December 8 (Midweek service)
We continue to study the book of Proverbs here in Tuguegarao with the help of brother Rody. We are already in Proverbs 18:1-7. Our attendance is quite small because of the continuous rain and the cold weather. We are still doing our live streaming but we always encouraged our brethren to come and join us. It seems that they are already accustomed to watching it on facebook that's why we always remind them of their obligation to the Lord.
December 9 (Gospel Meeting at Mapurao, Allacapan)
We travelled for about 3 hours to reach the area. This is our first time going to the place and we have trouble locating the exact meeting place. When had asked from several people on the road and when we finally reach a school, there are teenagers who are waiting for us. I thought we are already in the meeting place but they said we will leave our cars in the parking area in the school and we will walk going to the place. It is raining and the roads are muddy and slippery. We walked for about 700-800m. Our shoes and pants got mud that it is very hard to walk.
When we reached the area, we are happy of how they welcomed us. They are all members of "Christ Chosen Generation Church" which is very new to my ear. We started by leading spiritual songs. Brother Rody shared a lesson and after which the invitation was sung and 21 came in front to confess their faith. 4 of them are still young and when asked why they want to be baptized, none of them can answer that's why we didn't baptized them yet. They still need to study more. We are planning to visit them again and continue to share the good news to them. They are all still young in the faith and needed more doctrinal messages for them to follow the whole truth.
December 10 (Gospel Meeting at Baliuag Church)
The next day, we again went to another Gospel Meeting. My shoes still have muds on it that I got from yesterday. The local preacher in the area is brother Alfonso Danao. They have two speakers on brother Victor Sinon and brother Dennis Yuson. Invitation was extended after the sermons and 4 young men confess their faith and were baptized in the near river.
December 12 (Worship at three congregations)
We started the day with our worship here at Metro Tuguegarao. We studied Proverbs 18:8-20.
In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "The mistakes of Naaman". My wife didn't join me because she's been having health issues. She attends the worship in Tuguegarao in the morning but can no longer join me in the afternoon. We are very thankful that Mrs. Milagros Palanggoy finally decided to obey the gospel. She's been joining us in worship for a month already and also attended our previous Gospel Meeting. She is a previous member of a church near Palca that they call "Tabernacle of Joy Church". They have a big building but then she realized, that will not save her unless she obeys the truth.
I also preached the same lesson in Dagupan. Many are wearing their jackets during that time because it is already a cold December and we are only having our worship outside the house of brother Enzo.
December 15 (Midweek service at Metro Tuguegarao)
We studied Proverbs 18:21-24 in our bible study. I do not know the reason why our attendance is small. Everything is normal in our town. This holiday season is hindrance to some to attend our services which is very sad. Many people are in malls and groceries, but very few in the church.
December 16 (Gospel Meeting at Lanna Church)
I am invited to be one of the speakers in the Gospel Meeting. Brother Jimmy Domingo is their local preacher in the congregation. They have a growing number because of his work. I am the first speaker and I shared to them about "Lot's wife". Brother Jimmy asked me to preached about staying faithful and so I decided to share this lesson to remind them to pressed on towards our goal and not look back to the things we had done before that might cause us to stumble again. Brother Efren Respicio was the second speaker and lastly, brother Rody Gumpad. Invitation was extended and 5 came to confess their faith. We brought them here in Tuguegarao to be baptized in the baptistry but only 4 came. The other young lady was forbidden by his father to come. Praying that she will still be baptized sooner before it's too late.
December 17 (Visitation)
I should be joining in the Gospel Meeting in De Abra, Tumauini but early morning, I received a call from sister Grace in Palca informing me that our brother Lino Quines already died. He is a very faithful brother. When I first started to be the preacher in the congregation, he is the one guiding and helping me. We are going from house to house to visit our brethren and also he makes contacts to those who want to have bible studies. He is also our lone song leader in the church. But since August, when he got sick, I've been doing most of the work. I lead the singing, sermon and some of the prayers. We have boys who helped in the Lord's table but cannot lead in singing. This is a very big loss in the congregation and also for me. We only have 5 other men in the church and I am training the three of the new converts from them to help in the work. Just for the year 2022, we loss 4 brethren, sister Paulina Ramos, sister Pacita Quines, sister Valentina Mabborang and brother Lino Quines.
