I am not sure if my inspiration for this blog title was Frank Sinatra's "It Was a Very Good Year" or Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" but I truly feel both of the feelings. When I was 55, it was a very good year and truly it was another part of the puzzle of my life that has been a wonderful life!
As 2011 sprints to an end, and if the Lord wills, 2012 stands anxiously on the horizon, I am reflecting on what a blessed year it was. I am resting and enjoying the hospitality of my newest son in law and oldest daughter, Matt and Laurie in Montgomery as Jamie and I enjoy the holidays with our children and grandchild. We were very blessed this year end to have Jamie's mom with us at home for a few days and then she rode down here with us. We had our Christmas gift exchange at Louise, Dirt and Ellie's on Sunday night after worshipping Sunday night at the University church of Christ in Montgomery. The kids went way over the top for us as, after all the gifts had been exchanged, we were later told that we had received nothing from them. But after all were opened, they handed us two shirt sized boxes that when we opened them had a couple of souvenir magnets and an ornament of a cruise ship. We had been talking about taking a family cruise, next year so we though that tied in with that. In the bottom was a group of papers that had a cover sheet saying basically that "since you missed your honeymoon 32 years ago, we have purchased a Bahamas cruise for you two. And we can't think of any one who deserves it more!" Neither Jamie or I could read it out loud and I'm not sure I would completely agree with their judgment on who's most deserving, I sure appreciate it and love the sentiment and love they feel for us. So we are looking for dates next year to sail out of Port Canaveral on our honeymoon!
So that is our big news from the kids for our Christmas! Jamie gave me a new laptop (so I would leave hers alone, I think) and I gave her some gold earrings, a stand of south Pacific pearls and put a year of DVR service on our TV. I think she may have liked that best of all. No missed "NCIS" or "The Good Wife". If I can be trained to use it....(which is questionable) I may find a few shows that I'd record too!
Tuesday we are heading to Birmingham to meet Ted and Peggy so they can take Jenet back to Jackson to have some time with her. We are going to go by to see Louise and Ellie on the way out and then pick up Leigh at her house to go with us to meet Ted.
One of the blessings I can count at night (besides my sheep) are Leigh and Nate. Our family grew this year as on August 27 Leigh and Nate Woodring married in Montgomery. They had a lovely ceremony at the University church and than had a nice honeymoon on a Bahamas cruise. They got back and went back to work where Nate manages a Tire and Auto Repair shop in Montgomery and he does an outstanding job. (In Montgomery, if you need tires or car repairs of any kind, DON DUNCAN ALL AMERICAN TIRES-downtown. Great prices and service~)... Leigh continued working at Faulkner University as a Student Recruiter who was responsible for GA, the Carolinas, Virgina and east Tennessee. We of course loved that because it meant about a monthly visit but she traveled so much it was not ideal for a new marriage. She will start a new position in January as Visit Coordinator. The new job will involve much less traveling She also will begin working on her master's degree in January. They live in a lovely house in the historic Capitol Heights district in a historic home.
Our family expansion continued just 28 days letter as Laurie married Matt Morris on September 24 back at the University church. She and Matt honeymooned in Jamaica and then returned to Montgomery and went back to work at Wilson and Wilson were they met. Laurie is a customer service rep and salesperson there and Matt is the Industrial Services Manager. They have purchased a home out the Atlanta Highway about 7 miles past where Louise and Dirt live. All of them live within about 15 minutes of each other and have remained very close attending church services and usually eating together several times a week. We rejoiced greatly this summer as Matt obeyed the gospel and was baptized by Dirt. That was truly one of the highlights of a great year.
It wasn't new expansion but certainly loved growth was taking place in Louise and Dirt's life as Ellie turned one year old in September . Of course there was a party and all of us enjoyed it as much or more than Ellie did. Dirt changed jobs inside the state and now works in a job appointed by the governor in the health care area and seems to be settling in and liking it. He has had to travel to Washington, DC for several trips and apparently more are on the horizon in 2012. Louise continues to keep children in her home so she can be home with Ellie. She is great and really enjoys it but especially seems to enjoy the days off! Ellie is now 15 months old and has begun really developing her personality and freedom as she has learned to walk.
Jamie and I close the year very blessed also. She started walking on a very regular basis in May and has since lost over 40 pounds! I am so proud of her and she is feeling so much better. Recently she even saw her eye doctor and he commented on how much better her eyes were since she is so much healthier. The big news was though, that her doctors have released her to travel to the Philippines and Lord willing she will go with me on the mission trip April 12-May 1. She is still working to raise her money but I am certain she will handle that after everything else she has overcome to get to make the trip.
At the church we have has a wonderful year that came at us like a whirlwind. On April 27 three tornadoes touched down in Dade County and did a major amount of damage. We lost 8 trees in our yard but virtually no damage to the house and we were all safe. Several members had damage and one family's home was completely destroyed. The church rallied together and will help from other congregations and individuals, reached out in a huge way to the community that was damaged. We were blessed to study with several and had 3 baptisms as a result of those we helped after the storm. As the year ends, we had 12 baptisms and 17 new members begin to work and worship with us at Trenton. We have seen great growth in both numbers and contribution but also in love and the participation by our members. We look forward to a great 2012!
It has been a wonderful year for us and thanks to all of you who had a part in making our lives so blessed! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's More Fun in The Philippines
Love our time doing Mission Work in the Philippines
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
WHAT A BLESSED WEEKEND!
What a great way to wake up on Monday! 61 degrees and cool in the valley this AM after a blessed weekend for our church family in Trenton. On Saturday we had our Philippine Mission Day and after it was over had three new people committed to work with Chris Gerber and me during our April 2012 trip. We have a retired couple who are experienced mission workers in several countries and a brother who has been travelig and working in India for several years, so we are delighted to have 3 more experienced workers for the Lord's work in the Philippines. After the mission day ended we spent some time getting ready for the next day...our Homecoming and 174th Anniversary at the Trenton church of Christ.
On Sunday morning, Jamie and I were at the building early getting our food unpacked, helping others bring theirs in and making sure everything was rolling along as we greeted the folks arrivng. We had a good crowd of 57 for our 9:30 AM lesson when brother Marlin Graves gave a great lesson "Any Old Bush Will Do" from Exodus 3. After Bible class, I noticed the crowd was really coming in steadily and in good numbers. By the time 10:30 arrived and services began, we had 136 present for worship! It was the largest crowd for a Sunday service since we got here 8 years ago. I kept hearing from those returning how great the attitude and atmosphere was at Trenton now. That was so uplifting and encouraging to me to see the positive progress at this great church! Then at lunch--our ladies had done such a great job of getting the food to the building and serving the delicious meal! It was our first major event in our remodeled fellowship hall and it went great! Over 100 people stayed and ate and then stayed around and visited for a long time! It was wonderful to see people who love each other so much!As has become our tradition here, there was enough food that we came back together after evening service for the left overs! We had 60 for evening servce and about 50 stayed and eat! It is a great blessing to be a part of a great group that loves God and loves each other!
This week, Jamie and I are working on our individula punch lists to get things finished before we head south for the start of the pre-wedding events for Leigh and Nate's wedding on Thursday. I am looking so forward to being with the wedding party this weekend as we get to spend a weekend in Orange Beach. Jamie and I can really use a little quiet time and to get to spend time together with our family and the two soon to new members is a blessing I am really looking forward to.When I am up early and praying, I can't help but be thankful for all the blessings God has placed in my life from my parents and sisters and thier families, Jamie and our girls, great son in laws and a perfect granddaughter and a wonderful church to be blessed to work with. God has really been good to me and I am so blessed!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
WHAT A YEAR!
Today marks the first anniversary of Laurie donating her kidney to Janet. I was at UAB Wednesday with Charles Hill and we were in the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Unit in Jefferson Towers and I was flooded with memories. The great memories of the loving kindness of Laurie and how proud we are of her good heart (and kidney, too). Also I was filled with a great sense of happiness at thinking about how great Janet is doing and how wonderful it has been to grow to have her be a part of our family and to get to be a part of hers too. In less than a year it is so great to see them both with great health and two great Christian ladies who love God and their families.
11 months ago Louise and Dirt brought a great addition to all our lives in precious Ellie. What a joy it has been to watch her grow and develop. Now in just over a month she'll have her first birthday and they will all come faster for her and her parents, her aunts and her grandparents in the coming year but continue to bring us joy and pride.
Also in less than a year Leigh and Nathan have gotten engaged and in two weeks from right now will be married. That is a wonderful blessing to our lives as our family expands again with the addition of Nathan. It has been a great joy to watch them grow as people and as a couple in the last couple of years. I look forward to seeing them grow in their love for each other and God in coming days.
A year ago Laurie didn't even know Matt and now in 6 weeks, he too will become part of our family. It was a great source of pride to watch him grow in his interest in Laurie and to watch his increasing interest in studying the Bible culminating with Dirt baptizing him while all the girls were here. I have never seen Laurie happier and I am so happy that both found the right one in each other.
At church, just about a year ago I was asked to serve on the eldership at Trenton. I have had a great many things that have been challenges and occasions of joy to me but none have compared to the first year as an elder. There have been some of the greatest highs and some of the most difficult emotional nights of my life. It is truly been the greatest honor and the greatest challenge in my life. It has been a great year at church with some wonderful growth and some great people have become part of our family at Trenton. In over twenty years of preaching it has probably been my most satisfying and peaceful year ever at a congregation. God has truly blessed us here.
Our work in the Philippines continues to progress as we move into a different area of focus. Now we are addressing the strengthening of existing congregations in central and eastern Pangasinan. Our April trip was greatly blessed as we were blessed to be a part of the establishment of a new congregation at Pao and 51 baptisms and some great work with the Binalonan, San Carlos and Urdaneta congregations. It was a wonderful trip for Chris and I and really continues to show the commitment this congregation has to the work in the Philippines. Today we met with 21 people and discussed the work and have 3 pretty firm commitments to go with us in April, 2012. It has truly been a blessed work there.
A year ago, the conventional wisdom in Trenton and Dade County was that tornadoes don't come through here as the mountains keep them out of the valley. April 27, just 7 days after we had returned from the Philippines, we learned that the conventional wisdom isn't always wise. 4 tornadoes swept over Sand Mountain and devastated areas of our county as the devastation tracked across the South. The work began that night as we cancelled worship services on Wednesday night and then stayed at the building with a number of folks who were seeking shelter in a safe place. The congregation rallied around and for the next 60 days was immersed in tornado relief. We did amazing amounts of tree and clean up work, feeding those that were hungry and providing food, cleaning supplies, and clothing to many families in need. We also gave away a lot of gift cards at BI-Lo and provided help in just about anyway that was needed. I was so proud of the response by the loving Christians at Trenton and the help that came in from churches and brethern around the country. It was just waht I would have expected out of Christians who have rallied together to help others and glorify God.
Finally how could I reflect on a year without sharing my joy at the progress Jamie has continued to make. She started about 3 months ago to start to walk every night. Now she is walking most mornings and evenings and is doing so great. She has lost about 25 pounds and feels so much better. She is even running some and continues to feel better and do so much better! She has been a great joy to me through 32 years and now I am so excited to watch her continue to defy the experts as her recovery from the stroke just continues to amaze me! She is something special!
Now the next 6 weeks will complete the biggest expansion of our family ever with the addition of Ellie, Nate and Matt. It also has truly been one of the most blessed years of my life and I look ahead to even greater things to come. Every day I sure have a lot to give thanks to God for. I also have so many people to thank for all the blessings in my life! Thanks to you all! I love you all in a special way!
11 months ago Louise and Dirt brought a great addition to all our lives in precious Ellie. What a joy it has been to watch her grow and develop. Now in just over a month she'll have her first birthday and they will all come faster for her and her parents, her aunts and her grandparents in the coming year but continue to bring us joy and pride.
Also in less than a year Leigh and Nathan have gotten engaged and in two weeks from right now will be married. That is a wonderful blessing to our lives as our family expands again with the addition of Nathan. It has been a great joy to watch them grow as people and as a couple in the last couple of years. I look forward to seeing them grow in their love for each other and God in coming days.
A year ago Laurie didn't even know Matt and now in 6 weeks, he too will become part of our family. It was a great source of pride to watch him grow in his interest in Laurie and to watch his increasing interest in studying the Bible culminating with Dirt baptizing him while all the girls were here. I have never seen Laurie happier and I am so happy that both found the right one in each other.
At church, just about a year ago I was asked to serve on the eldership at Trenton. I have had a great many things that have been challenges and occasions of joy to me but none have compared to the first year as an elder. There have been some of the greatest highs and some of the most difficult emotional nights of my life. It is truly been the greatest honor and the greatest challenge in my life. It has been a great year at church with some wonderful growth and some great people have become part of our family at Trenton. In over twenty years of preaching it has probably been my most satisfying and peaceful year ever at a congregation. God has truly blessed us here.
Our work in the Philippines continues to progress as we move into a different area of focus. Now we are addressing the strengthening of existing congregations in central and eastern Pangasinan. Our April trip was greatly blessed as we were blessed to be a part of the establishment of a new congregation at Pao and 51 baptisms and some great work with the Binalonan, San Carlos and Urdaneta congregations. It was a wonderful trip for Chris and I and really continues to show the commitment this congregation has to the work in the Philippines. Today we met with 21 people and discussed the work and have 3 pretty firm commitments to go with us in April, 2012. It has truly been a blessed work there.
A year ago, the conventional wisdom in Trenton and Dade County was that tornadoes don't come through here as the mountains keep them out of the valley. April 27, just 7 days after we had returned from the Philippines, we learned that the conventional wisdom isn't always wise. 4 tornadoes swept over Sand Mountain and devastated areas of our county as the devastation tracked across the South. The work began that night as we cancelled worship services on Wednesday night and then stayed at the building with a number of folks who were seeking shelter in a safe place. The congregation rallied around and for the next 60 days was immersed in tornado relief. We did amazing amounts of tree and clean up work, feeding those that were hungry and providing food, cleaning supplies, and clothing to many families in need. We also gave away a lot of gift cards at BI-Lo and provided help in just about anyway that was needed. I was so proud of the response by the loving Christians at Trenton and the help that came in from churches and brethern around the country. It was just waht I would have expected out of Christians who have rallied together to help others and glorify God.
