We arrived back in the Philippines on Tuesday evening (July 26th) and we travelled up to Baguio on Thursday morning. We were unaware, when we left Manila, that the typhoon that was tracking in the direction of the Visayan Islands veered north and came right across Baguio on Wednesday afternoon and evening. As we traveled up we were noticing a lot of flooding in the lowlands, and then there were several landslides and downed trees along Kennon Rd, the main road we travel up the mountain. But they were already actively clearing the roads and we had no delays. It is nice to be home, but we are very tired and in need of time to recuperate. For some reason we are not dealing with the jet lag as well this time as we normally do.
Our time at home was a very mixed bag of joyful occasions and very sad times. It was nice to be introduced to our new granddaughter Anna. Abby gave birth to Sharon Anna a few days before we arrived in Chicago so it was very nice to have almost three weeks with them all. Then we were all together for a few days in June for Rachel’s wedding. It was a beautiful time. The weather was perfect that day, after several days of rain. Even the morning of the wedding it was overcast and drizzly and it appeared as if it might be another rainy day. But in late morning it began to brighten, and by about one o’clock the sun was out, and it was a beautiful day, for which we thank the Lord. Our special thanks to Elaine Littlehales for putting us up for those weeks, even though we arrived a few days ahead of schedule and she was not expecting us for several more days. We enjoyed our time with her so very much.
The love of the saints is so overwhelming to us. One dear family rented a car for us to use the whole time we were in Connecticut, it was such a blessing!! Others had us over for meals and fellowship and we thank each of you. It was so nice to be able to visit with the saints at several assemblies in CT, thank you all so very much for the warmth of your love to Joyce and me.
Following the wedding we travelled down to Florida to visit with Joyce’s folks and enjoyed our time there. It was good to be with the saints at Hiawassa Bible Chapel once again. But our time was cut short by the sudden death of my cousin’s son. My cousin is also my best friend and has been for so many years, that we wanted to be there for him and his wife during this difficult time. We were able to change our tickets and travel up for the funeral services. Special thanks to Xavier and Elizabeth as well for taking us in and showing us such Christian hospitality, and for the use of their car for the whole time we were there.
It was hard to leave everyone behind again. Kim and Larry and the grandkids are on a year furlough so we will miss having them here in Manila this year. Abby and Daniel remain in the Chicago area for another year while Daniel works on his second masters program. Rachel and her husband Ian have purchased a house in Connecticut and will continue to live and work in that area. We will miss them all.
We should be back into our regular routine by next week, Lord willing. I have a CMPI board meeting scheduled for next Saturday so we will have to make the trip back down to Manila again next week. We will drive down on Friday and back on Saturday afternoon since I will be speaking here in Baguio on that Sunday. There are a few new bible studies that have started over the last couple of months, we are praying about where the Lord would use me in regards to these new studies. I have a full Sunday morning speaking schedule for the next several months and we will be seeking to finish up the bible schools on ecclesiology over the next couple of months as well, both at the Navy Base assembly and at the assembly in Baguio Gold. So please keep these things in your prayers.
It is evident to us that we must seek to replace our old car. It is a 1991 Mitsubishi Pejero (Montero) that has served us well these last few years. It has been a real work horse, but it is getting rather old and the maintenance is getting more and more frequent. And with the many trips we take we really need a vehicle that we can depend on. We have been reluctant to make any trips across the mountains to Sagada for this reason, and we do have to travel back and forth to Manila and to meetings in the lowlands and lately this has been a concern. We do not know what the Lord has in store, so please keep this in your prayers as well.
Thank you all so very much for all your prayers, they do mean so very much to us. We would love to hear from you as well. Just drop us a short note via our email address. It would be such an encouragement to us.