Together with brother Dennis Yuson and brother Robert Pader, we went to visit the wake of our brother. I talked to the family and scheduled the services.
December 18 (Service at the wake)
We had our first service and I invited brother Efren Respicio to share a message from the bible. Brother Dennis is again with us together with brother Robert Rances. Brother Efren was my co-preacher in Palca in 2006-2008 and he is also close to brother Lino.
December 19 (Worship in three congregations and service in the funeral)
In the morning, I helped in the work again here in Tuguegarao. In the sermon, brother Rody preached Proverbs 19:1-12.
In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "My Life, My faith and My Hope". While in Dagupan, I preached to them about "Mephiboseth".
In the evening, we went back to Palca for the last night service in the wake of brother Lino. Brother Rody shared a message from the Lord while brother Dennis and I did the other works.
December 19 (Burial Service)
We started early in the service as requested by the family. I led the singing while brother Dennis preached from the word of God. Many non-christians are in attendance that's why we added in our messages the invitation of the Lord. Most of brother Lino's extended family are member of the church but his friends are not.
December 22 (Midweek Service)
We continue to study the book of Proverbs in our midweek service and we are already on 19:13-17.
December 24 (Gospel Meeting)
We went to the Gospel Meeting at Bulanao, Tabuk in Hilltop church. Their local preacher is brother Warren Cadater. They have three speakers in brother Kernel Vistro, brother Dennis Yuson and brother Rody Gumpad. We held the meeting outside of their chapel because it will not accommodate us all. They erected a tent to shade us. Invitation was sung and two came to confess their faith. When we were at the river, one young lady also decided to confess her faith and was also baptized.
December 26 (Worship at three congregations)
In the morning, we studied Proverbs 19:18-26. This is the last Sunday of the year and we are happy that one precious soul obeyed the gospel.
In the afternoon, at Palca, we still missed the presence of our brother Lino during our singing, but we are happy that he is now with the faithful saints who went ahead before us. I preached to them about "Flight from Duty", stating our obligation as Christians that we should not be like Jonah who run away from God's given duty.
I also preached the same lesson at Dagupan church.
December 29 (Gospel Meeting at San Vicente Church)
I am again invited as one of the speakers in the Gospel Meeting. Brother Joeben Jacobo is their local preacher. The church is situated in Lapogan before, but they moved to San Vicente and built a new chapel. I am very sick during that time but I promised to go. After sharing my prepared lesson, I decided to go home because I might be the cause of the spread of any illness in the congregation. I didn't make any contact also to avoid infections. Three more speakers preached after me in brother Jerome Forelo, Willie Pastor and Rody Gumpad. They told me that two were baptized after the meeting.
In the evening, we had our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. We studied Proverbs 19:27-29.
December 30 (Bible study at Alibago)
Brother Rody invited me to teach in Alibago Church. I shared to them the lesson about "Another Year Begins".
January 1 (Thanksgiving)
Sister Nicole Monreal and her husband invited us to have a thanksgiving service for their second baby. Brother Robert Pader is with me and he shared a lesson about giving thanks to God while I led the singing.
January 2 (Worship at three congregations)
In our worship here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody preached on Proverbs 20:1 about wine. So sad that we are having this problem in the church here in Tuguegarao. The elders already talked to the brother and we are praying that he will repent of this sin and live faithfully.
In the afternoon, at Palca, my wife didn't join me again because she is not the only one sick, even our youngest daughter and our son. I preached to them about "Christian's New Year Resolutions". I also preached the same lesson in Dagupan.
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