Finally how could I reflect on a year without sharing my joy at the progress Jamie has continued to make. She started about 3 months ago to start to walk every night. Now she is walking most mornings and evenings and is doing so great. She has lost about 25 pounds and feels so much better. She is even running some and continues to feel better and do so much better! She has been a great joy to me through 32 years and now I am so excited to watch her continue to defy the experts as her recovery from the stroke just continues to amaze me! She is something special!
Now the next 6 weeks will complete the biggest expansion of our family ever with the addition of Ellie, Nate and Matt. It also has truly been one of the most blessed years of my life and I look ahead to even greater things to come. Every day I sure have a lot to give thanks to God for. I also have so many people to thank for all the blessings in my life! Thanks to you all! I love you all in a special way!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
It's been a BIG summer and lots more to come in the next 60 days!
About the middle of June things started to slow down and return to a more 'normal' pattern as we wound down the Tornado relief and cut the hours we were open back to just two days a week by July 1 and by August 1 are just handling needs as requested by appointments.
Since then of course, Leigh and Nathan's wedding date has moved closer and closer while Laurie said 'yes' to Matt on July 4 and they set a date for September 24..so we'll have 2 weddings in 4 weeks! But then it'll be really quiet cause that is the end of our gals finding guys!:)
We had a wonderful time in late June at the Palmer Reunion in NC and certainly enjoyed the break mentally and temperture wise. Jamie and Laurie and Louise joined Leigh in a number of wedding showers during the months of June and July at places from Trenton to Adairsville to Cartersville to Trion, GA ro Montgomery! I think Jamie really enjoyed it and Leigh was really blessed with a lot of nice gifts. The nicest thing about all the events for me was it gave me a lot of time to get the be with Ellie in Montgomery:)
It has been a wonderful summer for us at church with Sunday morning crowds close to 90 several times and just wonderful love between the church family. Several new families have joined us this summer and things are really positive in attitude.That sure makes for a wonderful summer for preachers or elders:)
At the end of July, 29 of the members including me as the 'old man' went to the Hiawassee River to camp and go rafting. It was the third year in a row we have gone and it was the best time ever. It was a great time of visiting with members and great growth on closeness between our church family.
Then today after a week of temperatures over 100 it rained last night and was cooler (mid 80's) today so that was nice! I went out beside the
house and found three 'volunteer' watermelons that were as big as the ones at Bi-Lo and didn't cost me $6.99! They were in the pile of where we throw our food scraps for the animals and birds and I noticed a month or so ago that there were some vines but never saw the watermelons until today....and now at better than 2 feet long, they are about ready to pick! Plan to send one to Montgomery this weekend with Jamie for the girls and the guys!
Life is clipping along and it won;t be long until we load up to head to Montgomery again to be there to help Leigh and Nate get ready for the wedding and share in their joy!
Life has been good again this summer...Sure am blessed. Hope your life is too!
Since then of course, Leigh and Nathan's wedding date has moved closer and closer while Laurie said 'yes' to Matt on July 4 and they set a date for September 24..so we'll have 2 weddings in 4 weeks! But then it'll be really quiet cause that is the end of our gals finding guys!:)
We had a wonderful time in late June at the Palmer Reunion in NC and certainly enjoyed the break mentally and temperture wise. Jamie and Laurie and Louise joined Leigh in a number of wedding showers during the months of June and July at places from Trenton to Adairsville to Cartersville to Trion, GA ro Montgomery! I think Jamie really enjoyed it and Leigh was really blessed with a lot of nice gifts. The nicest thing about all the events for me was it gave me a lot of time to get the be with Ellie in Montgomery:)
It has been a wonderful summer for us at church with Sunday morning crowds close to 90 several times and just wonderful love between the church family. Several new families have joined us this summer and things are really positive in attitude.That sure makes for a wonderful summer for preachers or elders:)
At the end of July, 29 of the members including me as the 'old man' went to the Hiawassee River to camp and go rafting. It was the third year in a row we have gone and it was the best time ever. It was a great time of visiting with members and great growth on closeness between our church family.
Then today after a week of temperatures over 100 it rained last night and was cooler (mid 80's) today so that was nice! I went out beside the
house and found three 'volunteer' watermelons that were as big as the ones at Bi-Lo and didn't cost me $6.99! They were in the pile of where we throw our food scraps for the animals and birds and I noticed a month or so ago that there were some vines but never saw the watermelons until today....and now at better than 2 feet long, they are about ready to pick! Plan to send one to Montgomery this weekend with Jamie for the girls and the guys!Life is clipping along and it won;t be long until we load up to head to Montgomery again to be there to help Leigh and Nate get ready for the wedding and share in their joy!
Life has been good again this summer...Sure am blessed. Hope your life is too!
A TRIP TO JOPLIN
Thursday, May 26, 2011
On this morning, Chris Gerber, Dakota Holder and I headed out to Joplin, MO to provide and give forward some of the help that we had received here in Dade County. We loaded the truck with bottled water and a cooler of drinks and snacks and headed out at noon.
We headed west and Chris drove the whole way and we arrrived at the Mt. Hope Church of Christ in Webb City, MO (just out side Joplin) and got in to the fellowship hall and joined a group of about 20 men who were sleeping on air mattresses and sleeping bags and went to sleep about 11:30 PM CDT.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Got up at about 6:00 AM and got to have coffee and visit with some of the other folks that had come to help. The atmosphere is something reminesent of being at a Christian summer camp. At about 7:30 breakfast, cooked by the ladies there, began to be served and after a short devotional period, we left with a group and we headed to Steve and Mary Ann's home, one of the Mt. Hope elders, that was destroyed in the tornado 5 days earlier.
As we rode in, we skirted the perimeter of the damaged area and it really didn't appear any worse than the areas in Trenton or on Sand Mountain that were slammed by the storm. We worked all morning at the Sloan's house and across the street removing trees from a man's house. About noon, the Mt.Hope ladies had brought sandwiches and drinks and we took a break for lunch. There were LOTS of trees on the lot Dakota and I were cutting on, while Chris spent the morning helping them load a dumpster with the trash that a week ago had been their home and possessions.
We went back and started clearing more trees and continuing the cleanup, when just before 1:30 PM, we got word that a Severe Thunderstorm Warning had been issued for Joplin. It did not take much to get the group from there or us, to close down and head for a safe location at the church building. While we were at the building we were asked to ahve a special prayer for one of the members there whose father in Texas had jsut had a major heart attack and was in surgery. It is great to be part of God's Family.
We spent about two hours listening to it rain at the fellowship hall and then at about 3 PM headed back to the Sloans' to continue there. When we arrived we got out and slogged through the back yard but it was so muddy and soft we couldn't get the tractor in or really even walk much with out sinking in the mud so we had to head some where else.
We went to the house of a man who was not a Christian, but Richard was really a good guy. His house had been devasted by the storm and now he needed some help in cleaning out the shell of his home that reamins. When we got there, soon there were about 35 of us who had come to Joplin to work wearing the bright green Joplin Church of Christ Mission shirts and we went to work. It was really sad in so many ways to come across the things that had been his family's life of memories and now they were just a soggy muck that had to be loaded in to wheelbarrows and taken to the road to be hauled off. Richard worked for a constuction company and they had brought a Bobcat over to help with the clean up and Dakota was happy to operate that for them! He is pretty amazing on about any machine!
In about 3 hours we had pretty well cleaned everything out of what remained of his house and a great deal of what was in in his yard. As we began to load up to leave just before the curfew took effect, we met together with him for prayer and after he had shook and hugged everyone there, we had a prayer and he sobboed through it. He could not say enough times how much he appreciated it and what it meant to him for people he didn't even know to come and help like that. I think a real opportunity is there to influence him to follow Jesus. And that's what it's all about.
We returned to the Mt. Hope fellwoship hall and the ladies had prepared a wonderful supper of bar-b-que and the fixins and we enjoyed it and got to visit and clean up. The church building had hot water but no showers. So I was getting instructions from some of the folks on the best way to clean up without a shoower including being told you could take wet wipes and put them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and get a warm clean up! Then I found out they had portable solar showers outside (like for camping). Well, now things began to make sense! Hot water from the kitchen and portable showers meant I was going to be clean tonight! And I did! It is was a little like showering in a phone booth, size wise, and you had to change clothes inside the booth, but it felt pretty good to have warm water washing the mud and sawdust off!
We jsut visited until about 10:30 PM and then the group from Ralla, MO led the devothional and it was a quick trip to dream land for me! I'm still not completely used to running a chain saw for 4-5 hours a day!
SATURDAY, May 28, 2011
Woke up about 5:30 and got the coffee with the early crew and got to visit and really enjoyed that. There was a large group from Ralla and they were a lot of fun and great people. After a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs, we had a devotional where Greg Spann, the preacher at Mt Hope spoke. His wife had been trapped in the Wal-Mart and first he was told she was not among the surviviors. He went home and told his kids then they returned to the store ruins to search for her. This time a store manager told him he remembered someone matching her descripion and she was injured with what appeared to be a broken back and headed to a nearby hospital. On his way out in the car, his kids saw her and jumped out of the still rolling car to find her safe and with just minor scratches. Not many dry eyes left in the room as he told that!
We then helped move some supplies and Dakota sharpened some chainsaws. We decided that it was too wet to get the equiptment running and they had a large contingent to do the clean up work, so at about 10:30 AM we decided to head home a couple of hours early.
It was a wonderful experience to be able to help and realize how that even in the damamge we suffered here, God in His divine providence still blessed us!
On this morning, Chris Gerber, Dakota Holder and I headed out to Joplin, MO to provide and give forward some of the help that we had received here in Dade County. We loaded the truck with bottled water and a cooler of drinks and snacks and headed out at noon.
We headed west and Chris drove the whole way and we arrrived at the Mt. Hope Church of Christ in Webb City, MO (just out side Joplin) and got in to the fellowship hall and joined a group of about 20 men who were sleeping on air mattresses and sleeping bags and went to sleep about 11:30 PM CDT.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Got up at about 6:00 AM and got to have coffee and visit with some of the other folks that had come to help. The atmosphere is something reminesent of being at a Christian summer camp. At about 7:30 breakfast, cooked by the ladies there, began to be served and after a short devotional period, we left with a group and we headed to Steve and Mary Ann's home, one of the Mt. Hope elders, that was destroyed in the tornado 5 days earlier.
As we rode in, we skirted the perimeter of the damaged area and it really didn't appear any worse than the areas in Trenton or on Sand Mountain that were slammed by the storm. We worked all morning at the Sloan's house and across the street removing trees from a man's house. About noon, the Mt.Hope ladies had brought sandwiches and drinks and we took a break for lunch. There were LOTS of trees on the lot Dakota and I were cutting on, while Chris spent the morning helping them load a dumpster with the trash that a week ago had been their home and possessions.
We went back and started clearing more trees and continuing the cleanup, when just before 1:30 PM, we got word that a Severe Thunderstorm Warning had been issued for Joplin. It did not take much to get the group from there or us, to close down and head for a safe location at the church building. While we were at the building we were asked to ahve a special prayer for one of the members there whose father in Texas had jsut had a major heart attack and was in surgery. It is great to be part of God's Family.
We spent about two hours listening to it rain at the fellowship hall and then at about 3 PM headed back to the Sloans' to continue there. When we arrived we got out and slogged through the back yard but it was so muddy and soft we couldn't get the tractor in or really even walk much with out sinking in the mud so we had to head some where else.
We went to the house of a man who was not a Christian, but Richard was really a good guy. His house had been devasted by the storm and now he needed some help in cleaning out the shell of his home that reamins. When we got there, soon there were about 35 of us who had come to Joplin to work wearing the bright green Joplin Church of Christ Mission shirts and we went to work. It was really sad in so many ways to come across the things that had been his family's life of memories and now they were just a soggy muck that had to be loaded in to wheelbarrows and taken to the road to be hauled off. Richard worked for a constuction company and they had brought a Bobcat over to help with the clean up and Dakota was happy to operate that for them! He is pretty amazing on about any machine!
In about 3 hours we had pretty well cleaned everything out of what remained of his house and a great deal of what was in in his yard. As we began to load up to leave just before the curfew took effect, we met together with him for prayer and after he had shook and hugged everyone there, we had a prayer and he sobboed through it. He could not say enough times how much he appreciated it and what it meant to him for people he didn't even know to come and help like that. I think a real opportunity is there to influence him to follow Jesus. And that's what it's all about.
We returned to the Mt. Hope fellwoship hall and the ladies had prepared a wonderful supper of bar-b-que and the fixins and we enjoyed it and got to visit and clean up. The church building had hot water but no showers. So I was getting instructions from some of the folks on the best way to clean up without a shoower including being told you could take wet wipes and put them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and get a warm clean up! Then I found out they had portable solar showers outside (like for camping). Well, now things began to make sense! Hot water from the kitchen and portable showers meant I was going to be clean tonight! And I did! It is was a little like showering in a phone booth, size wise, and you had to change clothes inside the booth, but it felt pretty good to have warm water washing the mud and sawdust off!
We jsut visited until about 10:30 PM and then the group from Ralla, MO led the devothional and it was a quick trip to dream land for me! I'm still not completely used to running a chain saw for 4-5 hours a day!
SATURDAY, May 28, 2011
Woke up about 5:30 and got the coffee with the early crew and got to visit and really enjoyed that. There was a large group from Ralla and they were a lot of fun and great people. After a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs, we had a devotional where Greg Spann, the preacher at Mt Hope spoke. His wife had been trapped in the Wal-Mart and first he was told she was not among the surviviors. He went home and told his kids then they returned to the store ruins to search for her. This time a store manager told him he remembered someone matching her descripion and she was injured with what appeared to be a broken back and headed to a nearby hospital. On his way out in the car, his kids saw her and jumped out of the still rolling car to find her safe and with just minor scratches. Not many dry eyes left in the room as he told that!
We then helped move some supplies and Dakota sharpened some chainsaws. We decided that it was too wet to get the equiptment running and they had a large contingent to do the clean up work, so at about 10:30 AM we decided to head home a couple of hours early.
It was a wonderful experience to be able to help and realize how that even in the damamge we suffered here, God in His divine providence still blessed us!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
What a MONTH! April 23-May 17, 2011
After getting home from the Philippines on Wednesday, Jamie and I headed to Nashville on Friday morning for getting our Lads to Leaders group checked in. We went to the Opryland Hotel and got our group checked in and then went to eat at El Chico's. While we were eating out on the deck on a beautiful night, another young lady trying to make it big in Nashville was singing outside. She was really good but there are really so many good singers trying to make it and so few ever do.
