August 6 (Lord’s day services at Metro Tuguegarao
and Palca)
We thank God
for the goodness He gave us that brother Andy Alexander, brother Keith Greer
and brother Greg Foster arrived here in Tuguegarao and help us study more on
God’s word. They all arrived Saturday afternoon.
In our
worship here in Tuguegarao in the morning of Sunday, brother Andy shared a
wonderful lesson about “A parking ticket” explaining to us that like many
people, they do not know the law of God but that doesn’t mean they are excuse
from the punishment of sin. Brother Greg led us in our singing before the
worship. Brother Keith preached to us in the sermon about “The Majesty of God”
and he specifically tackled on the Reverence of God.
The
invitation was extended and we are happy that two young precious souls obeyed
the gospel. I immersed them in water and we all prayed together for God’s help
for them and to continue to bless them in their faith.
In the
afternoon, at Palca, brother Keith came with me. He preached to us about “Matthew
7:13-23”. After him preaching, I summarize the lesson in our own language so
that they can understand. The brethren are very much encouraged with the lesson.
After the worship, the brethren seem shy to talk to brother Keith. The main
reason is, they cannot speak well in English language but still they greeted
him and thank him for the work he has done.
August 7-11 (Study on the book of Acts)
The main
reason why brother Keith and Andy came is because they want to gather preachers
to study the book of Acts. This is a good book because it talks more on the
history of the Lord’s church. We studied chapter by chapter for the whole 5
days. I learned a lot from this studies and also got new things that I cannot
get when I personally study the book.
August 9 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
After our
whole day study on the book of Acts, we also had a time to have our midweek
bible study here. Brother Andy shared to us a lesson about “Jeroboam” and we
know that he made a great sin before God that we should not follow. After the
study, one precious soul came forward to confess her faith.
August 11 (Last day on the study of the book of
Acts)
During our
last day with brother Andy and Keith, brother Rody handed us certificates of
appreciation and attendance for joining the activity. But before that, there
were again 3 precious souls who obeyed the gospel. They came from Sta. Ana,
Cagayan. We baptized them here in the baptistery at Tuguegarao.
August 13 (Lord’s days services at Tuguegarao and
Palca)
In our bible
study here in Tuguegarao, I shared to them a lesson about “Shall we not accept
adversity?” In the sermon, brother Jay preached about “What can I do to help
the church?” the lesson he presented is in Tagalog language and I just
translated it here.
In the
afternoon, at Palca, I also preached to them about “Shall we not accept adversity?”
After the study, we visited Sister Teresita Posolero because she was
hospitalized the in the last week. She is feeling better now and is resting in
their house. We gathered together to pray for her after taking the time to
encourage her from God’s word.
August 20 (Lord’s day service at Tuguegarao)
The gap from
the last time I went to preached was very long because the four of us in the
house got sick for a week. My wife was the first one who got a fever then on
Monday, then the next day, it was the both of us. Thursday, my wife was already
fine but still, I am in bed with my son who also got fever. We thank God that
Saturday, we are all feeling ok. I still have cough and a little weak when I
started to preached on Sunday.
I preached
in our bible study about “The God I know”. A lesson contrasting the God that is
written in the bible against the imaginary god that this world knew. In the
sermon, brother Jay preached “Ang kristiyano ay dapat na…” or in English “The
Christian should be…”.
In the
afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “I have sinned” showing examples
from the bible who confessed their sins when they did something wrong. I needed
to stop from time to time and drink water because I feel pain in my throat that
I cannot speak.
August 23 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)
Brother Jay
discussed to us why the book of 2 Thessalonians was written and also the first
chapter of the book.
August 27 (Lord’s day service at Tuguegarao and
Palca)
Brother Jay
taught in our bible study about “Ano ang iyong isasagot? (What will your answer
be?)” and in the sermon, I preached to them about the lessons we can learn from
“Achan’s sin”.
In the
afternoon, at Palca, I preached also the same lesson to them. After the lesson,
we visited brother Enzo and sister Gina Simangan because they have been absent
for the last three weeks. We found out that they are out of town the 1st
two weeks while on the third week, brother Enzo was sick. I read to them
passages from the bible and also took time to thank God and us God for help for
their family.
August 29 (Death of my wife’s grandmother/sister
Tessie’s mother)
We’ve been
saddened with the news from sister Cathy Forelo that our grandmother died in
the hospital she is working. She is 92 years old (Florentina Uclaray) but with
that age, she still have the strength when it comes to going to the church for
services. She died because of many complications with her health. I personally
thank God because she gave my grandmother-in-law this long time here on earth
and be of good encouragement to all of us that no matter what your situation
is, in good health or in sickness, never forget to do our obligations to the
Lord. I know that she is already in Abraham’s bosom right now.
August 30 (Funeral Service for sister Florentina
Uclaray)
We held the
service in the memorial chapel in Ortiz where we laid the wake of our
grandmother. Preachers from different places came to mourn with us. They led
the singing during the service while brother Denis Yuson shared words of
encouragement from the bible.
August 31 (From Tuguegarao to Ballesteros)
We transferred
the wake of our grandmother from here in Tuguegarao to the place where she is
living in Payagan, Ballesteros. It is also the request of her children that she
will be buried there.
September 3 (Sunday services at Tuguegarao and
Palca)
In the
morning, I shared a lesson about “Toppled Statues” here in Tuguegarao showing
to them the statues that man built to worship but it ends at being destroyed.
In the sermon, brother Jay preached about “Samantalang nangangatulog ang mga
tao” or “While men sleeps”.
In the
afternoon, at Palca, I preached also to them the same lesson.
After the
worship at Palca, the brethren and I went to the wake of our brother Jimmy
Agpoon. He is the elder brother of brother Rolando Agpoon, the preacher at
Villa Salud congregation in Solana. We also had a service there. Brother
Rolando led the singing and prayer while I preached a sermon on “James 4:13-17”.
September 4 (Last night of service in the wake of
sister Florentina in Ballesteros)
Tuguegarao
to Ballesteros is about 2-3 hours travel depending on the traffic and time of
the day you travel. It takes longer in the day but easier in the night.
Preachers
from different places from Cagayan, Ilocos, Rizal, Quirino and Isabela all came
in the last night. There were three who preached. I do not knew much about the
two first speakers but they are from Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. While the
third speaker is brother Geronimo Ganela.
We started
the service at around 8p.m. and ended 1:30a.m. because we also have a program
where all the children shared their story about their loving mother and also
had a time to offer a song to everyone as a way of thanking them for coming.
September 5 (Burial Service of sister Florentina)
The weather
was not good because it is raining and the news is telling that we are
currently affected by a typhoon but we still continued with the service. Brother
Rody led our singing and also preached a lesson about “Jacob and Esau”. It is
still raining when we brought the wake in the cemetery to bury the body. When
we got back in the house of sister Florentina to eat lunch, the rain stopped
and a little sun is showing. But after eating, the rain started again, and even
harder than in the morning. We traveled back home at around 3pm and arrived
6pm. We thank God for helping us in our travels.
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