March 3 (Midweek Service at Tuguegarao)
We are happy that during this time, we are able to gather with the brethren at the chapel. We continue to invite preachers from other congregations to share to us bible message every Wednesday. During that time, brother Jimmy Domingo was scheduled. He is the preacher at the growing congregation at Lanna Church. He shared to us the lesson on "Perilous Times". He also invited his whole family with him.
March 5 (Bible study at Dagupan Church)
We had finally decided that we will go back to our schedules on bible studies during weekdays on Palca and Dagupan. We cannot do it more than once every week because we still needed to follow some protocols. I have requested the brethren that we will have the schedules by switching places every week so that the authorities will not have anything against us. We started to have the bible study at Dagupan. As usual, we have good attendance and continuously growing number. Many of them are still not that knowledgeable about the bible because they came from the Catholic Church. I am happy that on their young age they decided to obey the gospel. Half of the brethren are aging from 12-25 and the other half from 40-65. We are on the series in studying the book of Acts. I already started the first chapter and this time, I shared to them the second chapter.
March 7 (Sunday worship at three congregations)
In the morning, here in Tuguegarao, our attendance goes up and down. Since the lighten protocols, the brethren are undecided whether to come or no because the number of cases for covid continue to increase. Sometimes we are about 110, but on other times, we are just 70. Brother Jerome preached to us a good lesson about "Rising above discouragements". A timely lesson because many are discourage of what is happening now in the world.
In the afternoon, at Palca, I invited brother Mario Garma to help me in the work. He is one of the preachers at Sampaguita Church. I invited him because in Palca, he have many relatives and I am hoping that we can also invite them in the church. He preached in both places (Palca and Dagupan) and I did the rest. After the sermon at Palca, two precious souls obeyed the gospel. Victor Soriano had been joining us for worship for almost 3 months already while Geraldine Gaton is one of the students of my wife in their children's class, but since the start of the pandemic, she is joining us in our services. I am happy that she finally decided to obey the gospel.
In Dagupan, after the sermon, three more young souls decided to obey the gospel. Only two came in front during the invitation but another one decided to join when we are leaving to go to the baptistery. Princess Fae Simangan, Raquel Casballedo and Gerald Narag had been with us on services for one month. They are all young from 13-15 years old.
March 10 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
We invited brother Efren Respicio this time. He is the preacher at Cadaanan Church. He shared a good lesson about "Humility". We have more than 50 attendance.
March 12 (Bible study at Palca Church)
Second week of bible study on the book of Acts. We are at Palca this time. We also studied Acts 2. I invited brother Rody, Jison Agbuya and Jay. A few of the brethren cannot attend because they are at work.
March 14 (Sunday worship at three congregations)
In Tuguegarao, one of our elders is scheduled to preach. Brother Flor Constantino shared a lesson about "New Normal". I think it is about 6 years since the last time he stand to preach. The elders decided that every month, we will all have our own week to preach. Brother Jerome is for the first week, brother Flor on the second week, I am on the third week and brother Rody will be on the last week.
In Palca and Dagupan Church, we continue to study the book of Acts. I preached in both places, Acts 3 about the lame man and the second sermon of Peter. We have two visitors at Palca and 6 in Dagupan.
March 17 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
Brother Victor Sinon is our invited teacher. He is a preacher at two congregations in the town of Tumauini. He brought with him 8 young people who are members in the congregation he is working. He shared to us "The teachings of Christ". It is difficult for them to come here in Tuguegarao because they are from the other region. Many checkpoints are on their way but thanks God they arrived and joined us.
March 19 (Bible study at Dagupan)
Our series on the book of Acts continuous. This time, with the help again of brother Rody, he taught Acts 4. Brother Jison Agbuya and Jun Gumuiran also joined us. I am happy that there are again new faces who joined us. Most of them are teenagers. I hope and pray that I can guide them to the right path. Teenagers nowadays do not have the desire to join church works but I am happy that in Dagupan, it is not the case. I continue to tell them to invite their friends and hopefully, one of this days, their parents or families also. This pandemic caused most of the adult to focus on looking for money because it is very difficult in their area to live and have a good financial life.
March 21 (Sunday worship at three congregations)
It's my turn to preach a sermon here in Tuguegarao. I made a lesson about the song "Where could I go?" It is the song we always sing in the sacred selections song book. The song have a wonderful message. We are already one year since the start of this pandemic here in our country. We tried to look for solutions in many ways we can think but in the end, we can only go to God for all the answers.
I also preached the same lesson in Palca and Dagupan in the afternoon. We have again visitors from both places. I only have short time talking to them after the worship because I needed to rush and go to the next place. Lord willing, when this pandemic ends, we will decide on the best time for our worship so that we will have more chance to talk to the brethren. Please include in our prayers, our sister Grace Lamigo at Palca. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer but they are trying to look for second opinion from other doctors. We are praying that it will not be that cancerous. Their family is not financially blessed and it will be hard for them to buy her medicines of even have her operations. Please pray for her.
March 24 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)
This will be the last time we have our midweek service this month. To this day of writing this blog (March 31), we are already under a very strict lockdown (ECQ). No one is allowed to go out again. We are thankful that we can have the time to have the bible study with brother Rogelio Esperance. He shared to us "The god's of Egypt".
March 25 and 26 (Cancelled activities)
I was invited by brother Sammy Paet to be one of the speakers at the lectureship in Baggao with the theme "How to study the bible" but unfortunately it was cancelled because of the tighten protocols and at the same time, electricity is out for the whole day. I had cancelled my bible study at Palca because I thought this will push through but unavoidable circumstances arose.
March 27 (Sunday worship at three congregations)
In our worship at Tuguegarao, it was announced in the radio that we will have the lockdown the next two days but because of the heavy number of cases, many of our brethren did not come. Some of our brethren are also in quarantine because they are in contact with those infected by the virus. Brother Rody preached the sermon on "The church at Thyatira".
In the afternoon, at Palca, I shared to them Acts 4, regarding the arrest of Peter and John. We still have our average attendance because the new protocols did not take effect yet. There are again brethren who are sick.
In Dagupan, I preached to them Acts 5. They are ahead on our study on the book because of the one cancelled day of bible study at Palca. After the sermon, one precious soul obeyed the gospel. She is Nicole Estanislao, a friend of Raquel Casballedo who is also baptized earlier of the month. She is with our services for three weeks already. She is 13 years young.
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