We then went to my aunt's house and spent the night there with Kankie and my cousin Connie. She is my dad's oldest sister and in amazing shape to be over 90! We slept well and left early before they woke up the next morning and headed to the Opryland to meet our group. The group from Trenton arrived at about 8:30 AM and we wandered around the hotel and then had donuts and then a light lunch before our Bible Bowl team competed. As they started we kept watch and knew they had done well. After the afternoon and a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe to reward them for their good work, we returned to the hotel and the ballroom for the awards ceremony. Finally at the end of the awards they announced the winners in the Bible Bowl and our group erupted in applause when it was announced that our group had finished second! It was really a great effort by the kids, their parents and the adults that helped coach the team.
We went to our rooms at about midnight and Jamie and I had to leave to get back to Trenton in time for Sunday services so we had a short night..The alarm went off at 4:30 AM and we headed home.
We had an uneventful trip home and had good number at services and had lunch at Rafael's and headed home for a short nap. At 4:00 PM we met Jennifer Hartline and her family and a group of friends at the church building and took her to Lookout Creek and she was baptized. It was her request and it was a beautiful location....in fact the place where many of our older members had been baptized before the new auditorium was built in 1974 with a baptistery. So it sure made for a wonderful day!
Monday and Tuesday we were planning to be in Montgomery for a little time with the kids but I told Jamie and them that I was just too tired and wanted to stay home and have a quiet and restful week. That would turn out to be somewhat ironic words.
Wednesday morning April 27, 2011 dawned clear and nice so I went out and had coffee on the picnic table at about 7 AM and then about 7:30 the wind started to pickup and then the clouds started rolling in. Just after 8 AM I got a Tornado Warning and got Jamie up and in the hall and then started hearing the wind howl and the trees start snapping! It was over in about a minute and I went out to see 8 trees downed in the yard but the house and all vehicles spared. I thought it was a big mess and a big problem until the day would unwind and bring destruction on a level never seen by me before or ever inflicted on Dade County and others through out the South.
There were at least 3 other Tornado Warnings and a great deal of apprehension. After lunch time Jamie and I went to the church building as a safe haven to open it as a shelter. We would have as many as 30 people jameed into and under a stairwell as the worst storm blew threw the area just after 5:00 PM. Winds that we would later learn exceeded 135 miles per hour blew across the lot. When we went back out and looked around, three major neighborhoods in Trenton had been virtually destroyed by the storm that would be identified as an EF-3 tornado.
Amazingly there was just one family in the church, Reed and Starla Gross who lost their home and thankfully they were safe at his parent's home on Lookout Mountain. We did not have a single church member injured and only the one house seriously damaged. We did have about 7 or 8 families whose homes suffered varying degrees of damage to their property but all were safe.
After a night without power, I got up early the next morning and could not believe what I saw. As I drove around a familiar place I could not even recognize what street I was trying to turn down, as there was so much devastation in Edgewood. On the other side of highway 11 the Village Green Apartments were virtually gone. If that morning the news had said that 50 people had been killed in Trenton, I would have thought that "it could have been worse".
The news would finally be that there were 2 killed in Dade County but in the surrounding counties there were many more killed. We were truly very fortunate.
On Thursday, we went to Reed and Starla's and helped them go through the remains of the their house and getting the things out of their house that could be saved. We spent part of the afternoon walking over a field looking for some items that they couldn't find such as Addilyn's blanket and their wedding picture.
As we went to bed without water or power but very thankful we had been spared. For the next 10 days, Dakota Spencer and Ivan Wallin ran the Bobcat and a number of us were on chainsaws and removing brush from folks' homes/ We started and cleaned up the yards of our church members first and then worked on folks in the community and up on the mountain that had trees down that insurance didn't cover. For about the next 10 days, I slept extremely well! The power and water were back on after 3 days and we began the job of helping those in the area affected by the tornadoes.
We helped over 120 families in the first three weeks with everything from food to clothing and even help with their homes. The response from the Trenton church family was incredible. We had over 40 of our members work on the disaster relief. We also had groups from Trion, Dasher, Chickamauga, and Cookville, TN come and help with the efforts. We have been blessed that we have received over $5000 from congregations and individuals from Wyoming, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee and more is already promised. It has been great to feel the love and concern of other Christians around the country sharing with us in our recovery.
We have had the building converted into a warehouse and recovery center and our members have been great to work there every day serving those that are recovering from the storm. We have already have 6 of those people visit with us at our worship services, so we are very excited about the possiblilities that have been afforded us.
In the first few days of this week (May15) things have slowed down a little bit but picked up some as the other relief centers have closed in Trenton as FEMA has taken over. In what truly is a great tribute to the area, a FEMA official working here said, "If everywehre was like it is here, we (FEMA) would be out of business. I have never seen neighbors and churches taking care of each other like they have here." Tha makes me pretty happy and proud to live here!
After 10 days since the storm, Jamie and I headed to Montgomery for a couple of days with the girls and their families. We had a wonderful visit and I got a chance to have dinner with Matt and spend some time with him for the first time and really enjoyed that. Laurie is still liking the work at Wilson and Wilson but there are some things she has found that aren't perfect at work, as we all find in most situations.
Leigh and Nate are really busy getting ready for the wedding and looking for a place to move into. It seems as though that they have found a nice little home in the historical area of Capitol Heights in Montgomery. She is staying busy as the summer recruiting season will be complicated this year with showers and then a wedding but I am confident she'll work it out.....be a little stressed but she'll do great!
Louise and Dirt are doing well and she is getting into the swing of caring fore 3 kids everyday but I think she has gained new respect for her mother and others who have raised 3 or more! We did take the whole group out to lunch one day at the Farmers' Market and they were very well behaved! Dirt is back in the swing teaching a class at Faulkner and working toward his doctorate also.
Oh yea, and Ellie....she is doing great and growing and just turned 7 months old and is learning new things and delighting her parents, her aunts and grandparents with something new everyday! It is incredible to me how quickly she is growing up and changing. It has really been a blessing to get ot be a grandparent! Looking forward to her and her mom and dad and aunts beign here the first weekend in June for Leigh and Nate's shower. Dirt, Louise and Ellie are staying for a week and I am really excited about that!
As tomorrow marks a month since returning home from the Philippines, it is hard for me to look back and realize how much has happened since then and how God has afforded us opportunities to serve others.
We then went to my aunt's house and spent the night there with Kankie and my cousin Connie. She is my dad's oldest sister and in amazing shape to be over 90! We slept well and left early before they woke up the next morning and headed to the Opryland to meet our group. The group from Trenton arrived at about 8:30 AM and we wandered around the hotel and then had donuts and then a light lunch before our Bible Bowl team competed. As they started we kept watch and knew they had done well. After the afternoon and a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe to reward them for their good work, we returned to the hotel and the ballroom for the awards ceremony. Finally at the end of the awards they announced the winners in the Bible Bowl and our group erupted in applause when it was announced that our group had finished second! It was really a great effort by the kids, their parents and the adults that helped coach the team.
We went to our rooms at about midnight and Jamie and I had to leave to get back to Trenton in time for Sunday services so we had a short night..The alarm went off at 4:30 AM and we headed home.
We had an uneventful trip home and had good number at services and had lunch at Rafael's and headed home for a short nap. At 4:00 PM we met Jennifer Hartline and her family and a group of friends at the church building and took her to Lookout Creek and she was baptized. It was her request and it was a beautiful location....in fact the place where many of our older members had been baptized before the new auditorium was built in 1974 with a baptistery. So it sure made for a wonderful day!
Monday and Tuesday we were planning to be in Montgomery for a little time with the kids but I told Jamie and them that I was just too tired and wanted to stay home and have a quiet and restful week. That would turn out to be somewhat ironic words.
Wednesday morning April 27, 2011 dawned clear and nice so I went out and had coffee on the picnic table at about 7 AM and then about 7:30 the wind started to pickup and then the clouds started rolling in. Just after 8 AM I got a Tornado Warning and got Jamie up and in the hall and then started hearing the wind howl and the trees start snapping! It was over in about a minute and I went out to see 8 trees downed in the yard but the house and all vehicles spared. I thought it was a big mess and a big problem until the day would unwind and bring destruction on a level never seen by me before or ever inflicted on Dade County and others through out the South.
There were at least 3 other Tornado Warnings and a great deal of apprehension. After lunch time Jamie and I went to the church building as a safe haven to open it as a shelter. We would have as many as 30 people jameed into and under a stairwell as the worst storm blew threw the area just after 5:00 PM. Winds that we would later learn exceeded 135 miles per hour blew across the lot. When we went back out and looked around, three major neighborhoods in Trenton had been virtually destroyed by the storm that would be identified as an EF-3 tornado.
Amazingly there was just one family in the church, Reed and Starla Gross who lost their home and thankfully they were safe at his parent's home on Lookout Mountain. We did not have a single church member injured and only the one house seriously damaged. We did have about 7 or 8 families whose homes suffered varying degrees of damage to their property but all were safe.
After a night without power, I got up early the next morning and could not believe what I saw. As I drove around a familiar place I could not even recognize what street I was trying to turn down, as there was so much devastation in Edgewood. On the other side of highway 11 the Village Green Apartments were virtually gone. If that morning the news had said that 50 people had been killed in Trenton, I would have thought that "it could have been worse".
The news would finally be that there were 2 killed in Dade County but in the surrounding counties there were many more killed. We were truly very fortunate.
On Thursday, we went to Reed and Starla's and helped them go through the remains of the their house and getting the things out of their house that could be saved. We spent part of the afternoon walking over a field looking for some items that they couldn't find such as Addilyn's blanket and their wedding picture.
As we went to bed without water or power but very thankful we had been spared. For the next 10 days, Dakota Spencer and Ivan Wallin ran the Bobcat and a number of us were on chainsaws and removing brush from folks' homes/ We started and cleaned up the yards of our church members first and then worked on folks in the community and up on the mountain that had trees down that insurance didn't cover. For about the next 10 days, I slept extremely well! The power and water were back on after 3 days and we began the job of helping those in the area affected by the tornadoes.
We helped over 120 families in the first three weeks with everything from food to clothing and even help with their homes. The response from the Trenton church family was incredible. We had over 40 of our members work on the disaster relief. We also had groups from Trion, Dasher, Chickamauga, and Cookville, TN come and help with the efforts. We have been blessed that we have received over $5000 from congregations and individuals from Wyoming, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee and more is already promised. It has been great to feel the love and concern of other Christians around the country sharing with us in our recovery.
We have had the building converted into a warehouse and recovery center and our members have been great to work there every day serving those that are recovering from the storm. We have already have 6 of those people visit with us at our worship services, so we are very excited about the possiblilities that have been afforded us.
In the first few days of this week (May15) things have slowed down a little bit but picked up some as the other relief centers have closed in Trenton as FEMA has taken over. In what truly is a great tribute to the area, a FEMA official working here said, "If everywehre was like it is here, we (FEMA) would be out of business. I have never seen neighbors and churches taking care of each other like they have here." Tha makes me pretty happy and proud to live here!
After 10 days since the storm, Jamie and I headed to Montgomery for a couple of days with the girls and their families. We had a wonderful visit and I got a chance to have dinner with Matt and spend some time with him for the first time and really enjoyed that. Laurie is still liking the work at Wilson and Wilson but there are some things she has found that aren't perfect at work, as we all find in most situations.
Leigh and Nate are really busy getting ready for the wedding and looking for a place to move into. It seems as though that they have found a nice little home in the historical area of Capitol Heights in Montgomery. She is staying busy as the summer recruiting season will be complicated this year with showers and then a wedding but I am confident she'll work it out.....be a little stressed but she'll do great!
Louise and Dirt are doing well and she is getting into the swing of caring fore 3 kids everyday but I think she has gained new respect for her mother and others who have raised 3 or more! We did take the whole group out to lunch one day at the Farmers' Market and they were very well behaved! Dirt is back in the swing teaching a class at Faulkner and working toward his doctorate also.
Oh yea, and Ellie....she is doing great and growing and just turned 7 months old and is learning new things and delighting her parents, her aunts and grandparents with something new everyday! It is incredible to me how quickly she is growing up and changing. It has really been a blessing to get ot be a grandparent! Looking forward to her and her mom and dad and aunts beign here the first weekend in June for Leigh and Nate's shower. Dirt, Louise and Ellie are staying for a week and I am really excited about that!
As tomorrow marks a month since returning home from the Philippines, it is hard for me to look back and realize how much has happened since then and how God has afforded us opportunities to serve others.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
55 is starting off a better age than it was as a speed limit :)
APRIL 21, 2011 -- MY 55th BIRTHDAY
As I reached official "AARP" Membership age, I got up and made 7 in 1 coffee and non fat Pop-Tarts and enjoyed a little quiet time while Jamie, Leigh and Seth were still sleeping. At about 9 AM, the crew started rolling in and we visited and planned our day.
We decided that we would have lunch out in Chattanooga and they let me choose. I decided a big American steak at Longhorns. We drove up there in two cars so Leigh and Seth could head to Atlanta to work representing Faulkner at Lads to Leaders there. We had a wonderful lunch and I decided to have grilled trout with shrimp and lobster and mashed potato and salad. Not exactly a raw steak, but it was really good.
Leigh and Seth left and got on 75 headed south and we went to the grocery store. Jamie did her weekly shopping at Publix and with her coupons got $111 worth of groceries for $52.06 and came out grumbling because she had forgotten one set of coupons. She is amazing in a grocery store!
After that we headed home and I got in my recliner and had a little nap. Jamie gave me the gift that she had for me and from her mom. I got a pair of shorts, a swimming suit and a pair of convertible pants--you can take the bottoms off and they are shorts! I also got a shirt and feel very blessed.
Then we watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Jamie really enjoyed it and I had already slept through the movie once on the flight from Atlanta to Korea last week, and did a little more of that today :)
It has been a fine day with Leigh here and calls from each of the other girls. I even got to speak with Morgan. She thought it was Ellie's birthday but finally got it straight. We are planning to see them hopefully next week :) I also have received birthday wishes from over 90 people who have had a place in my life and memories. If a man has family and friends, he really does have great riches! And I feel like the richest man in town today! Thanks for your contribution!
