July 31-August 22 marks my 31^st preaching trip to the Philippines.  This is harvest time there as occurred in the book of Acts and in the U.S. in the 1800’s.  In addition to proclaiming the gospel with Filipino preachers, I am spending much time teaching classes to upgrade preachers’ knowledge and skills.  The gospel can thrive in poverty as in prosperity, but our prosperity equips us to aid the saints in poverty in their work.  We do not want to create dependence, but we want to help those who help themselves.  This we do in the spirit of Matthew 22:39, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” and Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Help A Neighbor provides an opportunity for individual efforts not for local church action.  Individuals giving $500 or more may legally claim a tax deduction because Help A Neighbor functions for charitable purposes as defined by the IRS.

Honnielyn Carpentero Update.  Individual gifts totaling $6,640 enabled Honnielyn to finish nursing school.  A small balance will be applied to her Nursing Board Examination.  Her father died in 2005 and her mother is struggling financially.  Thanks to your help, Honnielyn is now educated and will be able to find a job and aid her mother.  This is a prime example of helping those who help themselves!

Church Building for Manila Brethren.  The brethren at the Kapitbahayan church of Christ in Manila saved, scraped, and sacrificed, and with the help of U.S. individuals have completed their meeting house!  It lacks some finishing touches but the building is in use.  I have preached in it several times this year and plan to do so again August 2. Another example of helping those who help themselves!

Since my report of March 27, your help has been extended to several men for food, medical emergencies, vehicle repairs, and similar needs.  The preachers who are afoot and on bicycles in the new work on the Batanes Islands north of Luzon will get a small motorcycle to speed and broaden their labors.

Many Bibles and Bible study materials have been distributed to Filipinos who will use them to teach, but a debt of several thousand dollars remains on the book bill.  Someone complained that I should not make these debts if I cannot pay them immediately.  I do not criticize folks who buy guns and boats, take vacations, and do other things on credit, and I do not apologize for distributing Bible study materials on credit at times.  No one is obligated to help with this debt.  I leave it to brethren who criticize my judgment to use their own best judgment when they put Bibles into waiting hands.

Four churches in northern Luzon badly needed to buy galvanized iron sheets to roof their small new buildings.  Funds you sent are being used for this purpose ($500 to each place).

Over 100 souls at Cordon, Isabela where brother Domie Jacob labors meet in a concrete block building constructed with the help of U.S. servicemen in the 1970’s.  The walls are cracking open and brethren are afraid it will collapse on them when they worship on windy days.  Before getting one cent from the U.S., they have purchased as many blocks as they can afford to begin reconstruction before someone gets hurt or killed.  This project may cost $20,000.  Knowing they are helping themselves, I sent $2,500 to advance their work.  Let’s help these brethren who have started the job to complete it.

I know of church buildings which have been under construction little by little for several years, and their efforts are at risk of being lost to the ravages of weather.  Let’s give a helping hand to these saints.

About $600 remains in our fund.  The $500 or $5,000 you may give will Help A Neighbor!