May 2 (Sunday Worships)
The lockdown was again in place in the whole region but we are fortunate to have our worship services. In the morning, we had our worship at Tuguegarao. Since the lockdown here in our town is very tight, only a few attended the worship and the others just joined us through facebook live streaming. Brother Jerome preached about "The parable of the sower".
In the afternoon, brother Jay Gumpad and brother Jison Agbuya joined me in my local preaching congregations. Brother Jay preach in Palca while brother Jison in Dagupan. They are not allowed to go to their respective congregations that's why they asked me if they can come. After the worship in Dagupan, two precious souls obeyed the gospel. First was Marlon Ventura a 12 year old boy. I thought he is only 8 years old because of his height that's why I asked him some questions before his confession. The other one is Jovelyn Ventura, a mother, and is fighting a stage 3 cervical cancer. I think she is having her chemo every week. Please include her in your prayers. We brought them to Palca after the confession and baptized them there.
May 5 (Midweek service)
We still continued with our midweek service even though most of our brethren cannot come. Only our family is again in attendance. We studied the book of Proverbs chapter 3.
May 9 (Sunday Worships)
The situation of the town is still the same that's why only a few came in our worship at Tuguegarao. Not more than 30 is in attendance. Brother Rody shared to us about the "Church in Philadelphia".
In the afternoon, only brother Jay joined me this time because he is still not allowed to go to Minagbag Church. I preached in Palca about "Why does God allow suffering?". While brother Jay preached in Dagupan.
After the worship, we visited the wake of sister Paulina Ramos. She died because of infections going to her eyes and brain caused by her dental procedures. This was sudden because we do not know any illnesses of our sister and she is very strong. She didn't know that she had diabetes and maybe that caused the infection to her head. She is living alone in her house because her husband left her for another woman 6-7 years ago and her children are living in other towns with their own families. Now that she died, no one is living in her house. Every time I passed by her house, I always remember her smile and a very good example of faith that she left. A month after her baptism 7 years ago, she got a job from a drugstore. They wouldn't allow her to take the day-off on Sundays that's why after just two weeks, she resigned from her job because she knows it is more important to be with the brethren on Sundays and worship the Lord. She is the most active sister who always message me on facebook and ask many questions about what she is reading in the bible. I know she is in a better place now with all the saints who went before us.
We are not allowed by the village officials to have service their that's why we only had the prayer.
After the visitation, we also went to the thanksgiving at the new house of sister Lorna Llanes. I shared a short reminder about thanksgiving using the words of God and we joined together to pray to our Almighty and thank Him for the blessing He gave to their family.
May 12 (Burial service)
This is the only service they allowed us to do in the wake of sister Paulina. You can also notice in the picture that only few came because we needed to follow the protocols. Brother Jerome and brother Dennis helped me with the work. We did the service as requested by the family and also making sure everyone will here the message of the gospel hoping and praying that some or many of them will realized the need of obeying God's word before it's too late.
In the evening, we again had our midweek service here in Tuguegarao. This time, we studied Proverbs 4.
May 16 (Sunday worship)
The kind of lockdown we had was even tighter in some places in our region that includes in Palca and Dagupan. It's so sad that we are not allowed again to have the gathering there. Officials came to our meeting place at both areas reminding us of the protocols before Sunday. During our supposed time of worship there, the brethren told me that police came to check if we really did not assemble, that's how strict they were. Because of that, I again recorded sermon videos that I sent through our group chat in facebook.
While here in Tuguegarao, we still had our worship service just like before. And again, only our family are in attendance. I am the one scheduled to preach and I shared about "Understanding the times".
May 19 (Midweek service)
The elders decided that even though we are in lockdown, we will continue to have our bible study but won't allow anyone to come. We again decided that we will do the live stream on Wednesday. We studied Proverbs 5.
May 23 (Sunday worship)
Our situation is still the same but there are some brethren who joined us for worship at Tuguegarao. Brother Jun Gumpad arrived coming from Manila and the elders asked him to preach to us. He shared the lesson on "Does prayer bring salvation?".
May 24 (Thanksgiving)
We had a thanksgiving service here at Tuguegarao for the baby of brother Jay Gumpad. They have some friends who came and listened to the lesson preached.
May 26 (Midweek service)
Brother Jay was asked to preached to us about "Thanksgiving". It is also the birthday of brother Rody and sister Michelle and it is always a good thing to thank God for all the blessings not only for him but also for my son who is also having her birthday on the 28th.
May 30 (Sunday worship)
This is supposed to be the last day of the lockdown but unfortunately, it is again announced that it is extended until June 15. I do not know what our government here in our region is doing. They are imposing a lockdown but they will not stop many people from going out of their houses that makes more cases of covid everyday. I noticed that every time the lockdown is coming near to an end, they are showing in the media many new and active cases. Our Governor is very mad at our Mayor because he thinks that our Mayor is asking many funds for relief to give us but the truth is, we never received any relief goods. The election will be next year and the sad truth is, according to our Governor, our Mayor is putting the money in his pocket to be used when he runs for the higher position next year. That is not a secret here in the Philippines, it happens every time.
We still had our service and no one can stop us here in Tuguegarao. Brother Jerome preached his final sermon here because the next Sunday, he will already be preaching in Villa Salud where our late brother Rolando Agpoon preach before. They have no preacher and he took the job. As of today, brother Rody and I are the only remaining preachers here in Tuguegarao. The other preachers can still join us on weekdays but they will not be with us on Sundays. Both brother Jerome Forelo and brother Jay Gumpad already moved their memberships in their local preaching congregations.
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