I also got to visit with my aunt in Nashville and am going with Jamie to go over early to Nashville, tomorrow, to coordinate our group activities at Lads to Leaders. I called Kakie and we are going to spend Friday night with her. She joked with me about seeing me 55 years ago.....
The day has been great and if this is what reaching AARP age is all about...i ain't bad! Louise even dedicated her blog to me with pictures of Ellie and me! Life is really grand! Thanks for the part you had it in it!
As I reached official "AARP" Membership age, I got up and made 7 in 1 coffee and non fat Pop-Tarts and enjoyed a little quiet time while Jamie, Leigh and Seth were still sleeping. At about 9 AM, the crew started rolling in and we visited and planned our day.
We decided that we would have lunch out in Chattanooga and they let me choose. I decided a big American steak at Longhorns. We drove up there in two cars so Leigh and Seth could head to Atlanta to work representing Faulkner at Lads to Leaders there. We had a wonderful lunch and I decided to have grilled trout with shrimp and lobster and mashed potato and salad. Not exactly a raw steak, but it was really good.
Leigh and Seth left and got on 75 headed south and we went to the grocery store. Jamie did her weekly shopping at Publix and with her coupons got $111 worth of groceries for $52.06 and came out grumbling because she had forgotten one set of coupons. She is amazing in a grocery store!
After that we headed home and I got in my recliner and had a little nap. Jamie gave me the gift that she had for me and from her mom. I got a pair of shorts, a swimming suit and a pair of convertible pants--you can take the bottoms off and they are shorts! I also got a shirt and feel very blessed.
Then we watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Jamie really enjoyed it and I had already slept through the movie once on the flight from Atlanta to Korea last week, and did a little more of that today :)
It has been a fine day with Leigh here and calls from each of the other girls. I even got to speak with Morgan. She thought it was Ellie's birthday but finally got it straight. We are planning to see them hopefully next week :) I also have received birthday wishes from over 90 people who have had a place in my life and memories. If a man has family and friends, he really does have great riches! And I feel like the richest man in town today! Thanks for your contribution!
I also got to visit with my aunt in Nashville and am going with Jamie to go over early to Nashville, tomorrow, to coordinate our group activities at Lads to Leaders. I called Kakie and we are going to spend Friday night with her. She joked with me about seeing me 55 years ago.....
The day has been great and if this is what reaching AARP age is all about...i ain't bad! Louise even dedicated her blog to me with pictures of Ellie and me! Life is really grand! Thanks for the part you had it in it!
HOME AT LAST!
WEDNESDAY, April 20,2011
After a very short but bumpy flight we got to Chattanooga at 9:25 AM and were happy to be home. When we got to the baggage claim, Jamie and Karen Gerber were there to meet us and Leigh had come up to surprise me and work recruiting for Faulkner in Chattanooga. The final bit of good news was that all 4 of our bags were here even after all the confusion with our flights they made the trip to Chattanooga also! Chris and Karen took off for Ider and Jamie, Leigh and Seth took me and headed home. The weather had let up and that was nice!
Got home and visited with the family for a while and about 11 AM, Leigh and Seth went to meet a prospective Faulkner student and family for lunch and I decided I'd lay down for a couple of hours then Jamie and I would join them in Chattanooga for dinner. Jamie said she asked me if I wanted her to go without me and she claims I said 'yes that I would sleep'.... Well after a little bit, I thought I had been asleep for an hour and I got up and looked at the clock and it was 6:10 PM!
So I got up and went to bible class and got a lot of great hugs and felt really welcomed home from the folks at church in Trenton! Had my Bible class and then offered the invitation at Trenton.
After Bible class, there was cake and cream for my birthday! I got to spend a few minutes then I had a chance to talk with a young lady who has two beautiful little girls. She asked me some very challenging questions and we talked until abut 10:15. Jamie and one of the ladies from church watched the girls while the mother and I had a very good Bible study.
After it was over we got home and visited with Leigh for a while and everyone has settled down for the night! My birthday just began so I am going to head to bed.
It was a great trip to the Philippines and so much opportunity awaits there. I am gonna settle down and rest a bit and then figure out how to post the pics from the Mission trip! Thanks for all your prayers and help!
After a very short but bumpy flight we got to Chattanooga at 9:25 AM and were happy to be home. When we got to the baggage claim, Jamie and Karen Gerber were there to meet us and Leigh had come up to surprise me and work recruiting for Faulkner in Chattanooga. The final bit of good news was that all 4 of our bags were here even after all the confusion with our flights they made the trip to Chattanooga also! Chris and Karen took off for Ider and Jamie, Leigh and Seth took me and headed home. The weather had let up and that was nice!
Got home and visited with the family for a while and about 11 AM, Leigh and Seth went to meet a prospective Faulkner student and family for lunch and I decided I'd lay down for a couple of hours then Jamie and I would join them in Chattanooga for dinner. Jamie said she asked me if I wanted her to go without me and she claims I said 'yes that I would sleep'.... Well after a little bit, I thought I had been asleep for an hour and I got up and looked at the clock and it was 6:10 PM!
So I got up and went to bible class and got a lot of great hugs and felt really welcomed home from the folks at church in Trenton! Had my Bible class and then offered the invitation at Trenton.
After Bible class, there was cake and cream for my birthday! I got to spend a few minutes then I had a chance to talk with a young lady who has two beautiful little girls. She asked me some very challenging questions and we talked until abut 10:15. Jamie and one of the ladies from church watched the girls while the mother and I had a very good Bible study.
After it was over we got home and visited with Leigh for a while and everyone has settled down for the night! My birthday just began so I am going to head to bed.
It was a great trip to the Philippines and so much opportunity awaits there. I am gonna settle down and rest a bit and then figure out how to post the pics from the Mission trip! Thanks for all your prayers and help!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
THE LAST DAY AND THE LONGEST DAY!
MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011
On our last day in the Philippines on this campaign, we had a number of items we wanted to take care of and get some rest before the flights home on Tuesday. After breakfast on Monday morning we visited with Susan, Celine and Benny at the resort until about 10 AM. We discussed this trip made some plans for the future trips. At about 10 AM Celine and Benny took Chris and I to Magic Mall where we did a little shopping in the market in Urdaneta and in the Magic Mall. We also picked up the communion trays for the Pao church of Christ that Trenton bought them to strengthen them. They will be delivered before Sunday to them. We love that congregation and look forward to seeing them again soon!
After that Chris and I went to Arnold's barber shop and salon to get a haircut. Enough of the comments about the easiest money the barbers would make all day...we already made those remarks. But not only is it a great haircut but it Leon the barber gave me about a 10 minute back massage that convinced me that on my next trip to the Philippines, my first stop will be at the barber shop for a cut and massage! I tried to get him to move to Trenton! :)
After the haircuts we had invited all the workers to the Food Court at the mall for a lunch as our treat and tell them thanks for all the good works and goodbye. We had about 25 show up and we had a wonderful time visiting and then the hard part of goodbyes. This a a great group of Christians in eastern Pangisinan that we have truly grown even closer to and met so many new brothers and sisters!
After the visits and goodbyes, we returned to Lisland Resort to have a meeting. Before our meeting at 4 Brenda showed up with Arlan who had been baptized Sunday night after a study with Chris and another teacher, Adonnis. We had a wonderful visit with them. It is so encouraging to see folks like Brenda who are focusing leading her colleagues at the school to Christ.
After that we had our meeting with Benny, Celine and Susan and brother Tamicala, who was a teacher and director of Philippine Bible College for over 40 years. He now focuses, in semi-retirement, on developing church leadership. It was a very informative meeting and he was gracious to share a number of ideas with us to help us in our planning for our work with the churches in eastern Pang.
At 6 PM Chris had a meeting with Susan to cover some final issues before we headed out. At about 8:00 PM Arnold, Dana, Dinah, Dale and Irish came in and Benny then came in and we met with them about some future plans and dreams and to help Chris and I with some info about the area of Pangisinan.
We finished up about 10 PM and said goodbyes in the parking lot of the Lisland Resort and headed to our cabanas to get packed up and ready for a 2 AM wake up call. Before going to the room, I totaled out our bill and checked out!
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011
I got in and got my stuff packed and ready at about 12:30 AM or so and laid down for about 1 1/2 hours before the phone rang. I got a quick shower and closed up the suitcases and head Chris rolling his down the brick sidewalk beside my cabana. Susan, Celine, Richard (Chat), Jake and Eli were with Carlos, our driver in the van. We got rolling a few minutes before 3 AM PhST (3 PM Monday in Trenton) and headed to Manila and NAIA Airport. The trip was pretty quiet and uneventful as everybody except Carlos and Celine, who had 'keep the driver awake' duty slept. We did make two stops, one for panasal, little Philippine biscuits that are great and then coffee at 7-11.
We arrived on the north side of Manila in about 3 hours which with the normal traffic means you still have about 2 hours to go. Last Friday started Holy Week in the Philippines when many people are off work and anybody in Manila that can heads for the beach or Baguio and the mountains. It was eerie in Mania as we drove through in about 40 minutes. It was almost like a ghost twn, comparatively. We got to the NAIA at about 7:30 AM and said our goodbyes to this special group and then went in and got through security and found a seat and waited for our 12:40 PM flight. After the wait, we got in line and checked in and heard those dreaded words, "Mr. Walker and Mr. Gerber, can you wait over here?"
We found out we had tickets on Korean Air to Manila but then our flight to Atlanta was cancelled and we would have to wait in Seoul until 10:30 AM KST Wednesday to get home. When we told her that wouldn't work, she went to work and got supervisors involved and eventually we got tickets to LAX from Seoul and a long delay there but we would be on our way home. Long and short they gave us emergency exits seats with no one in front of us which was great for that flight.
When we got to Incheon/Seoul, the representative from KAL met us and started working us through the process. After a little negotiation, we had been assigned seats to, not Atlanta but Seattle. We would have a 11 hour layover but KAL would put us up at the Airport Hilton for the day and give us tickets for dinner. This turned out to be great. I went to my room and crashed for about 3 1/2 hours after talking to Jamie, the girls and Dad and then took a shower and shaved! Didn't have a clean shirt so I now have a green Seattle T-shirt--and it really smells and feels better!
We had a good dinner and took the shuttle back to the Sea-Tac Airport and now are waiting at our gate for the red-eye which lands in ATL at 6:35 AM EDT on Wednesday. Our Tuesday has already been 35 hours long and will really be glad to get on Delta flight 898 and head to the east. We are slated to leave ATL at 8:30 AM EDT and be in Chattanooga at 9:30! Will wrap up after we get there. Time to get on the plane! It is 10:15 PM PDT on Tuesday night and our flight leaves in 30 minutes!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
OUR LAST WEEKEND FOR THIS CAMPAIGN
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
Got up early and did some studying as we began our last weekend in the Philippines on this campaign. We left Lisland Resort at about 8 AM after breakfast and headed to San Carlos City to work with Jeff up there. It is about an hour from Urdaneta and when we arrive we were warmly welcomed and after a period of singing I spoke on Paul, Barnabas and John Mark. Following my lesson Chris spoke also. It was a 2 day gospel meeting for them and there were about 35 present including the workers from the Urdaeta and Binalonan churches. After Chris spoke there was a question and answer period after which they hosted a wonderful native lunch of barbqued chicken, rice and native veggies.
Following lunch, Arnold, Dana, Dinah, Irish and Dale took me to Bayanbang to deliver some eye glasses and to give me chance to see the congregation where JR, a recent graduate of PTC was preaching. When we arrived we looked at the building and discussed with JR the progress and his plans. The new congregation has about as dozen members. At 2 PM he said he had a Bible study scheduled and asked me to teach it. We all went there and after about 1 1/4 hours with two ladies both said the wanted to be baptized. One then stated that the man she was living with was an alcoholic and even though he didn't go to church anywhere, he did not want her to either. After talking to her for an extended period it became evident she was scared and did not want to that day. We took the other lady to a resort and I baptized her in a swimming pool with another curious crowd watching.
After the study we returned to Lisland to rest and change about 4:30 and get ready to attend Arnold and Dana's 22nd Anniversary Party at a native seafood house. We got there , fashionably late, and Roger and Lisa came in. I had a very nice visit with them while I feasted on bangus belly and fried calamari! As we let I invited Roger to come down again at San Carlos City. He agreed and I went to sleep that night full of wonderful food and great memories. I look forward to a great day tomorrow!
SATURDAY, April 16, 2011
At 8 AM after a good breakfast, I headed with Celine driving me to San Carlos City to preach twice in the 2nd day of their gospel meeting while Chris was taken by Susan to Carmen to meet brother Panday and conduct a Bible study there. I spoke twice and a 61 year old man, Orlando responded to the gospel. Chris had studied with him on Friday and now he is a brother. We took him to a resort and he was buried with Christ in baptism by me just before noon.
We went back to San Carlos City and had lunch then headed out to two more Bible studies. One was interesting because the house had a videoke machine and they put Chris on the porch speaking into that for the whole neighborhood to hear :)
We then went to a rural area where I taught the study for two ladies, a mother and daughter, who also had a small baby. After the study with Roger interpreting, the mother said she was ready but could not leave hr daughter and the baby so I hope that Jeff can follow up with her on Monday. It was really great to get to be with Roger again. He is one of my oldest and dearest friends in the Philippines and after we returned to Urdaneta, he and I ate at Chow King and talked about old times and current situations. When we got back to the room the summer heat seemed to have taken its toll on two tired Americans. I met Chris in the restaurant and drank some water and visited with him while he ate, but I was tired! I showered and was in bed by about 9:00 PM after a phone call to Jamie and Mom and Dad.
SUNDAY, April 17, 2011
I woke up at 5:00 AM to leave to go with JM to the San Carlos Prison at 6:30 AM, so I thought...at about 7:10 I got a text back and found out that Celine and Benny were going to take Chris at 7:30 to San Carlos to preach and Susan, JM and I would follow them to San Carlos City. That turned out to be a real good idea since Benny and Celine's truck broke down in Malasiqui in the middle of town..so on Palm Sunday at 8:30 AM, right as Mass is letting out from a big Catholic church, two Americans and 3 Filipinos are pushing a truck down the middle of the main street and there are so many tricycles there that we have to push it about 1/4 mile before there is a place to park it. Itwas indeed an event for that town! So after we determined that it wasn't going to start, Benny and Celine stayed with the truck and we put Chris and Richard in with us.We head to the San Carlos building to drop off Chris and Richard for him to preach. We get them there at 9:05 and headed the San Carlos Prison.
