Volume 47   Number 7                                                                            March 2005

From February 5th through the 21st, it was this reporter’s privilege to travel and work with Brothers Roger Wanasen & Tom Woody as we visited and edified congregations of the Lord’s body in the Philippines. Each exciting day was filled with travel in that country and with making the acquaintance of many Christians.

Brother Roger picked me up at the airport late Saturday night February 5th, and we rested at Roger & Doris’ home in the outskirts of Manila before attending worship services at Lagro Church in Quezon City, also a Manila suburb. The congregation has approximately 70 members and meets at a temporary location in a very small room. This congregation sent substantial financial aid to a congregation in Aurora province for starting construction on a meeting place destroyed by typhoon last fall. A government program offered a plot of land for ownership by the group if they can show evidence of permanent construction. We went to Pampanga province in the afternoon and visited Macabebe congregation in the afternoon, greeting the two newly ordained elders, Rogelio Manansala and Renato Legaspi. Roger’s brother Arsenio helped to develop and strengthen them.

The next three days were filled with two Bible studies on Monday & Wednesday with the co-workers of Sister Doris at their office in central Manila, picking up Brother Tom at the airport on Tuesday, purchasing medicine, dividing donated clothing and otherwise preparing for our two trips to the northern provinces of Luzon. Over one thousand bibles in three dialects of the Philippine language were purchased and we prepared to distribute over five hundred during our two weeks of travel.

Accompanied by Brother Jun Tobias from the southern island of Mindanao, we traveled on Thursday by Philippine Airlines to Laoag City in Ilocos Norte Province. We visited several congregations in this area including Aring Badoc Church which was meeting in front of the home of one member because the usual meeting place was totally destroyed by typhoon. The children sang a very sweet song to us after the Bible study. At Lanao Church, which meets in front of the home of Remigio Bayaca, we left rejoicing as four souls obeyed the Gospel invitation and were baptized. Brother Mario Campanano works with this congregation and also arranged for transportation in a hired jeepney for our journey. Sunday worship was at Pasuquin Church and two granddaughters of Brother Abel & Sister Genevieve Mariano confessed Christ as God’s son and their savior. They and two men were baptized later in the day after Bible study at San Nicolas congregation. Thanks to contributions from many congregations in the U.S.A., we distributed Bibles, financial support, clothing and medicine to several congregations since they all had serious needs for meeting place shelter or basic health and living necessities. We visited nine congregations in four days and received much love and fellowship in Christ from the many brothers, sisters and children who greeted us. Many also send their greetings to the U.S. congregations and they often mentioned other evangelists by name who have visited including Louis Garbi, Jay Graham, Mike Kirby, Dan Huff, Charles Fry, Rick Sparks, and last, but not least, ‘Chick’ Smith.

After flying back to Manila, we journeyed again by airplane to Tuguegarao on Monday February 14th and visited congregations in Cagayan & Isabela provinces. Many of these congregations have been affected by typhoon damage and poor living conditions. Each of us gave lessons on spiritual growth, encouragement or individual responsibility during the Bible studies. We again distributed bibles, financial support, clothes and medicine where it appeared these things were needed. A Bible study at the BJMP Jail was well attended with much interest in the scripture references used in the lessons. Several of the inmates have accepted Christ and obeyed the Gospel. They meet as a congregation of the Lord’s body within the jail perimeter. On Saturday, one young man obeyed the call of the Gospel at Dammang Church. Brother Erick Barillo and Brother Jinny Chris Sarceda as well as others provided transportation for us using their own vehicles. Most congregations are located in rural agricultural areas and travel is both time consuming and rigorous, yet attendance at Bible studies was usually over 40. We were delayed only two times for vehicle repairs.

We traveled by bus toward Manila, stopping for Bible study at Narra Church in Cabanatuan on Saturday evening where we were able to help four families who lost their homes from the recent typhoon and flooding. We heard of one dear sister who climbed a tree to escape the flood - with her Bible clutched in her hand! The following morning we worshipped on Lord’s Day with Roger’s home congregation at Resurreccion, then again at Macabebe in the afternoon on our way home. We then prepared for departure to the US on Monday February 21st. Brother Roger provided transportation on the last two days of our Philippine visit as he did at the beginning.

This was a very exciting and encouraging visit for us as it has been for many in the past few years and our fellowship and acquaintance with brethren in the Philippines continues to grow. We were able to bring encouragement and support from congregations in the US. Most of all we were encouraged and strengthened by the work and faith of so many in the Philippines. We received hospitality, food and fellowship at every step of our journey. We were greeted at the airports with dozens of smiling faces and well wishes, facilities for Bible studies were usually filled to overflow with eager listeners, we were sheltered in the homes of brethren every night, we were transported to every meeting, and the sisters showed their love by preparing good food at all locations we visited!

Many thanks to all those brethren in America whose generosity made it possible to provide so many Bibles for our Filipino brethren, and to relieve those who suffer from the recent typhoons.

Editor’s Note: The companionship of brother Charles Ross on this trip was invaluable. He was an encouragement to the brethren in the Philippines with his teaching and interest in the welfare and condition of the different churches we visited. For your editor he was always a positive source of encouragement. The title is a phrase that he brought with him from his home congregation in Excelsior Springs, MO:
“In Christ, Today is going to be a good day!”