May 29 (Midweek service)
This
is the very first midweek service that we had a singing for the entire hour. We
had scheduled it before but because of the hectic schedules of everyone,
including us, preachers, we moved the schedule many times. But thanks to God
that we already had started doing this and will help the congregation with the
singing in our worships. Brother Rody led us in the singing and also shared a
lesson about the importance of singing in worship.
May 30 (Catarauan Bible Study)
I
was invited to join in the bible study at Catarauan where brother Jun Antonio
is locally preaching. We went to the house of brother Kenneth Calida. He is a
brother who is having a dialysis in a young age of 14-15 years old. His mother
is and siblings are all Christians. Brother Manny Pader led us in our opening
prayer while brother Jun introduced us all. Brother Robert Pader shared a
wonderful lesson as the first speaker then I followed with a lesson “The Greatest
things on earth”. After the study, some of those neighbors who also attended
asked questions regarding heaven. Brother Rogelio Esperanza, Jayson Tanguilan who
are also with us helped in answering the questions. We ended with a prayer led
by brother Jayson.
After
the study, we went to distribute bible tracts in some part of the village. We
divided our group into two. In my group, we met several brethren and had a
short prayer with them. We also met a group of people gathering together and
gave them tracts.
June 2 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)
In
the first day of the week and first Sunday of the month, we started with a good
bible study here in Tuguegarao that brother Jerome shared entitled “Walk with
fear in the Lord”. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us “Romans 10”.
In
the afternoon, I was late going to Palca even though I am very early in
traveling. Every first week of the month, many Catholics are going to Piat for
their so called Holy Mass because the Our Lady of Piat is situated there. Many
cars travel the same route as I am and so the traffic is a little heavy. I
preached to the brethren at Palca about “Setting your goal”. It is a lesson
that reminds us what is our goal and purpose in this life. Is it to earn money,
make a job, raise a good family? Yes, they are important, but our goal should
be, to fear God and keep His commandments, to love Him with all our strength,
mind, soul and heart. After the worship, I visited sister Nenita Quines in
their house because she is sick. We prayed together with her daughter, Monette.
June 5 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
We
continued with our study on the book of Genesis and brother Jay shared to us
Genesis 25 about the death of Abraham and the birth of Jacob and Esau.
June 7 (First day of Gospel Meeting at Tuguegarao)
Our
preparations for the Gospel Meeting is very tiring and we thanked God that He
gave us this day to fulfill our plans. We had an attendance of 109 in the first
day. Not all are listed in the attendance sheet because when a group enters,
not all are writing in the paper. We had a good study through the help of our
speakers. Brother Jonathan Carino and brother Jack Jaco should only be the speakers
but we are very grateful that brother Rolly Salvador also gave his time to share
God’s message to us.
Here are the lessons they preached:
Morning
session:
Jack
- Bible survey
Rolly
- Sitting At the feet of Jesus (Part 1)
Jonathan
- The church in the eternal purpose of God
Afternoon
session:
Jack
- Rightly dividing the word of truth
Rolly-
Sitting at the feet of Jesus (Part 2)
Jonathan-
Do you have the right to your own belief?
June 8 (Second day of Gospel Meeting)
In
our second day, we had a higher attendance because it is Saturday. Many of the
students and workers are with us. Preachers from other congregations also
joined us. Some of the brethren at Palca where I am preaching also came and I
am very happy to see them. We had a recorded attendance of 144. Many are not
even recorded.
Here
are the lessons preached:
Morning
session:
Jack
- The bible is our standard for faith and practice
Rody-
Marriage- Divorce- Remarriage
Jonathan
- Rich man and lazarus
Afternoon
Session:
Jack
- This world is not my home
Jonathan-
Why are people lost or saved?
June 9 (Last day of Gospel Meeting at Tuguegarao and
worship at Palca)
In
the last day of our Gospel Meeting, we do not have any visitors from other
congregations but only the brethren at Tuguegarao. We still manage to have an
attendance of 135.
Only
brother Jack and brother Jonathan preached and brother Rolly led our singing.
