Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Korea Trip January 25, 2011


Greetings to you all once again.  Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read these short updates.  It is such an encouragement to us to know that you are praying for the Lord’s work here among us.  And as I view the sitemeter and see people visiting from all over the country and around the world it is such an encouragement.  Special thanks to those who frequently have dropped us a short note of encouragement, it really does mean the world to us.

Our visit to Korea (Jan 6-18) was a wonderful, but busy time.  I spoke fifteen times in twelve days, and there was never a dull moment as we shuffled between different assemblies and special breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  We were treated with such kindness and warmth.  The women’s conference went well, for which we thank the Lord.  We trust that the words shared will continue to be an encouragement to those dear saints who attended.  The location of the conference in the mountains of Southern South Korea was absolutely beautiful.  It was quite cold for us since when we left the Philippines the temperatures were in the upper 80s and when we arrived in Korea the temperatures were in the single digits, a 70 degree difference.  And there was snow!!  Something we have not seen in several years.  We stayed in different homes almost every night, and enjoyed the hospitality of the saints.  Thank you to all my new Korean friends for all that you did for us.  And a special thanks to brother Song who traveled with us and translated all the messages for me with the exception of one.  It was good to get to know such a good servant of the Lord. 

We arrived back in the Philippines late night on Tuesday the 18th, and stayed in the Manila area until Friday the 21st when we finally traveled home to Baguio.  How nice it was to be home again.  This past Lord’s day I spoke at Navy Base.  This Wednesday night I will also speak there and Lord willing attend two bible studies on Friday.  Then Sunday we will be down in Baguio Gold to speak at two meetings.  We plan to begin the next session of Bible School at Navy Base on the second Sunday of February.  Next week we will travel back down to Manila for a CMPI board meeting on Saturday the 5th and will remain in Manila over the weekend, returning on Monday. 

Last night a group from one of the assemblies in Pangisanan paid us a visit.  It was nice to meet them.  They are from the assembly where I taught at the men’s conference in early December.  They came to invite me to speak in April at their anniversary Sunday, which I was happy to do. 

Thank you all for all your prayers and support.  May the Lord continue to bless you in your service for Him.  

Korea Pics January 2011






Saturday, January 01, 2011

Happy New Year!! January 1, 2011

Greetings to you all and Happy New Year!  The Lord has faithfully brought us through another year, praise be to His name.  The year was full of new challenges and blessings for which we give Him thanks.  Thank you all for your prayers for us over the past year, they have sustained us and encouraged us. 
 
Last month was a full month for which we give Him praise.  Both Men’s Conferences went well and we trust the Lord will use His word to bless and challenge the lives of those men who were able to attend.  At the conference in Pangisanan I was given the opportunity to speak for two hours in the morning and another two hours in the afternoon.  At the conference in Bulucan I was the first speaker on Tuesday, so we drove down from Baguio in the early morning and back again in the afternoon.  Larry Keating, my son in law, was able to join me for the trip which was nice. The anniversary celebrations at Navy Base, Dau, and Baguio Gold also went well.  The celebration in Dau had about 300 or so in attendance and I spoke both in the morning and the afternoon.  It was the 50th anniversary of the work there, what a testimony to the faithfulness of our Savior.  The celebration at Navy Base was such a blessing, as there were several special numbers and in the afternoon a cantata celebrating the birth of Christ.  I spoke in the afternoon on “Making room for the Lord Jesus in our lives”.   Last week we celebrated with the saints down in Baguio Gold.  Our daughter Kim, her husband Larry, Larry’s mother Debbie and our grandkids were able to join us to remember our Lord and celebrate with the saints.  We trust the words that were shared were an encouragement to all. 

This coming Thursday, January 6th Joyce and I will be heading to Korea for a women’s conference that I will be speaking at.  It is quite cold in Korea this time of the year and I am sure we will be freezing.  But I trust the fellowship of those dear saints will warm our hearts.  We arrive on the 6th and stay until the 18th.  Please keep these speaking engagements in your prayers. 
 
Kim, Larry, Debbie and the grandkids were able to come up to Baguio for Christmas.  It was a wonderful time.  It was nice for them to escape the heat of Manila for a few days.  Having family close by is such a blessing especially during the holidays.   

The great holiday news for us was the engagement of our oldest daughter Rachel to Ian Merrit.  Ian and Rachel met at work and began dating about a year ago.  We are excited for the both of them and trust the Lord will bless and encourage them.  A summer wedding is being planned.   

Also our youngest daughter Abby and her husband Daniel are expecting an addition to their family in early June.  We are so excited for the both of them. 

May the Lord bless you in this new year.  Perhaps this year we will hear a shout and be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.  Perhaps this will be the year of our home calling.  Even so Come Lord Jesus.