When we get there, we go in and I see my old friend, Boyette. He was one of the first converts 5 years ago when he was at Dagupan City Jail. He and his wife were charged with Illegal Recruitment and sentenced to 8-12 years. (if they gave out sentences like that in the SEC, they might shut down some programs:) Any way he and Pearl were transferred to San Carlos last August so it was good to get to see him. He is like a jail minister in jail and we studied with and baptized his mother and son 4 years ago. JM taught the Bible class and I spoke on Lessons from a Prison from Acts 16. 4 men responded to the gospel and it took a little negotiation by Susan, JM and Boyette but the deputy warden agreed to allow it in a 55 gallon barrel--but no pictures. So we filled the barrel up and I talked with JM and we agreed to let Boyette do the immersing. He has taught classes and even presented sermons so we took a few minutes and coached him and he did very well. It is a wonderful feeling to watch someone who you watched be added to Christ, grow and take steps like Boyette has.
We went back at about 12 and picked up Richard and Chris at San Carlos City church and said good bye to our friends there. Celine had texted and told us to meet her at Jollibee in Malasiqui, so e headed there. When we arrived she already had ordered chicken and spaghetti and a burger with pineapple juice for all of us.
After lunch and a visit we learned the mechanic was still working on the truck and we left her with Benny and headed back to Lisland. Chris and I got about an hour to cool off and get ready to go to Pao for our last worship service of the campaign. When we arrived the whole group was out to welcome us and we had a good visit and delivered 20 chairs to them for services.
We went down by the creek in the shade of a mango tree that must be 50 years old. We had over 50 present for the adult Bible Class and worship. Chris taught the class an Overview of the Bible and then I preached on, Now That You Are A Christian, What's Next? from Acts 2:42-47. There was a brisk breeze that felt wonderful to Chris and me but the Filipinos thought it was too cold:). After services, we had merienda (snacks) with the group and of course, good bye pictures. They are some wonderful salt of the earth people and we had a blast. They all were saying, "when will you and sir Chris return?" It gives you a great sense of being loved :)
We came back to the hotel and went to the room but Arlen, a school teacher, I had studied with on Thursday showed up and Chris and I had already agreed he would have the next study. After about an hour, they called me and said, "he wants to be baptized with you do it?" Of course I was excited to, and with Brenda and Chris watching he was baptized at about 9:00 PM. It was pretty special that the last baptism (I guess) of the campaign was at the same place where the campaign began with the baptism of sweet Irish a week and a half ago.
We had a shake (green mango for them) and visited for a while before they left. I have headed back to the room and now am watching The Blind Side and heading to bed. It has truly been a wonderful two weeks and God has really blessed us in this endeavor. In all of my previous trips, I know I have not been any more blessed than I have on this one! 51 baptisms and a new church planted with 35 members. I am truly a blessed man. And I get to go back to the States and see my lovely wife and family in two days. But I will as always, leave a piece of my heart here in the Philippines. I pray that each person gets a chance to be a part of a great experience like this! It'll change your life...they always do mine!
Got up early and did some studying as we began our last weekend in the Philippines on this campaign. We left Lisland Resort at about 8 AM after breakfast and headed to San Carlos City to work with Jeff up there. It is about an hour from Urdaneta and when we arrive we were warmly welcomed and after a period of singing I spoke on Paul, Barnabas and John Mark. Following my lesson Chris spoke also. It was a 2 day gospel meeting for them and there were about 35 present including the workers from the Urdaeta and Binalonan churches. After Chris spoke there was a question and answer period after which they hosted a wonderful native lunch of barbqued chicken, rice and native veggies.
Following lunch, Arnold, Dana, Dinah, Irish and Dale took me to Bayanbang to deliver some eye glasses and to give me chance to see the congregation where JR, a recent graduate of PTC was preaching. When we arrived we looked at the building and discussed with JR the progress and his plans. The new congregation has about as dozen members. At 2 PM he said he had a Bible study scheduled and asked me to teach it. We all went there and after about 1 1/4 hours with two ladies both said the wanted to be baptized. One then stated that the man she was living with was an alcoholic and even though he didn't go to church anywhere, he did not want her to either. After talking to her for an extended period it became evident she was scared and did not want to that day. We took the other lady to a resort and I baptized her in a swimming pool with another curious crowd watching.
After the study we returned to Lisland to rest and change about 4:30 and get ready to attend Arnold and Dana's 22nd Anniversary Party at a native seafood house. We got there , fashionably late, and Roger and Lisa came in. I had a very nice visit with them while I feasted on bangus belly and fried calamari! As we let I invited Roger to come down again at San Carlos City. He agreed and I went to sleep that night full of wonderful food and great memories. I look forward to a great day tomorrow!
SATURDAY, April 16, 2011
At 8 AM after a good breakfast, I headed with Celine driving me to San Carlos City to preach twice in the 2nd day of their gospel meeting while Chris was taken by Susan to Carmen to meet brother Panday and conduct a Bible study there. I spoke twice and a 61 year old man, Orlando responded to the gospel. Chris had studied with him on Friday and now he is a brother. We took him to a resort and he was buried with Christ in baptism by me just before noon.
We went back to San Carlos City and had lunch then headed out to two more Bible studies. One was interesting because the house had a videoke machine and they put Chris on the porch speaking into that for the whole neighborhood to hear :)
We then went to a rural area where I taught the study for two ladies, a mother and daughter, who also had a small baby. After the study with Roger interpreting, the mother said she was ready but could not leave hr daughter and the baby so I hope that Jeff can follow up with her on Monday. It was really great to get to be with Roger again. He is one of my oldest and dearest friends in the Philippines and after we returned to Urdaneta, he and I ate at Chow King and talked about old times and current situations. When we got back to the room the summer heat seemed to have taken its toll on two tired Americans. I met Chris in the restaurant and drank some water and visited with him while he ate, but I was tired! I showered and was in bed by about 9:00 PM after a phone call to Jamie and Mom and Dad.
SUNDAY, April 17, 2011
I woke up at 5:00 AM to leave to go with JM to the San Carlos Prison at 6:30 AM, so I thought...at about 7:10 I got a text back and found out that Celine and Benny were going to take Chris at 7:30 to San Carlos to preach and Susan, JM and I would follow them to San Carlos City. That turned out to be a real good idea since Benny and Celine's truck broke down in Malasiqui in the middle of town..so on Palm Sunday at 8:30 AM, right as Mass is letting out from a big Catholic church, two Americans and 3 Filipinos are pushing a truck down the middle of the main street and there are so many tricycles there that we have to push it about 1/4 mile before there is a place to park it. Itwas indeed an event for that town! So after we determined that it wasn't going to start, Benny and Celine stayed with the truck and we put Chris and Richard in with us.We head to the San Carlos building to drop off Chris and Richard for him to preach. We get them there at 9:05 and headed the San Carlos Prison.
When we get there, we go in and I see my old friend, Boyette. He was one of the first converts 5 years ago when he was at Dagupan City Jail. He and his wife were charged with Illegal Recruitment and sentenced to 8-12 years. (if they gave out sentences like that in the SEC, they might shut down some programs:) Any way he and Pearl were transferred to San Carlos last August so it was good to get to see him. He is like a jail minister in jail and we studied with and baptized his mother and son 4 years ago. JM taught the Bible class and I spoke on Lessons from a Prison from Acts 16. 4 men responded to the gospel and it took a little negotiation by Susan, JM and Boyette but the deputy warden agreed to allow it in a 55 gallon barrel--but no pictures. So we filled the barrel up and I talked with JM and we agreed to let Boyette do the immersing. He has taught classes and even presented sermons so we took a few minutes and coached him and he did very well. It is a wonderful feeling to watch someone who you watched be added to Christ, grow and take steps like Boyette has.
We went back at about 12 and picked up Richard and Chris at San Carlos City church and said good bye to our friends there. Celine had texted and told us to meet her at Jollibee in Malasiqui, so e headed there. When we arrived she already had ordered chicken and spaghetti and a burger with pineapple juice for all of us.
After lunch and a visit we learned the mechanic was still working on the truck and we left her with Benny and headed back to Lisland. Chris and I got about an hour to cool off and get ready to go to Pao for our last worship service of the campaign. When we arrived the whole group was out to welcome us and we had a good visit and delivered 20 chairs to them for services.
We went down by the creek in the shade of a mango tree that must be 50 years old. We had over 50 present for the adult Bible Class and worship. Chris taught the class an Overview of the Bible and then I preached on, Now That You Are A Christian, What's Next? from Acts 2:42-47. There was a brisk breeze that felt wonderful to Chris and me but the Filipinos thought it was too cold:). After services, we had merienda (snacks) with the group and of course, good bye pictures. They are some wonderful salt of the earth people and we had a blast. They all were saying, "when will you and sir Chris return?" It gives you a great sense of being loved :)
We came back to the hotel and went to the room but Arlen, a school teacher, I had studied with on Thursday showed up and Chris and I had already agreed he would have the next study. After about an hour, they called me and said, "he wants to be baptized with you do it?" Of course I was excited to, and with Brenda and Chris watching he was baptized at about 9:00 PM. It was pretty special that the last baptism (I guess) of the campaign was at the same place where the campaign began with the baptism of sweet Irish a week and a half ago.
We had a shake (green mango for them) and visited for a while before they left. I have headed back to the room and now am watching The Blind Side and heading to bed. It has truly been a wonderful two weeks and God has really blessed us in this endeavor. In all of my previous trips, I know I have not been any more blessed than I have on this one! 51 baptisms and a new church planted with 35 members. I am truly a blessed man. And I get to go back to the States and see my lovely wife and family in two days. But I will as always, leave a piece of my heart here in the Philippines. I pray that each person gets a chance to be a part of a great experience like this! It'll change your life...they always do mine!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Balot, chicken feet, sushi and raw oysters and 10 baptisms!
THURSDAY, April 14, 2011
It has truly been a memorable and wonderful day! This morning at 9 AM Beverly brought one of her school teacher friends and we had a very good Bible study. He has been teaching HS English for 15 years and was a very pleasant man to visit with. He left with a lot of good questions and careful notes to study with.
We then went to Asingan to meet Arnold and his family. He has really become a good friend and a brother on this trip. His daughter, Dinah, and her best friend Irish have become fast friends with me and have been my official photographers on this trip. Irish was the first person baptized on this campaign last Wednesday night and she and Dinah have been our constant companions--it has brought back memories of having our three girls around during good times in lots of church work.
We met them about 12:30 and headed out to Pao for a picnic lunch and Bible study. After a very good lunch where the Urdaneta and Binalonan congregation fed over 70 again, we sent the kids with Richard, Beverly, Irish and Dinah (they had 21) and we took the 48 adults down under the mango trees by the stream for more Bible study. After Chris and Arnold spoke and 10 came to be baptized. They asked me to do the baptisms and now there are 32 Christians in a rural farm barnagy with just 12 houses and probably less than 60 adults!It was truly a wonderful day!
When we returned to the resort, the power was still off but I took a shower and came to dinner. The resort has a backup generator system, so it wasn't inconvenient for us at all. They have live entertainment tonight and it's not bad. The waiters have been very friendly and we have gotten to know them so tonight they have Pika-Pika which means buffet and my waiters brought me balot, fried chicken feet, and raw oysters along with tuna, shrimp and some other native fish sushi. I really could not disappoint them so they got my camera and had pictures going to record the event. I'll try and post pictures here or on Facebook.
It has cooled off now and we are getting ready to have a little social time! Hope you have a great day! It has been a great day to be here in the Philippines and sure has been a great blessing to me!
It has truly been a memorable and wonderful day! This morning at 9 AM Beverly brought one of her school teacher friends and we had a very good Bible study. He has been teaching HS English for 15 years and was a very pleasant man to visit with. He left with a lot of good questions and careful notes to study with.
We then went to Asingan to meet Arnold and his family. He has really become a good friend and a brother on this trip. His daughter, Dinah, and her best friend Irish have become fast friends with me and have been my official photographers on this trip. Irish was the first person baptized on this campaign last Wednesday night and she and Dinah have been our constant companions--it has brought back memories of having our three girls around during good times in lots of church work.
We met them about 12:30 and headed out to Pao for a picnic lunch and Bible study. After a very good lunch where the Urdaneta and Binalonan congregation fed over 70 again, we sent the kids with Richard, Beverly, Irish and Dinah (they had 21) and we took the 48 adults down under the mango trees by the stream for more Bible study. After Chris and Arnold spoke and 10 came to be baptized. They asked me to do the baptisms and now there are 32 Christians in a rural farm barnagy with just 12 houses and probably less than 60 adults!It was truly a wonderful day!
When we returned to the resort, the power was still off but I took a shower and came to dinner. The resort has a backup generator system, so it wasn't inconvenient for us at all. They have live entertainment tonight and it's not bad. The waiters have been very friendly and we have gotten to know them so tonight they have Pika-Pika which means buffet and my waiters brought me balot, fried chicken feet, and raw oysters along with tuna, shrimp and some other native fish sushi. I really could not disappoint them so they got my camera and had pictures going to record the event. I'll try and post pictures here or on Facebook.
It has cooled off now and we are getting ready to have a little social time! Hope you have a great day! It has been a great day to be here in the Philippines and sure has been a great blessing to me!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY, April 12, 2011
Summertime is truly here in the Philippines. Today was close to 90 F with high humidity and no breeze! It was hot! We started the day with car trouble twice! The two vehicles to come get us both had engine trouble--one an alternator and the other a gas leak. So we got started late and Chris and I had Bible studies in Binalonan. Chris went back to the widow I had studied with previously and she was baptized! I had a study with a group of 5 young people.
After a good study and the baptism we went to Haut Chan, a delicious Chinese restaurant to meet with area church leaders to discuss the future and how to best use our next week here. After a huge lunch of fried rice with lemon squid, fresh lapa-lapa (grilled fish) crabs and shrimp in brocholi sauce, we ended the meal with self serve halo-halo. The fish and the crabs were swimming in the tank when we ordered them...it did not slow me down from eating them :).
After lunch Chris was having trouble with asthma and returned to the resort to rest. I went back to Binalonan and had a Bible study with 10 young people from age 14-30 in a barangy about 1 km. from the Binalonan building. The study was very good and after it ended we had an extensive visit with a 28 year old mother, Jocelyn, who was very interested. We are to follow up with her on Wednesday.
