MISSIONS : Philippine Trip January 2008

I recently had the privilege of traveling back to the Philippine Islands again. It has been several years since I was last able to go. I first visited the Philippines in 1999 and was able to return in 2000 and again in 2002. It has been 6 years since that last visit and the desire to once again see my Filipino brothers and sisters has grown with each passing year! So this last trip was an answer to many prayers. I want to thank the congregation of the Revealed Word Tabernacle for their generous support and many prayers during this trip. Without you, this would not have been possible.

I spent a total of twelve days in the Philippines and was able to minister in seven different churches and in one joint fellowship meeting of six churches. I believe great things were accomplished in helping to encourage and strengthen the brethren there. Below are some pictures of the different places we went. I hope they will be a blessing. The old saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words... but tens of thousands of words would not even begin to describe the blessing of fellowship we enjoyed with the brothers and sisters in the Philippines!

Saturday evening fellowship with local ministers and a few foreign missionaries. Bro. Cyril Mahadeo from North Carolina. Bro. Earl Heiss from Pennsylvania. Bro. Kim Dingwall from Vancouver, B.C. Bro. James Simonson from Saskatchewan, Canada.

The cuisine was to out of this world!

Sunday morning service at Bro. Vernon Manahan's church in Manila.

Sunday evening we traveled outside of Manila to Tagatay City where a six church joint fellowship meeting was being sponsored by Bro. Jesse. It was raining before we arrived and it didn't stop until the service was almost over well after dark. But the wet seats were not enough to keep us from having a great time.

Some of the ministers at the fellowship meeting.

Monday was spent in minister meetings. Many topics discussed... much fellowship. The evening was made perfect with Bro. Earl Heiss from Pennsylvania ministering to a group of ministers gathered from around Manila and some of the outlaying provinces. Here is some video from the Monday afternoon fellowship. This is Bro. Ghani and Bro. Kim Dingwall singing at the Monday Fellowship.

Tuesday evening we joined Bro. Nestor Espanola's regular midweek service. We experienced such freedom in worship and ministering the Word! Wonderful time! Afterwards we had dinner and fellowship.

Wednesday we hit the road before daylight and traveled almost 5 hours to Dingalan Province on the Northeast side of Luzon Island, Philippines. This is the area that was devastated by two typhoons back to back in 2005. The whole area was buried under mud and boulders as the mountain melted under the torrential rainfall. The local church, pastored by Bro. Nanding, was totally wiped away. The only thing left was part of the foundation.

The saints were miraculously spared... not one of the local congregation was lost. Hundreds of others died during this disaster. Bro. Nanding and his congregation became a testimony to the power of God to protect and preserve His children! Not only did God protect and preserve life, but He also had greater things in store for them! He is the same God who restored Job two times over after his calamity! The saints here in Dingalan, with help from churches around the world, were able to rebuild on a better piece of ground under much better circumstances. Beginning with the church building they built they're very own community comprised of believers! They are now held in high esteem in Dingalan as those Blessed by God!

Some of the smiling faces of the children!

Thriving community of believers!

	Pastor Nanding
	Thursday evening we were with a new group of believers for their midweek Bible study. The congregation is made up of employees of the Bellevue Hotel which is a five star hotel in Alabang near Manila. Pastor Tagonan takes care of them. They hold their regular services in meeting rooms in the hotel and the Lord has greatly blessed them in the few months they have been there! We had another wonderful evening of fellowship around the Word.

	Friday we flew South to the Visayas Island, Western Samar. This is where the Message first entered the Philippines in 1971. Pastor Salazar in Calbayag City was a professor in a Bible College in Western Samar when he first received the Message and began spreading it to students and teachers that he came in contact with. After 36 years his church is still flourishing and shining the Light of God's End Time Message!
Pastor Salazar


	Friday evening we were with Bro. Roland Genesis. He was my interpreter in his church and also Bro. Salazar's church.

Saturday we were able to rest a little and meet many of the believers. This is Bro. Teddy. This brother received this bicycle in 2000. Bro. Donny Reagan sent many bikes and supplies over in two containers. Bro. Teddy received his and promptly put it to use. He has traveled many miles between villages carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. The only thing he has had to replace are the tires!

	Sunday was a very busy day! We began in Bro. Salazar's church in the morning and had a tremendous service! I can only imagine the time we will have together when there is no more language barrier! This is Bro. James Simonson singing a special.

Immediately after the service we were off to catch a boat for a neighboring island. Bro. Doming Ompad is the pastor there. This is Bro. Ompad and Bro. Vernon.

Sunday evening... the last service of the trip. What a wonderful way to finish the journey. This place is beautiful! God put such wonderful believers in such a beautiful setting!

Bro. Ompad's church.

	On my way home. God Bless!