Volume 48 Number 4 April 2006
It was good traveling with Charles. He followed the flow of things without any trouble. He had a special touch with children that warmed everyone’s heart. His lessons were upright and true. I appreciate his compassion toward the brethren and their needs. He has such practical insight as to how these needs might best be addressed. This was and is very beneficial.
We spent time with brethren in Macabebe, and Lagro. We traveled to Palawan, and the area around Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province. We also met with brethren in the provinces of Kalinga, Isabela, & Quirino, plus the church in Resurreccion, and Cabanatuan, where there is a church meeting at the home of Roger’s brother, Enrico. Roger’s brother, Arsenio, also an evangelist, came with us on our travels through out Luzon. We really appreciate his meekness and good will. I believe he has a lot of wisdom. We were glad to have him along. While there are so many highlights, I would like to comment on a few in particular.
There are three servants of Christ in Palawan,
Adriano Dumao, Alfredo Quinio, and Luciano Cabansa, friends of longstanding association who have not traded their faith for noodles or rice during their time of need. They received us with good will in Christ. Please remember these brethren in your prayers. Any contribution you can send to them will not go amiss, helping them in their work, or to aiding the poverty stricken brethren in their area.While in Tuguegarao City, Saul Pagulayan and his wife were so gracious to keep us in their home. Saul also provided transportation, often times going on some difficult roads, driving to distant areas such as Kalinga province. We were invited to meet with brethren in Kalinga, in and near the city of Tabuk. This was a blessing beyond measure. We had not met these brethren before, and were greatly refreshed to meet and get to know some of them. Kalinga is high country with mountains. There is still tribal conflict occurring in this region. Sometimes these are blood feuds where vengeance is exacted by tribal consent rather than governmental jurisdiction. Not long after departing, one family from the church had to face the sorrow of bloodshed and pressures for vengeance. They have determined not to follow this ancient practice of tribal vengeance. Keep them in your prayers, as they are standing for the Lord in the midst of trouble. There is strength and sweetness in the brethren there. It was refreshing to the soul to be with them. It is my prayer that the ties of fellowship and brotherly love might be made strong and enduring with them.
Many dear brethren received us in Tuguegarao City. These have listened to the message we offered in time past. It was the message of mutual edification and church government. So much of what we see in them is truly good. Only a little more is needed for them to be complete. Our hope is that one day they will be able to ordain elders who are elders indeed.
Saul drove us to Ilagan, a city in Isabela where Eric Barillo took over as driver and host. A number of you readers have some association and fellowship with Eric. He is a faithful worker in the Lord’s kingdom. While in this region, we met a brother I had not known before, Verano Bompat. He works with the San Felipe church in Ilagan. I hope we can get to know him better. Eric drove us to a congregation in Malilinta. Ernesto Tuppilis working with this church. We met with them in the Autumn of ’04. They had no Bibles. A congregation sent funds to help them with this. It was so good to see these members bringing their Bibles to services, and to hear them read. (We often request a public reading of the texts we use in preaching.) After meeting with the Minallo church and the church in Cauayan City, Eric drove us to the church at Dammang where Jun Gavina is serving. From there we went to the house of
Jinny Cris & Flor Sarceda, where we stayed while we met with a number of churches in that area. Jinny is a hard worker in the Lord’s vineyard. We enjoyed so much the fellowship of his labors, and the brethren who work in close association with him. He and his family are dear.We ended up in Resurreccion for our last Lord’s day on that journey. It was so good to be with them. That afternoon we had one last meeting. Enrico Wanasen, Roger’s brother, has a congregation meeting at his home in Cabanatuan. From there it was on to Macabebe to bring Arsenio back to his family. Awaiting us was another famous meal courtesy of Roger & Arsenio’s Auntie. We keep praying that it will be as a cup of cold water given to us for Jesus’ sake.
In many places we saw a need for songbooks in Ilocano. This was particularly evident in Kalinga, where brethren were using old copies of the Red Book. The church at Resurreccion has laid out 5,000 pesos for hymnals. The bill is 20,000 pesos. They have 7,000 pesos at hand, but need an additional 8,000. This would amount to $160.00 at 50 pesos to the dollar. I’m sure there is more that can be done along this line. For more details about this, please contact me or Charles Ross.
From time to time questions arise as to why we are interested in the Lord’s work at the Philippines. Here are my thoughts: The Filipino brethren are interested in what we have to say. They love our fellowship in Christ, as we love theirs. Many of you would rejoice to have friendship with a lot of these brethren. Also, it is so refreshing to be able to see the work of the gospel in simplicity, without commercialism. It should fill our hearts with courage and conviction to know that the simplicity of what we hold dear is being received without any hype or mega-trendy stuff. At least for a window of time, there appears to be a lot of good ground for sowing. Moreover, there is a rich opportunity for benevolence overseas: Benevolence indeed to brethren in need. This is not to neglect needs in America or elsewhere, but as the Scripture says;
“For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14) I am thankful that we have a small part with these brethren. God grant that it will continue. May His Holy Nation keep growing.