Update - February 17, 2011

Things here are going well for which we praise the Lord.  I keep busy at my studies and preparations.  Last week we began teaching the third “semester” of classes on Ecclesiology for the assembly at Navy Base.  This week we began a two part lesson on Teaching in the local assembly.  During the summer this past year someone very graciously gave me a video projector which I was able to put to good use. It is nice to have this new tool for teaching the word.  It sure beats all my chicken scratching on white board. It ran so very smoothly, and I am thankful. 

The home bible studies seem to be going well.  Currently there are four bible studies on going in the old Navy Base just outside of the chapel neighborhood.  This is encouraging as it is near by the chapel.  One of the women from these studies is also now attending meetings on Sunday morning.  Please pray that we would see fruit as well from the other studies.  I have been teaching one of the Friday studies over the past couple of weeks and will likely continue to teach that one as the Lord allows.  The others studies are being taught by local brethren.   

This week I return to Baguio Gold to continue a series on 2 Timothy.  We will be teaching twice in the morning.  The work there continues to have some difficulties and would certainly appreciate your prayers.  They are a wonderful group of saints but are in need of encouragement.  Some more work has been done on Maria’s home and we are thankful for that.  A new concrete floor has been poured and through the kindness of others we should be able to finish up the needed work this coming month.  It is a humble home, but at least she and her children now have a roof over their heads. 

            This past week Joyce had a full body bone scan to check for any cancer in her bones as well as to seek to discover the source of some of the pain she has been experiencing.  All the tests came back with good results for which we praise the Lord.  No cancer was detected, just her arthritis which is from head to toe.  But we were already aware of that and it came as no surprise.  Her blood work was all perfect and the doctor was very pleased with the results of all her tests.  I visited my cardiologist as well this week with similar results.  All my blood work was good and my meds for my heart have been lowered once again.  My heart sounded strong and without any irregularities for the third visit in a row.  We are so very thankful.  So it looks like we both have a few more miles left in us. 

Thank you all so very much for all your prayers and support of the Lord’s work here.  May the Lord richly bless you. 

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 18^th, and stayed in the Manila area until Friday the 21^st 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 5^th 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

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 50^th 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 6^th 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 6^th and stay until the 18^th.  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. 

Update - Dec 10, 2010

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion says my soul.  Therefore I hope in Him!  The LORD is good those who wait for Him.  To the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:22-25

When we consider the background of these wonderfully inspiring verses we realize that all our struggles and discouragements are small compared to what the people of God were facing at that moment in time.  And in the midst of all the struggle Jeremiah could look up and know that the LORD sees and knows.  That He remains his “portion”.  Each day we see the new wonders of the mercies he demonstrated for us on Calvary, each day we experience His grace yet again.  Each day our souls experience His goodness.  He is so very faithful.  May we always remember to wait quietly for Him.  May our souls always seek Him.

We had a very good men’s conference last Saturday, for which we thank the Lord.  When I arrived on Saturday I was told that I would be speaking for two hours that morning from 10-12.  When I finished I was asked if I could speak another two in the afternoon.  The response to the messages was very good, so we thank the Lord for His guidance.  The following day we were back down in Baguio Gold to speak both in the morning and to conduct the bible school in the afternoon.  It was a wonderful weekend and very encouraging. 

This weekend is the anniversary Sunday of the work the Lord began at Navy Base back in the 60s through Ken Engle.  They have a special meeting planned for both the morning and the afternoon.  The children have a program planned and we have a special speaker coming for the morning.  In the afternoon several of the saints have been practicing for a cantata which is being used as an outreach to the neighborhood.  Invitations are going out especially to those who attended the last medical, dental clinic at the chapel.  Following the cantata I will be sharing a gospel message.  Pray for the Lord’s blessing, and for the salvation of souls.

The following week I will be speaking twice in Dau Pampanga at their assembly anniversary.  The on the 26^th I will be speaking at the anniversary Sunday down at Baguio Gold.  On the 28^th I will head down to Malolos Bulucan to speak at the Men’s conference there.  Then on January 6^th we leave for a couple of weeks of meetings in Seoul Korea.  Please be praying.  I have a lot of preparation to complete in the next couple of weeks.  I will be speaking five times at the women’s conference in Korea, which I am very much looking forward to, and then at the various assemblies there as well.

Two Days Later