Joyce and I returned Wednesday from another trip north to Sagada (pictures will be up soon). We were quite surprised when we arrived to find a street festival on going and crowds filling the streets of this normally quiet mountain town. The noise of stereos and live music filled the air until well after curfew, when things finally settled down on that first night. We were able to make a few new friends at a couple of the local establishments that first evening as we tried out our new Ilokano and Kankaney phrases on them. They were quite surprised and giggled at the fact that we were learning. I was quite surprised at how well most of them understood and spoke some Tagalog also, something that was not true only a few years ago. English still works very well as they are very well educated and converse easily and comfortably in English.
On our second day in town we traveled down to Bulugan to try and find a couple of Mike Smits’ old friends who are in the Lord work there. It was quite a drive down some pretty rough roads over some fairly large rocks and over a few sections of very narrow rutted roads. But we slowly descended into the beautiful valley of rice terraces. We found John and his brother Roy doing well and happy to see us. We were invited into the house and sat for a while and reminisced about the past and the days when Mike and Bev Smits served the Lord in Sagada. We saw the small chapel building where over 15 family meet each week to hear the word taught. It was quite an encouraging visit. Roy rode with us back into town and we stopped along the way to visit with another old friend of the Smits, Nancy Likigan. She welcomed us as well, into her home and we sat and chatted a bit and learned the whereabouts of her sister who lived with the Smits family for many years. The morning was quite encouraging for Joyce and I. It was nice to have some warm and friendly contacts in town with whom we can visit when we return. John and Roy warmly opened up their homes to us and desire that we return again for a visit next time.
We arrived back in Baguio Wednesday very tired but refreshed in spirit. Then we learned that the dates that we had been given for the Special Studies sessions down in Manila (Malolos Bulucan) were incorrect and that I would be teaching next week and not the week after. So tomorrow we must head down to Manila a little over a week earlier than we expected. This has put a bit of stress on Joyce, but she is doing well. I will be teaching each day next week for two hours a day on the subject of Servant Leadership. A subject that is near and dear to my heart. We would ask that you pray for me that the Lord would use me to speak to the hearts of the men and woman who will come for this special week of studies.
We had a very nice Bible Study last night in the home of Florie Rimando. Last night nine were out to hear the word. We continued our study in the book of Ephesians, last night completing the first half of Chapter three.
Thank you all so much for your continued prayers. We are still unsure of what the Lord’s plans are for us regarding Sagada, but we will continue to make trips over the trail and wait to see what He will do. And we continue to study both Ilokano and Kankaney which we can use here in Baguio as well.
Joyce will have some further doctor visits and tests the week following Special Studies. Pray that the Lord’s will be done. We are praying that no further cancer will be found. But our lives are in His blessed hands.
Larnni will definitely be needing some surgery on her vocal cords so please keep that in your prayers as well.
May the Lord richly bless you all for His glory.