We returned to the hotel and found that Chris had been taken by Susan and Butch to the doctor at teh hospital to have his asthma checked out. The report was good and he was ready to preach at 7:30.
We were taken back to Binalonan and the gospel meeting began at about 8 PM. Chris spoke first on the topic, Our Almighty God. After he spoke for nearly 45 minutes, I spoke on God's Great Book, The Bible for about 35 minutes. After my lesson, Arnold, one of hosts and the preacher at Urdaneta, spoke for 40 minutes, summarizing what Chris and I had said, in Ilocano. At 10:30 PM there were three that came forward for baptism. All were friends of young adults at the congregation. Before we could get loaded in the vehicles and head to the Resort for the baptisms. one more young lady expressed her desire as well and so 4 were baptized just after 11:00 PM. Now that is a wonderful way to end a Tuesday!
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2011
We got up and ate breakfast on Wednesday expecting a full day, but recieved a text that our morning studies had been postponed and our Filopino hosts thought that we should rest. Chris and I decided to walk to down town and do some checking on some ideas and needs for future projects on upcoming trips. It was about 1/2 mile to the Magic Mall and we stopped on the way at the pharmacy and the computer store and had a very nice walk. When we got to the mall, we went and walked through the cool areas for a while and did a little computer shopping and some personal shopping.
We then met with Arnold, who operates two beauty salons and two optical shops in the local malls, besides preaching. He has some great plans and Chris and I spent over two hours with him continuing to plan and pray with him about ideas they have for increasing thier evangistic impact in this area. After lunch in the food court, we returned to our resort and prepared to head to the studies in Binalonan. Before we went to our studies, sister Celine picked us up with Richard, and took us to the Bible bookstore where we picked up 20 Bibles and ordered a communion set to be picked up before Sunday for the Pao congregation. It is such an exciting thing to have been involved in a church planting!
We got to Binalonan and went to Celine's sister's home, Vicki, for a Bible study. There were a number of young people and members from Binalonan and 4 prospects. I led the first part of the study in a beautiful garden playground area that sister Vickie has built behind her house for the church to use for fellowships and for children. There were about 40 present.
After an hour and 1/2 of study, we broke down to smaller groups and Chris began studying with a young mother who was a member of the Pentecostal church with Richard translating and I began studying and answering questions for a mother of two whose husband is a wayward member in Binalonan. Chris did an excellent job with the woman but the issues with her are very complicated doctrinally and I hope he can have a followup study with her. After about 15 minutes with the young mother with brother Benny translating, she accepted the Lord and we made plans to take her to a resort to be baptized. At the first swimming pool, there were a number of men who had been drinking heavily, so we moved to the second resort and she was baptized by Richard at about 6 PM. We left and went to Binalonan chapel for the gospel meeting and at about 8 PM I spoke on Why I Believe Jesus is the Christ. Chris then closed the series with a lesson on The Plan of Salvation. After Arnold did the recap we had merienda of pastries and crackers with coffee and drinks and fellowship!
After an hour of fellowship and picture taking with the young people we went back to the hotel and at about 11 PM had our dinner, fried chicken and rice from Chow King! In just over a week there have been 29 baptisms and a new church planted in Peo! God is truly good and blessed us with an opportunity to be involved in this wonderful work! Tomorrow should be interesting, a Bible study with 4 school teachers at Lisland Resort, a picnic and teaching sessions at Pao and the city scheduled to have the power off from 6 AM to 6 PM. Fortunately, most of the places we go do not have electricity :) Have a great night!
Summertime is truly here in the Philippines. Today was close to 90 F with high humidity and no breeze! It was hot! We started the day with car trouble twice! The two vehicles to come get us both had engine trouble--one an alternator and the other a gas leak. So we got started late and Chris and I had Bible studies in Binalonan. Chris went back to the widow I had studied with previously and she was baptized! I had a study with a group of 5 young people.
After a good study and the baptism we went to Haut Chan, a delicious Chinese restaurant to meet with area church leaders to discuss the future and how to best use our next week here. After a huge lunch of fried rice with lemon squid, fresh lapa-lapa (grilled fish) crabs and shrimp in brocholi sauce, we ended the meal with self serve halo-halo. The fish and the crabs were swimming in the tank when we ordered them...it did not slow me down from eating them :).
After lunch Chris was having trouble with asthma and returned to the resort to rest. I went back to Binalonan and had a Bible study with 10 young people from age 14-30 in a barangy about 1 km. from the Binalonan building. The study was very good and after it ended we had an extensive visit with a 28 year old mother, Jocelyn, who was very interested. We are to follow up with her on Wednesday.
We returned to the hotel and found that Chris had been taken by Susan and Butch to the doctor at teh hospital to have his asthma checked out. The report was good and he was ready to preach at 7:30.
We were taken back to Binalonan and the gospel meeting began at about 8 PM. Chris spoke first on the topic, Our Almighty God. After he spoke for nearly 45 minutes, I spoke on God's Great Book, The Bible for about 35 minutes. After my lesson, Arnold, one of hosts and the preacher at Urdaneta, spoke for 40 minutes, summarizing what Chris and I had said, in Ilocano. At 10:30 PM there were three that came forward for baptism. All were friends of young adults at the congregation. Before we could get loaded in the vehicles and head to the Resort for the baptisms. one more young lady expressed her desire as well and so 4 were baptized just after 11:00 PM. Now that is a wonderful way to end a Tuesday!
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2011
We got up and ate breakfast on Wednesday expecting a full day, but recieved a text that our morning studies had been postponed and our Filopino hosts thought that we should rest. Chris and I decided to walk to down town and do some checking on some ideas and needs for future projects on upcoming trips. It was about 1/2 mile to the Magic Mall and we stopped on the way at the pharmacy and the computer store and had a very nice walk. When we got to the mall, we went and walked through the cool areas for a while and did a little computer shopping and some personal shopping.
We then met with Arnold, who operates two beauty salons and two optical shops in the local malls, besides preaching. He has some great plans and Chris and I spent over two hours with him continuing to plan and pray with him about ideas they have for increasing thier evangistic impact in this area. After lunch in the food court, we returned to our resort and prepared to head to the studies in Binalonan. Before we went to our studies, sister Celine picked us up with Richard, and took us to the Bible bookstore where we picked up 20 Bibles and ordered a communion set to be picked up before Sunday for the Pao congregation. It is such an exciting thing to have been involved in a church planting!
We got to Binalonan and went to Celine's sister's home, Vicki, for a Bible study. There were a number of young people and members from Binalonan and 4 prospects. I led the first part of the study in a beautiful garden playground area that sister Vickie has built behind her house for the church to use for fellowships and for children. There were about 40 present.
After an hour and 1/2 of study, we broke down to smaller groups and Chris began studying with a young mother who was a member of the Pentecostal church with Richard translating and I began studying and answering questions for a mother of two whose husband is a wayward member in Binalonan. Chris did an excellent job with the woman but the issues with her are very complicated doctrinally and I hope he can have a followup study with her. After about 15 minutes with the young mother with brother Benny translating, she accepted the Lord and we made plans to take her to a resort to be baptized. At the first swimming pool, there were a number of men who had been drinking heavily, so we moved to the second resort and she was baptized by Richard at about 6 PM. We left and went to Binalonan chapel for the gospel meeting and at about 8 PM I spoke on Why I Believe Jesus is the Christ. Chris then closed the series with a lesson on The Plan of Salvation. After Arnold did the recap we had merienda of pastries and crackers with coffee and drinks and fellowship!
After an hour of fellowship and picture taking with the young people we went back to the hotel and at about 11 PM had our dinner, fried chicken and rice from Chow King! In just over a week there have been 29 baptisms and a new church planted in Peo! God is truly good and blessed us with an opportunity to be involved in this wonderful work! Tomorrow should be interesting, a Bible study with 4 school teachers at Lisland Resort, a picnic and teaching sessions at Pao and the city scheduled to have the power off from 6 AM to 6 PM. Fortunately, most of the places we go do not have electricity :) Have a great night!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
A NEW WORK WEEK!
MONDAY, April 11, 2011
My day started at 5:00 AM watching the Masters Golf Tournament live! At 7AM we went to breakfast and waited but car trouble with Celine's car and then with Susan's car also. So now we are going to have to change our plans and head to Binalonan in a different way. The folks here hired a van for us and a driver, so flexibility! We met with Rudy who just graduated from PTC on what he is going to do now that he has graduated. After he left we Susan and Richard came to meet with us while we waited.
We started our day in Binalonan at the church there. We met with the young preacher there, Rhod,who is Arnell's older brother. We spent about two hours passing out flyers on the Gospel Meeting chris and I will be preaching in this week. In that region, many of the people make thier livings by making vinegar. I am going to have to get some to bring home. At about 11 AM we met a young widow, Violy, whose husband was killed last year in a mining accident. She has four beautiful daughters under age 10! We studied for over an hour with Richard translating for me. She has committed to be a the gospel meeting and is a very good prospect. At about 12:30 we returned to the chapel to have lunch: hamburgers and fries with Diet Coke under the mango tree.
After meeting with and discussing the work there with Rhod and Benny and Celine, we headed to Manaldan to attend the birthday party of 2 year old Matt Carl, Josie's youngest son. When we arrived, much of the old gang from PTC was there. I will have a full blog on the party, but it was great.
After leaving there we went to Bugallon to visit the campus of PTC. It was amazing to see it and remember the way it looked the first day, with just the one house in disrepair and now to see it. Missed a number of Laurie's old kids, but found out Magiboo is still in Mania and Sandra is with an aunt in Lingyuan.
After the party we went back to Binalonan and spoke at the YOUth Leadership Conference. I spoke on Choices by Rehoboam--The Influence of Your Friends. Then Chris spoke as well. After the meeting was over at about 10 PM and we headed out to find dinner. Chow King was closed and so was KFC so we ended up at Jollibee! Got to bed afer midnight and a visit with Jamie. Looking for another great day in Binalonan! So far it seems God has provided one day even better than the next! Today was truly a blessed day!
My day started at 5:00 AM watching the Masters Golf Tournament live! At 7AM we went to breakfast and waited but car trouble with Celine's car and then with Susan's car also. So now we are going to have to change our plans and head to Binalonan in a different way. The folks here hired a van for us and a driver, so flexibility! We met with Rudy who just graduated from PTC on what he is going to do now that he has graduated. After he left we Susan and Richard came to meet with us while we waited.
We started our day in Binalonan at the church there. We met with the young preacher there, Rhod,who is Arnell's older brother. We spent about two hours passing out flyers on the Gospel Meeting chris and I will be preaching in this week. In that region, many of the people make thier livings by making vinegar. I am going to have to get some to bring home. At about 11 AM we met a young widow, Violy, whose husband was killed last year in a mining accident. She has four beautiful daughters under age 10! We studied for over an hour with Richard translating for me. She has committed to be a the gospel meeting and is a very good prospect. At about 12:30 we returned to the chapel to have lunch: hamburgers and fries with Diet Coke under the mango tree.
After meeting with and discussing the work there with Rhod and Benny and Celine, we headed to Manaldan to attend the birthday party of 2 year old Matt Carl, Josie's youngest son. When we arrived, much of the old gang from PTC was there. I will have a full blog on the party, but it was great.
After leaving there we went to Bugallon to visit the campus of PTC. It was amazing to see it and remember the way it looked the first day, with just the one house in disrepair and now to see it. Missed a number of Laurie's old kids, but found out Magiboo is still in Mania and Sandra is with an aunt in Lingyuan.
After the party we went back to Binalonan and spoke at the YOUth Leadership Conference. I spoke on Choices by Rehoboam--The Influence of Your Friends. Then Chris spoke as well. After the meeting was over at about 10 PM and we headed out to find dinner. Chow King was closed and so was KFC so we ended up at Jollibee! Got to bed afer midnight and a visit with Jamie. Looking for another great day in Binalonan! So far it seems God has provided one day even better than the next! Today was truly a blessed day!
WHAT A WEEKEND!
SATURDAY, April 9, 2011
On Saturday the day dawned bright and hot. It is summertime here and today is a Philippine summer day! We were picked up by Arnold and taken to the Udaneta chapel After singing and registration with snacks, I spoke on Keeping the Church Alive through Evangelism. There were 174 people present and during the first hour, Chris took the teenagers and young people outside and taught them some singing and new songs. After the first hour and a short break, Chris would bring the second lesson on Keeping the Chris Alive with Benvolence. While he was speaking, the power went off and it started to get hot in the chapel! When Chris finished speaking we broke for lunch provided by the ladies at Urdaneta.
The Trenton church had provided the funds for the meal had they had been stolen in a breakin at the Boniels' home so we replaced it and so the meal was about $1000 US but those things happen. After the meal was completed we sang for a few minutes and then I spoke on Keeping the Church Alive through Edification. Following the lectures, the group met to focus on evangelizing the 17 towns in Pangisinan that do not have congregations in them. The discussion ran about 2 hours in Tagolg, so I didn't get much out of it....but I did hear them say say, "Dawn Walker and Chres Gerber" a couple of times so I hope we were being presented positively and feel sure we were.
After those meetings were over, Chris, Susan, Butch and a lady doctor who is a member at Urdaneta met with Jeff, the young preacher with psoriasis, to discuss how we can help him. We are going to deposit funds into an account to provide things that we are able to do here. Saturday night we returned to the cabanas to rest, very tired but very energized about a great day and looking forward to a great Lord's Day.
SUNDAY, April 10, 2011
After breakfast in the resort, I was taken by Susan and Butch to Urdaneta to preach. Chris was picked up by Celine and Benny and taken to Binalonan to preach there. I spoke on Our Almighty God. After services we thought there would be about 8 of us to go to Pao, the new church plant, for their first service. Instead, there were almost 40 who rode down there.
A highlight of the day was when we met the other cars in Asingan, they told me to get out and go to another truck to ride in. When I got in I saw Josie A. in the back seat! She and I were so happy and just fell in to each other's arm and just wept with joy at seeing each other. There are many that are special to us but she is especially dear to me and my family. Chris knew it was coming and so he had the video camera rolling! It was about like a scene out of a TV show with a surprise reunion.
