Dear family, brethren, and friends,

We went to the airport on Tuesday at 8:00 A.M. to catch a plane which did not fly until 2:00 P.M. after several delays.  When we finally arrived in Cebu City to go to our connecting flight to Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, the plane we should have missed was also delayed so long that we hurried to the gate and made it!  Dondon Masaba was kind enough to meet us at 5:00 P.M. when we landed and used his large pickup truck to bring us to the hotel.

But as we traveled about an hour toward the hotel, sheets and torrents of rain inundated us.  Every article of clothing in my suitcase was wet.  I did not realize until later that the water had leaked into every nook and cranny, even into plastic bags which I thought were sealed.  Fortunately, the hotel laundry had not yet shut down and they promised to have everything dried and pressed by 7:00 A.M. tomorrow.

When we drove to a mall to find supper, the rain had caused such bad flooding that the water was rising up to the bumpers of the trucks in the traffic.  Dondon carefully negotiated the rising water and brought us to supper safely.  I have papers and all sorts of other things from the suitcase spread all around the floor in the hotel room drying.  All is well that ends well – but expect the unexpected when traveling in the Philippines!

The Wednesday appointment was with the saints at the Box 1 church in Cagayan de Oro City where Stephen Carpentero labors in the gospel.  Every seat was filled with 88 in attendance.  I started with “From Wretched Man to More Than Conquerors,” followed by “The Resurrection of Christ.”  After lunch the first topic was “Marriage: God’s Gift to Man and Woman” and then “Preserving Unity in Christ.”

During the open forum there were good questions about marriage.  Someone asked if a marriage ceremony performed by a mayor is valid in God’s eyes – yes, it is because God gave no law governing such matters.

Another question addressed whether a couple who conceive a child out of wedlock should get married.  The answer may differ according the circumstances of each couple.  In some cases it may succeed, but in others it may mean one bad decision followed another.  If they marry and later decide it was a mistake, they are not free to divorce and marry new mates (1 Cor. 7:10-11).  They must learn to love each other and make the best of their situation.  Someone will say, “But they are young and they have strong desires – they should be allowed to remarry.”  No, they already let their own desires override God’s law once, and they should not make the same mistake again!

It was a joy to work with Stephen after having worked for many years with his grandfather and his father, both of whom have passed away.  Stephen is a zealous young preacher and I pray God will bless him to have many years to proclaim the gospel.

It was possible to renew my work with Edgar Samodal on Thursday by preaching all day at the Eslon church, Sta. Felomena in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.  There are now 30 churches meeting in this area and many preachers and other brethren joined us with 150 or more including children.  The building was filled, and a large area at the side was filled, and many other people were listening near the door of the building.

Dondon Masaba drove us two hours to reach the Eslon church and we began the service immediately upon arrival.  The sermon on “The Resurrection of Christ” was presented, followed by a summary in the dialect by Dondon.  After the lunch break, the next study was on “Marriage: God’s Gift to Man and Woman,” summarized by Dondon.  The final lesson was “Preserving Unity in Christ.”

Next the floor was opened for questions, all of which addressed different aspects of marriage.  Before I first came to the Philippines in 1995, Wallace Little insisted I should not teach on marriage, divorce, and remarriage since the legal system is basically Catholic, and any such lessons would be irrelevant over here.  Because of this disagreement, I came with Jim McDonald instead.  In reality, it is no surprise that all through these years Filipino brethren have had insightful questions and discussions on this subject because marriage affects the whole human family no matter what legal systems they live under.  The open forum was very productive with these questions again today.

Steady rain fell during the last 30 minutes of our session.  The invitation song resulted in four adult responses who confessed their faith in Christ.  They were baptized in the ocean during the ongoing rain showers – and heaven and earth rejoiced together!

On Friday morning Dondon drove us from Iligan City to the Rebe church at Lala, Lanao del Norte where Jechris Mancia labors in the gospel.  Jechris has been doing steady work here and we had a full house.  We studied the topic “When Peter confessed Christ,” followed by an open forum handled by Leo Entroso and Jonathan Carino in the dialect.  Three twelve-year-olds wanted to obey the gospel and we took them to a creek about a mile away and Chris baptized them into Christ.

As ewe made our way toward Pagadian City, we stopped at the church meeting in Purok 5, Butadon, Kapatagan where Romeo Samodal preaches.  About 30 people were waiting to greet us in their newly constructed meeting house, made possible in part by donations from U.S. saints (but more funds and more work are needed to complete the building).  My short exhortation based on Acts 20:32 was summarized by Dondon.  It was a joyous occasion for all of us.

It was a relief to finally reach Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur about 5:00 P.M.  Our trek from Cagayan de Oro City had covered over 150 miles on very poor highways.  Suffice it to say we were very thankful to arrive here safely by the mercies of God with the help of Dondon’s good driving.  And what a joy to see the moon again when I took my walk tonight – I have missed it, as I have missed all of you!

Before we rest tonight, we must remember in prayer Harry and Leslie Osborne who lost their younger son Ryan to cancer Friday. No parent should have to bury his own child.  May God bless and comfort all of this family in their time of loss and grief.  We sorrow not as those who have no hope because Ryan lived and died by faith in Christ and in hope of the resurrection unto eternal life.  The Osbornes live at 303 S. Czech Hall Rd., Tuttle, OK 73089.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

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