Preaching activities from August 6 to September 5, 2017

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 1^st 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.