When we arrived in Pao there were probably 90-100 total fed a picnic lunch that was just planned on Friday night! It was a great success and all pitched in to make it a success. As I watched Arnold's mother serve so many people their lunches, I was so reminded of watching my mother here. She would not eat until all had their lunches and then she was one of the last to be there cleaning up..and she is in her late 70's. Certainly a good example of the older women teaching the younger women.
After lunch, we went to meet by the creek under a HUGE mango tree. Every one in the barangy brought chairs and benches and we sang and had our first service with over 70 adults present and 17 children being taught in another place by 4 adults! Not a bad start, over 90 present for the meeting of a church that did not exist on Thursday morning! Chris spoke on The Church and then I taught a class on the Lord's Supper. After the lessons, 12 wanted to be baptized and since I had brought clothes to change, I was asked to do the baptizing. It was in a stream and after Arnold took their confessions, they came down the bank to be baptized. It was a beautiful day with all 23 that have been baptized on this trip present at the worship service as Irish was there also. After services we headed home and stopped to look at a piece of property that a brother in Asingan hd donated to build a building for the church to meet in. He also donated the wood to build it and now they need the material for a roof. The tin to make the roof would be about $350US so Chris and I are trying to see if we can work that out help them some way. One of our main purposes on this trip was to strengthen the congregations, and helping to provide a building would accomplish part of that.
While we were there, I called Mom and Dad at 5:45 AM in Quitman and let Josie talk to both of them. That was another highlight for me to a great day! We then stopped to visit the oldest member of the church in Asingan who is 74. Our brother was in a wheelchair and nearly deaf and blind but he has been a member of the church for over 5 decades and said his body was weak but his faith was strong. It was quite a nice visit.
Then Arnold took us to a funeral home to pay our respects to a man in the community who has family members that are members of the church. After that we headed back to Lisland and I took a shower ate a package of crackers and laid on the bed and rested. Chris and I met for about an hour to discuss the progress of the first week and then I went to sleep very satisfied with having been a part of great week when God was lifted up in this wonderful land! Please continue to pray for us, we are looking forward to a great next 10 days!
On Saturday the day dawned bright and hot. It is summertime here and today is a Philippine summer day! We were picked up by Arnold and taken to the Udaneta chapel After singing and registration with snacks, I spoke on Keeping the Church Alive through Evangelism. There were 174 people present and during the first hour, Chris took the teenagers and young people outside and taught them some singing and new songs. After the first hour and a short break, Chris would bring the second lesson on Keeping the Chris Alive with Benvolence. While he was speaking, the power went off and it started to get hot in the chapel! When Chris finished speaking we broke for lunch provided by the ladies at Urdaneta.
The Trenton church had provided the funds for the meal had they had been stolen in a breakin at the Boniels' home so we replaced it and so the meal was about $1000 US but those things happen. After the meal was completed we sang for a few minutes and then I spoke on Keeping the Church Alive through Edification. Following the lectures, the group met to focus on evangelizing the 17 towns in Pangisinan that do not have congregations in them. The discussion ran about 2 hours in Tagolg, so I didn't get much out of it....but I did hear them say say, "Dawn Walker and Chres Gerber" a couple of times so I hope we were being presented positively and feel sure we were.
After those meetings were over, Chris, Susan, Butch and a lady doctor who is a member at Urdaneta met with Jeff, the young preacher with psoriasis, to discuss how we can help him. We are going to deposit funds into an account to provide things that we are able to do here. Saturday night we returned to the cabanas to rest, very tired but very energized about a great day and looking forward to a great Lord's Day.
SUNDAY, April 10, 2011
After breakfast in the resort, I was taken by Susan and Butch to Urdaneta to preach. Chris was picked up by Celine and Benny and taken to Binalonan to preach there. I spoke on Our Almighty God. After services we thought there would be about 8 of us to go to Pao, the new church plant, for their first service. Instead, there were almost 40 who rode down there.
A highlight of the day was when we met the other cars in Asingan, they told me to get out and go to another truck to ride in. When I got in I saw Josie A. in the back seat! She and I were so happy and just fell in to each other's arm and just wept with joy at seeing each other. There are many that are special to us but she is especially dear to me and my family. Chris knew it was coming and so he had the video camera rolling! It was about like a scene out of a TV show with a surprise reunion.
When we arrived in Pao there were probably 90-100 total fed a picnic lunch that was just planned on Friday night! It was a great success and all pitched in to make it a success. As I watched Arnold's mother serve so many people their lunches, I was so reminded of watching my mother here. She would not eat until all had their lunches and then she was one of the last to be there cleaning up..and she is in her late 70's. Certainly a good example of the older women teaching the younger women.
After lunch, we went to meet by the creek under a HUGE mango tree. Every one in the barangy brought chairs and benches and we sang and had our first service with over 70 adults present and 17 children being taught in another place by 4 adults! Not a bad start, over 90 present for the meeting of a church that did not exist on Thursday morning! Chris spoke on The Church and then I taught a class on the Lord's Supper. After the lessons, 12 wanted to be baptized and since I had brought clothes to change, I was asked to do the baptizing. It was in a stream and after Arnold took their confessions, they came down the bank to be baptized. It was a beautiful day with all 23 that have been baptized on this trip present at the worship service as Irish was there also. After services we headed home and stopped to look at a piece of property that a brother in Asingan hd donated to build a building for the church to meet in. He also donated the wood to build it and now they need the material for a roof. The tin to make the roof would be about $350US so Chris and I are trying to see if we can work that out help them some way. One of our main purposes on this trip was to strengthen the congregations, and helping to provide a building would accomplish part of that.
While we were there, I called Mom and Dad at 5:45 AM in Quitman and let Josie talk to both of them. That was another highlight for me to a great day! We then stopped to visit the oldest member of the church in Asingan who is 74. Our brother was in a wheelchair and nearly deaf and blind but he has been a member of the church for over 5 decades and said his body was weak but his faith was strong. It was quite a nice visit.
Then Arnold took us to a funeral home to pay our respects to a man in the community who has family members that are members of the church. After that we headed back to Lisland and I took a shower ate a package of crackers and laid on the bed and rested. Chris and I met for about an hour to discuss the progress of the first week and then I went to sleep very satisfied with having been a part of great week when God was lifted up in this wonderful land! Please continue to pray for us, we are looking forward to a great next 10 days!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Things are hopping now!
FRIDAY, April 8, 2011 I woke up at 4:30 AM after a good night of sleep to study a bit for the Youth Leadership Confence lesson I would give this morning. In the USA it would be unthinkable to ask someone on the such short notice but here it is commonplace and it is an honor to be asked to address the group, so Chris and I accepted the honor and the chance to share with a group of bright young people.
After breakfast in the hotel, Arnold picked us up and took us to the Urdaneta chapel (church building) where we were greeted by about a dozen or so young people who were late high school and college age. Our lessons were using Bible examples of young people that made wise or foolish decisions. After about an hour of singing and felolwship, we taught our lessons and then sang some more. The Filipinos love to sing, have beautiful voices and the chapel has wonderful acoustics!
We had lunch there and visited for a while before meeting with Arnold again about the plans for a Bible Study Center to be located in the Magic Mall.
At about 2:30 PM we went to Asingan and picked up a cousin of Arnold. He took us out to the barangy Pao. A barangy is a Filipino neighborhood with its own governing officials. After driving a cross a very narrow dirt dam between two rice paddies we arrived and were greeted by about 40-50 adults and children.
After about 30 minutes of visiting and working out the details, we were taken in to a house that a family was buidling (about 60% Complete) and they crowded over 35 folks from new born nursing babies to old men and women in to hear. I spoke and Arnold translated and I talked about from Eden back to Eden spiritually. After Arnold extended the invitation in Ilacano, he said, " in 3 minutes I will leave for the stream if any wish to be baptized. Go change and come back. A bit unususal invitation but 8 were back and he headed through the village to the creek. Surely could have used Mom and Laurie as there were children everywhere! :)
We got to the stream and Arnold borrowed a pair of shorts and baptized the 8, then 2 more said they wanted to also. So 10 were baptized and the congregation in Pao was begun!
We made arrnagements to return on Sunday at 1 P to bring a picnic and then have services at 3 P. Chris will preach on the Lord's Church and I will teach a class on the Lord's Supper. There is little as exciting as seeing a new congregation begin and getting to worship with them on the first time they assemble together!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Going to Work in the Philippines
THIS IS THE PHOTO OF A YOUNG PREACHER CHRIS AND I ARE TRYING TO HELP GET HIS TREAMENT FOR PSORIASIS. HE HAS A NEW BABY AND WIFE AND IS A FAITHFUL GOSPEL PREACHER WHO CANT AFFORD HIS MEDICINE. THE FOUR IV TREATMENTS COST ABOUT $825 US. IF YOU CAN AND WILL HELP, MESSAGE ME OR SEND ME AN E-MAIL AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE DETAILS. THANKS, DON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011
Woke up at about 2:30 AM and watched TV and read my Bible for about an hour and went back to sleep, realizing that I had no idea who had won the NCAA basketball tourney finals and the world had kept turning! Woke back up at about 7 AM PST and after a little time for prayer and study got dressed and headed to breakfast. Eggs and crispy bacon with toast were quite good and the restaurant is very nice and a covered open porch overlooking the HUGE swimming pools. Susan joined us and left instructions for our plans, but could not eat as her youngest son, graduated from high school that morning.
We were picked up by Carlos, a college student, who will be our regular driver in Benny and Celine’s late model Toyota and we were off to our meeting with the area church leaders at the Urdaneta church building. When we arrived there were about a dozen preachers and church leaders from 5 different congregations in the Pangisinan province to meet with us. Butch Boniel, Susan’s husband, opened the session and gave a quick introduction and then Arnold began to make the main presentation. Arnold is, I would guess in his mid to late 30’s and a very successful business man. He owns a beauty salon, barber shop and spa along with an optical shop and a pharmacy. He outlined in his very good presentation that lasted a little over an hour and ½ the history of the Lord’s church in Pangisinan going back to 1942 and the current situation. There were 18 towns in Pangisinan without churches of Christ a year ago and 11 congregations met together to try and establish one in each town in the next 20 years.
They have a very good program of placing two men in each town as preachers and supporting them for 2 years fully in then over the next 5 years weaning the support down to when the congregation can be fully autonomous in 7 years and have a program to build a permanent building in 10-12 years. They have begun the first church planting in Bayanbang last September and it appears to be going good. Their goal is to plant a church in every town in Pangisinan over the next 20 years. Currently there are 1605 members of the church of Christ in Pangisinan. The province has a total population of 2.8 million and is increasing by 2.4% each year. They aim to have a 2.8% rate of conversion in 20 years, which will mean there will be almost 75,000 Christians. It is a lofty goal but it is one that they are committed to achieving. As with many good works the number of congregations involved dwindled to just 5 but they all appear to be good churches. Tuesday afternoon we continued meeting with the local church leaders and returned to the hotel about 6:30 PM and hosted the Boniel family for dinner at the hotel restaurant. After that at about 11:00 PM we headed to the cabanas for a night of rest.
WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2011
This morning when we got up at 6 AM and had breakfast in the hotel. I was able to get to talk with Jamie, Laurie, Leigh, Louise and of course, Ellie on Skype! It was wonderful to get to see and visit with them. At 9 AM bro. Arnold picked us up and we had planned to go visiting members of the Urdaneta congregation who were older, sick or weak spiritually. Before we went, I had lost my sunglasses, so I asked Arnold to let me go to his shop and get some. That will be an important fact as the day goes on! We went to the Magic Mall and to his Optical Shoppe. After looking at cheap sunglasses, he suggested I get the Ray-Bans. I looked at a pair that were way to expensive but he went and looked at the invoice and said “1000 pesos” (US$23.17) They were marked 500% more but with the usual negotiation he gave them to me at his cost! After getting the glasses he gave Chris the free “Sr. Citizen” eye exam.
Then he shared with us something he had not spoken with any one else about. He took us upstairs above his Beauty Salon and showed us an area that is over 300 sq/meters (which is a big area) with on open area that would be wonderful for opening a Bible Study Center. The area has unlimited potential as it has over 20,000 people that walk by the mall store every day. This is a great opportunity that has wonderful potential to reach souls. There are 7 universities in this city with 18-20 K students out of a total population of over 100,000 people. After about 3 ½ hours of meeting and planning, we had lunch at Jolibee’s.
After lunch, starting at about 2:30 PM we made 3 visits. One of them was a 94 year brother who was baptized when he was 86. We visited another brother who had been less faithful but said he would be at the Central Pangisnan Fellowship that Chris and I will be speaking at on Saturday at Urdaneta.
We then went to the home of a Muslim family. The one young sister brought her 67 year old aunt and we studied with her for over an hour. She was hung up on “Mother Maria” . Chris led the study for about 45 minutes and then I tried to reason with her. But she could not give up that yet. But she left us with the promise that she would be thinking about it.
We then had dinner at Max’s and then went to Arnold and Donna’s home and had two Bible studies. Chris studied with Donna’s sister in law who is waiting on a VISA to go the US to join her husband and children in Evansville, IN. He is a member of the church but she is not. Chris had a good study and she said she would continue to study and pray. We hope to have another study with her before we leave.
While Chris had his study in the kitchen, I studied with Irish, a 22 year old friend of their daughter, Dinah. She was able to understand and accept the Lord and at about 11:15 PM we took her to the Lisland Resort and she was baptized. After a very difficult start to the day with the break-in of Susan and Butch’s home, it ended on a wonderful note with the baptism of Irish to close the day on a great note!
Woke up at about 2:30 AM and watched TV and read my Bible for about an hour and went back to sleep, realizing that I had no idea who had won the NCAA basketball tourney finals and the world had kept turning! Woke back up at about 7 AM PST and after a little time for prayer and study got dressed and headed to breakfast. Eggs and crispy bacon with toast were quite good and the restaurant is very nice and a covered open porch overlooking the HUGE swimming pools. Susan joined us and left instructions for our plans, but could not eat as her youngest son, graduated from high school that morning.
