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!