These
are the lessons preached:
Jack
- Three great promises
Jonathan
- The new testament church: all things according to pattern
In
the afternoon, at Palca, brother Jonathan came with me and I also invited
brother Denis Yuson who helped in leading songs. I did the rest of the work
while brother Jonathan preached about “The church Jesus built exists today”. We
had an attendance of 42 including the children on this day. When we arrived
home, we went directly to the church building here in Tuguegarao because we had
a baptism. He is from Alibago and just recently got married with our sister
from that area.
June 11 (Wedding at Toran)
Brother
Fernando Duque invited us to helped in the wedding of brother Jerald and sister
Rona. Brother Rody solemnized the wedding and I helped in the paperworks
needed. We are very happy to see that both of them are already Christians.
June 12 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
I
should be the one teaching on this day but brother Rody asked me if he can take my place for the mean time because we have visitors. All of them are nephews of
sister Tessie and they are here for vacation. They are from Nevada. Brother Rody
preached “You are lost! Unless”. From the 8 of them, two are non-christians.
June 17 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)
Another
great opportunity to share God’s word to the brethren at Tuguegarao. I am
assigned to teach in our bible study because brother Rody is in Manila. I
shared in our bible study about “Does God expect too much?”. And in the sermon,
brother Jerome preached “Why many are lost?”
In
the afternoon, at around 12:30, brother Denis Yuson called me and asking me if
we can exchange place to preach in that afternoon. When brother Rody is in
Manila, he is the one going to Alibago. The reason is, they have a thanksgiving
in Piat. It will take more time to travel from that area going to Alibago than
when I travel from Tuguegarao. In short, he went to Palca and I went to
Alibago. I preached to them the same lesson about “Does God expect too much?”.
We had an attendance of 11 because many of the brethren are away.
June 20 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
I
shared in our bible study “Genesis 26” about Isaac and his lie, including the
wells he dig. After the study, Joy, one of the nephew of sister Tessie confess
her faith and we baptized her in our baptistery. Her sister should also wanted
to be baptized but got a fever. Thankfully, she was baptized Friday before
their flight back to Nevada on Saturday. Please pray for our new brethren in
Christ.
June 22 (Thanksgiving at Darauay Residence)
We
were invited to the birthdays of the son and daughter of brother Ian and sister
Glenda Darauay. Before the celebration, we had a devotion. We sung spiritual songs
led by brother Jay and I led in our opening prayer. Brother Rody preached about
“God answers prayers” and brother Jerome closed with a prayer. Both their kids
are good students of my wife in their children’s class here in Tuguegarao
Church.
June 23 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)
In
our bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Jerome shared “Putting God’s will
above self” and brother Rody preached “Romans 11”. Both are wonderful lessons
and we are all edified.
In
the afternoon, at Palca, I also preached to them “Does God expect too much?”. After
the service, I went to the house of brother Leonardo Uton. He was again hospitalized
for one week. He had a CT Scan and the result showed that there are blockage in
his brain and needed surgery. But his family just told the doctor to give him
medicines because surgery might not be a good idea. He is already 79 years old
and very weak. He might not make the surgery because of his weakened body. His
daughter, sister Lorna is also sick with UTI. Together with sister Linda Uton,
we prayed to God to do what is best for brother Leonardo and to heal him and
sister Lorna is their illness.
June 26 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
It
is the last Wednesday of the month and we are again scheduled to have a singing
class. Brother Rody help us again by leading spiritual songs. We learned new
songs in the Sacred Selections book. I am not good in leading songs but I am doing
my best to serve God by singing spiritual songs.
June 30 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)
In
our bible study, brother Jerome shared to us a lesson about "Each one is tempted when..." . In the sermon, brother Rody preached
“Romans 12”. We have a below average of attendance of 111(Adult and kids) this day. I do not know the reason why many are out.
In
the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “Spiritual Surgery”. I got this
lesson from brother Joe Price. I choose to share this lesson because of the
recent condition of our brother Leonardo Uton. He needed physical surgery to
remove the blockage in his brain, we too needed surgery, to remove any sins we
are doing and sins we committed. We also have a below average attendance of 21 adults and 12 kids. Five of our brethren are out because of sickness (brother Leonardo, sister Gina, sister Claudine, sister Lorna and sister Valentina). Some of the brethren are also out of town (sister Regine, sister Anne, sister Paulina, sister Kenneth, brother Joshua and brother Jimmy). The rest, I do not know why they are not in attendance this day. Please pray for our brethren who are sick.