We were picked up by Carlos, a college student, who will be our regular driver in Benny and Celine’s late model Toyota and we were off to our meeting with the area church leaders at the Urdaneta church building. When we arrived there were about a dozen preachers and church leaders from 5 different congregations in the Pangisinan province to meet with us. Butch Boniel, Susan’s husband, opened the session and gave a quick introduction and then Arnold began to make the main presentation. Arnold is, I would guess in his mid to late 30’s and a very successful business man. He owns a beauty salon, barber shop and spa along with an optical shop and a pharmacy. He outlined in his very good presentation that lasted a little over an hour and ½ the history of the Lord’s church in Pangisinan going back to 1942 and the current situation. There were 18 towns in Pangisinan without churches of Christ a year ago and 11 congregations met together to try and establish one in each town in the next 20 years.
They have a very good program of placing two men in each town as preachers and supporting them for 2 years fully in then over the next 5 years weaning the support down to when the congregation can be fully autonomous in 7 years and have a program to build a permanent building in 10-12 years. They have begun the first church planting in Bayanbang last September and it appears to be going good. Their goal is to plant a church in every town in Pangisinan over the next 20 years. Currently there are 1605 members of the church of Christ in Pangisinan. The province has a total population of 2.8 million and is increasing by 2.4% each year. They aim to have a 2.8% rate of conversion in 20 years, which will mean there will be almost 75,000 Christians. It is a lofty goal but it is one that they are committed to achieving. As with many good works the number of congregations involved dwindled to just 5 but they all appear to be good churches. Tuesday afternoon we continued meeting with the local church leaders and returned to the hotel about 6:30 PM and hosted the Boniel family for dinner at the hotel restaurant. After that at about 11:00 PM we headed to the cabanas for a night of rest.
WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2011
This morning when we got up at 6 AM and had breakfast in the hotel. I was able to get to talk with Jamie, Laurie, Leigh, Louise and of course, Ellie on Skype! It was wonderful to get to see and visit with them. At 9 AM bro. Arnold picked us up and we had planned to go visiting members of the Urdaneta congregation who were older, sick or weak spiritually. Before we went, I had lost my sunglasses, so I asked Arnold to let me go to his shop and get some. That will be an important fact as the day goes on! We went to the Magic Mall and to his Optical Shoppe. After looking at cheap sunglasses, he suggested I get the Ray-Bans. I looked at a pair that were way to expensive but he went and looked at the invoice and said “1000 pesos” (US$23.17) They were marked 500% more but with the usual negotiation he gave them to me at his cost! After getting the glasses he gave Chris the free “Sr. Citizen” eye exam.
Then he shared with us something he had not spoken with any one else about. He took us upstairs above his Beauty Salon and showed us an area that is over 300 sq/meters (which is a big area) with on open area that would be wonderful for opening a Bible Study Center. The area has unlimited potential as it has over 20,000 people that walk by the mall store every day. This is a great opportunity that has wonderful potential to reach souls. There are 7 universities in this city with 18-20 K students out of a total population of over 100,000 people. After about 3 ½ hours of meeting and planning, we had lunch at Jolibee’s.
After lunch, starting at about 2:30 PM we made 3 visits. One of them was a 94 year brother who was baptized when he was 86. We visited another brother who had been less faithful but said he would be at the Central Pangisnan Fellowship that Chris and I will be speaking at on Saturday at Urdaneta.
We then went to the home of a Muslim family. The one young sister brought her 67 year old aunt and we studied with her for over an hour. She was hung up on “Mother Maria” . Chris led the study for about 45 minutes and then I tried to reason with her. But she could not give up that yet. But she left us with the promise that she would be thinking about it.
We then had dinner at Max’s and then went to Arnold and Donna’s home and had two Bible studies. Chris studied with Donna’s sister in law who is waiting on a VISA to go the US to join her husband and children in Evansville, IN. He is a member of the church but she is not. Chris had a good study and she said she would continue to study and pray. We hope to have another study with her before we leave.
While Chris had his study in the kitchen, I studied with Irish, a 22 year old friend of their daughter, Dinah. She was able to understand and accept the Lord and at about 11:15 PM we took her to the Lisland Resort and she was baptized. After a very difficult start to the day with the break-in of Susan and Butch’s home, it ended on a wonderful note with the baptism of Irish to close the day on a great note!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
FLIGHT TO MANILA
April 2, 2011 After great visits with my mom and dad last night, Louise, Dirt and Ellie arrived about 10:30 PM and we visited until about 11:30 and they headed on to Nashville and we got ready for bed. Mom and Dad brought a Filipino cell phone that I will use on the trip and then give to Josie A. They also sent 2,500 pesos for her and her family. April 2, 2011 Got up this morning with Ellie at about 7:30 AM and got to visit with Ellie for about 1 ½ hours by myself. Then Jamie got up and we had a light breakfast with the family and then went to the church building and handled some things and headed to Chattanooga. We ate at Sticky Fingers. We had a great Southern meal of wings and ribs before heading to the airport. The flight from Chattanooga to was on time and uneventful.
When we arrived in the Atlanta airport, we found a charging station and got our phones and computers charged and headed to T G I Friday’s to eat. Chris had ribs and I had soup and salad and it was a good meal. We then spent about 5 hours waiting for the flight and Chris and I had the chance to visit with a very nice Korean lady, Sona, who lives in Birmingham and is traveling back to Korea to see her sick mother. She shifted seats and sat with Chris and I on the flight to Seoul. The flight left about 10 minutes late, just after midnight, and the plane was full. During the first 10 ½ hours of the flight I slept and watched two movies, Gulliver’s Travels and Secretariat and ate dinner and breakfast, I had Korean for dinner and still couldn’t eat the seaweed soup or the pickled … something. It was a vegetable but was not a kosher dill.
Sunday, April 3
We crossed the International Dateline at about 6 AM EDT and turned south. This trip we flew the Great Circle route. We left Atlanta and flew almost due north across Hudson Bay in Canada and then turned to the north and west and flew to the Artic Circle and north of Alaska. About 6 or 7AM ET we headed across Siberia headed south to South Korea. We will fly well inland over China, also, and into Korea. At about 10:45 AM EDT, Chris and I shared the Lord’s Supper at 36,000 feet over northern Siberia. It was encouraging to think that we were sharing it at about the same time our brothers and sisters in Trenton were partaking. A little feeling of family, even 7500 miles away. Sunday came and went and we never touched the ground. International travel will mess with your mind sometimes….. We are slated to land in Seoul at 4:43 AM Monday morning local Korean Standard time and we leave for Manila at 8:10 AM local time.
Monday, April 4, 2011
We arrived in Seoul on time and it is always nice to get off the plane after a 15 ½ hour flight! We went to the terminal and Chris headed for the coffee shop while I watched our carry-ons. I began talking to a young man in his late 30’s who asked why we were going to the Philippines. He said he was born in the Philippines but had moved to New Jersey 25 years ago. Alex and I began a discussion about our trip and family and religion. When Chris returned with the coffee, he sat down next to him and we continued the discussion and turned it in to a question and answer session as he asked us questions about the Bible and spiritual things. We both talked to him for a while until I got connected on SKYPE with Jamie. Chris continued to discuss the Bible with him and the conversation and discussion with Alex went on for over an hour and a half. One of the more interesting comments by Alex was made after about an hour of serious questions by him. He said, “It’s great you are doing this but I really don’t think that many Filipinos are very interested in the Bible or spiritual things.” I found this particularly interesting after this young Filipino had initiated most of the first hour of the discussion and would continue it until we got on the plane! He was very interested but he cold not see that others woul be interested too! Our flight was announced and we boarded the 777-300 for our final leg of the flight to Manila on time, about 8:20 AM Seoul time. When we got to our seats, the seat beside us was vacant so we had a little extra room to spread out and relax for the last 3 ½ hours of the trip. Never found much on the movie channels I liked so I put in some music and slept of and on until we arrived. It was interesting the meal choice on the plane. At 9:30 AM local time, they served us lunch, seafood and rice, pickled vegetables and a roll with yogurt! Not your typical power breakfast, but our internal clocks were so confused, it didn’t really seem strange at all! We landed in Manila on time and after clearing customs and getting our bags, we went out to meet our ride. When we walked out of the terminal, across the road, in the mob of Filipinos, was Richard De Capria. It’s not that my eyes are that good, he is just head and shoulders above most Filipinos at 6’2”! He was smiling and waving his arms and signaling us to wait. Susan Boniel and our sister Celine met us with Richard and the driver and we loaded up the van and headed NW to Urdaneta. About 2:30 PM we stopped at Max’s in Tarlac City for lunch. Tarlac is our regular spot as the shopping area has Max’s Chicken, KFC, Jolibee’s, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. For an American group heading to north-central Luzon it is an oasis of the familiar!. In Max’s we decided on a Filipino family meal with chicken, fish and pork along with soup, vegetables and of course, rice! When I got ready to pay the ticket, sister Celine had already paid for it. She and her husband, Benny, are in the construction business and very influential in the Urdaneta congregation. They did the construction on the beautiful chapel (church building) at Urdaneta and loaned the congregation the 1.2 million pesos,(about $28,000 US) interest free! Her grew up as a preacher’s son and attended Sonrise Christian College and is very good friends with Bob Buchanan and family, He also is close to Roman and Lena Carriaga and their family. We continued on and made a stop at CSI (a department and grocery superstore) and got pesos for dollars at a good rate (43.15) and I got minutes for my local cellphone and Chris purchased one. We arrived at the Lisland resort and checked in about 6:30 PM. The cabanas that we had are nice with a large bedroom and sitting area and a bath. They are in the middle of the property and away from the pool and ballroom but not so close to the road so it is very quiet. Chris went to #7 and I went to #6 and after a call to Jamie and Mom and Dad, called it a night at about 8:30 PM PST (Philippine time) and fell quickly to sleep on a very comfortable bed. We are ready to go to work!
When we arrived in the Atlanta airport, we found a charging station and got our phones and computers charged and headed to T G I Friday’s to eat. Chris had ribs and I had soup and salad and it was a good meal. We then spent about 5 hours waiting for the flight and Chris and I had the chance to visit with a very nice Korean lady, Sona, who lives in Birmingham and is traveling back to Korea to see her sick mother. She shifted seats and sat with Chris and I on the flight to Seoul. The flight left about 10 minutes late, just after midnight, and the plane was full. During the first 10 ½ hours of the flight I slept and watched two movies, Gulliver’s Travels and Secretariat and ate dinner and breakfast, I had Korean for dinner and still couldn’t eat the seaweed soup or the pickled … something. It was a vegetable but was not a kosher dill.
Sunday, April 3
We crossed the International Dateline at about 6 AM EDT and turned south. This trip we flew the Great Circle route. We left Atlanta and flew almost due north across Hudson Bay in Canada and then turned to the north and west and flew to the Artic Circle and north of Alaska. About 6 or 7AM ET we headed across Siberia headed south to South Korea. We will fly well inland over China, also, and into Korea. At about 10:45 AM EDT, Chris and I shared the Lord’s Supper at 36,000 feet over northern Siberia. It was encouraging to think that we were sharing it at about the same time our brothers and sisters in Trenton were partaking. A little feeling of family, even 7500 miles away. Sunday came and went and we never touched the ground. International travel will mess with your mind sometimes….. We are slated to land in Seoul at 4:43 AM Monday morning local Korean Standard time and we leave for Manila at 8:10 AM local time.
Monday, April 4, 2011
We arrived in Seoul on time and it is always nice to get off the plane after a 15 ½ hour flight! We went to the terminal and Chris headed for the coffee shop while I watched our carry-ons. I began talking to a young man in his late 30’s who asked why we were going to the Philippines. He said he was born in the Philippines but had moved to New Jersey 25 years ago. Alex and I began a discussion about our trip and family and religion. When Chris returned with the coffee, he sat down next to him and we continued the discussion and turned it in to a question and answer session as he asked us questions about the Bible and spiritual things. We both talked to him for a while until I got connected on SKYPE with Jamie. Chris continued to discuss the Bible with him and the conversation and discussion with Alex went on for over an hour and a half. One of the more interesting comments by Alex was made after about an hour of serious questions by him. He said, “It’s great you are doing this but I really don’t think that many Filipinos are very interested in the Bible or spiritual things.” I found this particularly interesting after this young Filipino had initiated most of the first hour of the discussion and would continue it until we got on the plane! He was very interested but he cold not see that others woul be interested too! Our flight was announced and we boarded the 777-300 for our final leg of the flight to Manila on time, about 8:20 AM Seoul time. When we got to our seats, the seat beside us was vacant so we had a little extra room to spread out and relax for the last 3 ½ hours of the trip. Never found much on the movie channels I liked so I put in some music and slept of and on until we arrived. It was interesting the meal choice on the plane. At 9:30 AM local time, they served us lunch, seafood and rice, pickled vegetables and a roll with yogurt! Not your typical power breakfast, but our internal clocks were so confused, it didn’t really seem strange at all! We landed in Manila on time and after clearing customs and getting our bags, we went out to meet our ride. When we walked out of the terminal, across the road, in the mob of Filipinos, was Richard De Capria. It’s not that my eyes are that good, he is just head and shoulders above most Filipinos at 6’2”! He was smiling and waving his arms and signaling us to wait. Susan Boniel and our sister Celine met us with Richard and the driver and we loaded up the van and headed NW to Urdaneta. About 2:30 PM we stopped at Max’s in Tarlac City for lunch. Tarlac is our regular spot as the shopping area has Max’s Chicken, KFC, Jolibee’s, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. For an American group heading to north-central Luzon it is an oasis of the familiar!. In Max’s we decided on a Filipino family meal with chicken, fish and pork along with soup, vegetables and of course, rice! When I got ready to pay the ticket, sister Celine had already paid for it. She and her husband, Benny, are in the construction business and very influential in the Urdaneta congregation. They did the construction on the beautiful chapel (church building) at Urdaneta and loaned the congregation the 1.2 million pesos,(about $28,000 US) interest free! Her grew up as a preacher’s son and attended Sonrise Christian College and is very good friends with Bob Buchanan and family, He also is close to Roman and Lena Carriaga and their family. We continued on and made a stop at CSI (a department and grocery superstore) and got pesos for dollars at a good rate (43.15) and I got minutes for my local cellphone and Chris purchased one. We arrived at the Lisland resort and checked in about 6:30 PM. The cabanas that we had are nice with a large bedroom and sitting area and a bath. They are in the middle of the property and away from the pool and ballroom but not so close to the road so it is very quiet. Chris went to #7 and I went to #6 and after a call to Jamie and Mom and Dad, called it a night at about 8:30 PM PST (Philippine time) and fell quickly to sleep on a very comfortable bed. We are ready to go to work!
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