino relatives and friends who are not yet Christians. Naturally, they are trying to teach Japanese friends and contacts, too, but piercing through the long history of idolatry is a difficult challenge.
When we arrived at the hotel, I learned my Filipino brethren planned to sleep in the car to lessen expenses. It is true I am struggling to stretch the finances , but I did not agree to their plan. They are staying in the hotel, period. This is another reminder that the Lord sent me to work with Filipino saints not only to teach them but also to learn from them the meaning of sacrifice and service for the cause of Christ!
After a late supper, I took my walk and was glad to finally see the moon again!
Friday, I rested from preaching but stayed as busy as a bee with email and reviewing the lessons that are planned for Japan. It rained all day, partly with such big raindrops they looked like big snow flakes. The temperature is in the 60’s, a little chilly, but a welcome relief from the Philippine heat and humidity. I saw a complete rainbow over the ocean today which truly declared the glory of God. We enjoyed a good brisk walk on a paved path next to the ocean this evening.
I assumed Fernando Alcosero who used his vehicle to drive us for six days was already a member of the Lord’s church, but he is a Catholic and started asking questions in the restaurant after supper. Our discussion continued for an hour, and he enjoyed the study so much he kept getting goosebumps and rubbing his arms! It was past 11:00 PM when we got back to the hotel. He cannot wait for the next three days of preaching because he is plenty hungry to learn. God keeps opening doors that amaze me in fulfillment of His promise to make a way for those who seek Him to find Him (Acts 17:27).
Our Saturday appointment was in the home of saints who accommodate worship there and about 25 people gathered today not including many children. Jomer Bato has learned to preach in serving this congregation. This morning my sermons were entitled “The Glory of God,” “Back to the Bible,” and “Instrumental Music in Worship?”
After lunch, an open forum was conducted which brought up a bushel basket full of questions covering many topics. Perhaps the most touching discussion concerned a couple who have lived together out of wedlock for several years and have three children. She explained her husband had committed adultery several times and was living with another woman. The abandoned wife felt trapped by this situation because Philippine law reflects Catholic culture in not allowing divorce even for fornication. The law allows annulment, bit it is extremely expensive and time consuming. She now has an attorney who says because of the length of time in her separation, the law allows some relief in the time frame required and she is gathering money to pursue the process. Now that she has learned the true gospel of Christ, she plans to marry the man with whom she lives and to be baptized for the remission of her sins. He is a backslidden Christian who plans to be restored. I urged them to separate and obey God without delay.
Meanwhile, we learned another person in the audience wanted to obey the gospel, but we could not stay for the baptism because we had to travel 4-5 hours to reach Gunma-Ken. It was almost midnight when I got to my hotel room, and I took a short walk, then studied the four lessons for tomorrow, and got to bed at 2:30 AM.
On the Lord’s Day in Gunma-Ken, saints gathered in a rented meeting room here in the central part of the main island of Honshu. Attendees included Christians from the local church and saints from island to the far north (Hokkaido, very near Russia) and the far south (Shikoku) who took vacation time to join us. About 30 souls attended today including a good mix of visitors, some for the first time. At the morning service we studied “The Two Covenants” and “Can Sincerity Alone Save?”
After the lunch break, the topics were “Jesus Christ Is God” and “How Sinners Receive Salvation.” After an extensive open forum, an invitation song was sung and two men stepped forward to submit to Christ in baptism and one sister was restore to her Lord. Kim Caa baptized the two men in the cold river nearby and we all rejoice with them and with the angels of heaven!
My day ended with a good walk under a half-moon, then study and preparation for our last day of preaching.
To maximize our time Monday, three lesson were presented in the morning entitled “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God,” “When Peter Confessed Christ,” and “Finish the Race.” After lunch, we could not stay for the whole afternoon but did extend time to allow an open forum before traveling about 4-5 hours to Tokyo-Haneda. From there I will fly home Tuesday afternoon, God willing.
It is hard to say goodbye to so many saints who sacrificed time and money, and traveled great distances, taking vacation time to engage in these Bible study and worship sessions! Though working far from their homeland in the Philippines, these Filipino saints in Japan have not forgotten their faith or forsaken their Savior but are diligently serving the Lord and spreading the gospel. Their faith, hope, and love inspire me to want to be a better Christian!
Since this is the last report on this trip, thank you to everyone who offered a prayer or a penny to make this work possible in the Philippines and Japan. During this monthlong trip, 30 souls submitted to Christ in baptism for the remission of their sins and one sister repented of her sins and was restored to our Lord. Thank you for helping to make this fruit possible! And, none of this could have been accomplished without the help of Donna and the Hebron Lane church of Christ in Shepherdsville, Kentucky who are a constant source of great encouragement and moral support.
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
To see good Bible study material, go to:
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https://biblework.
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com