January 5 (Sunday Worships)
We start our first Sunday of the year with our bible study here in Tuguegarao with one of our elders teaching. Brother Lino Darauay started on the 18th chapter of the book of Luke from verses 1-8. In the sermon, brother Rody preached "Remember where thou has fallen".
After the worship, we had a thanksgiving that took us until 1pm. It was already part of the schedule and so we need to moved our schedule in Palca and Dagupan at 2:00 pm at the same time so that we can still come home before night time.
January 8 (Bible tracts distribution and bible study)
It has been my plan for a long time to distribute tracts on a housing project built by the government for those who loss their houses near the river. There are 110 houses in the area which is in Dagupan. They came from Barancuag Village at Tuao West. This housing project is now an extension of that village. Dagupan is a part of Tuao East. We distribute tracts in the area and talk to some of them. Most houses are close because they are all at work but there are few who were there. We are still trying to make new contacts for us to schedule bible studies next time.
Then, we went to the house of Mr. Ernesto Castro. He is not yet a Christian including his wife. We shared God's message to him with the help of brother Efren Respicio. They are both in their 80's and so it is hard for them to move/walk. Please include them in your prayers that they will realized the need of obeying the gospel before it is too late.
In the evening, we had our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. It was also one of our elders who shared the lesson, brother Flor Constantino and it's all about 2 Peter 3:1-9.
January 10 (Bible Study)
We were invited by brother Rogelio Esperanza in Santo Tomas, Tuao East. We went to the Baturi family. Brother Jay and I was asked to share the gospel to them. It was raining at the start that made us stay in their house, but after the singing, the rain stops and so we went outside which is more spacious. Invitation was extended and one precious soul obeyed the gospel. We baptized Nicholsen Baturi in the baptistery at the chapel. He is a seaman and will be leaving in about a month to work again.
January 11 (Gospel Meeting)
It is the Gospel Meeting at Maguirig Church where brother Jerome Forelo, Jerry Soliva and Edgar Corpuz are preaching. The attendance is huge that the chapel was full. I was the first speaker and I shared the lesson about "Lion Alert", followed by brother Rogelio Esperanza who preached "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are". And finally, brother Efren Respicio, as the last speaker preached "Matthew 12:45-50". Invitation was extended but there were no response. We received positive feedbacks from the brethren that makes the activity successful.
January 12 (Sunday Worships)
For our bible study here at Tuguegarao, brother Lino continued on his topic. This time it is in Luke 18:9-17. In the sermon, I made a few modifications in my outline and preached the lesson "The Lion's lunch" which pertains to the work of the devil that we must avoid and to help those who are most likely to be attacked by the roaring lion.
In the afternoon, at Palca, I also preached the same lesson. We have three visitors who are with us and I am happy to see the young people whom I visited the last few days coming back to church.
In Dagupan, I invited brother Rogelio Esperanza to share the message. I asked him to preach the same lesson he shared in the Gospel Meeting at Maguirig because I want the brethren to see the need to have a good friend and to be one who will be a good example to others.
January 14 (Bible study)
We went to Minagbag, Isabela for a bible study at the house of sister Norma Guevarra. It was her and her two kids in the house while his husband is at work. It so happen that sister Janice Lamarca also came to visit and she also joined us. Brother Rogelio Esperanza shared the message and it helps edify our brethren.
January 15 (Bible study)
We went to Dugayung, Amulung. Supposedly, we should first have the bible study and do the tracts distribution, but during the study where brother Jerome shared a lesson, one of the audience (Jonalyn) decided to obey the gospel. We needed to baptize her but the baptistery is empty and will only be filled after two hours. We decided to bring her in the irrigation canal for the baptism.
In the evening, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, we invited brother Efren Respicio to teach. He shared a good lesson about "Stages of elimination in life".
January 17 (Bible study)
Brother Rogelio invited us once again, but this time in San Luis, Tuao. It was four of us who went there, Rogelio, Jay, James and me. We visited 5 households and had bible studies in all of them. each of us shared a lesson. We also did tracts distribution in an area where they are preparing tent for a wedding.
After San Luis, we went to Palca and visited sister Linda Uton. She haven't been able to go to church since November because her hips was fractured. She is already in her 80's that made it difficult for her to recover. We just learned that they are planning to have surgery as the doctor told them. We are hoping and praying for her fast recovery so that she can already come to church. You can tell how she really wants to go to church by the way she talks to us. When healthy, she never missed any single worship even though it is very hot or there is typhoon.
January 18 (Bible study and tracts distribution)
We went to Alibago, Enrile where brother James Attaban is preaching. We first did tracts distribution in the area. We are happy that one of those whom we had given tracts wanted to study with us (Manganda family). We had a few minutes studying with her. She then told us that she is sickly and wanting our prayers. Her daughter is also taking board exam and they wanted us to include her also in our prayers. She promised to attend the worship at Alibago on that Sunday. I don't know if she really came because we didn't have follow up with brother James anymore after that.
We also had bible study at the house of the family Fernandez. They moved to their new house and they wanted to thank God for the blessing in a way that they will hear God's message to them through bible study.
January 19 (Sunday Worships)
In our bible study here at Tuguegarao, brother Lino is on the third part of his lesson which is Luke 18:18-34. In the sermon, brother Rody preached the lesson "Standing without fail".
In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Robert shared a good lesson about "Answers to prayers".
In Dagupan, I was able to preach also the lesson "Lion’s Lunch" to them. Brother Robert took pictures of me, but then his phone's memory got corrupted. And so I got to post here the one I took with my phone.
January 22 (Bible studies)
Once again, brother Rogelio invited us in Santo Tomas, Tuao. We had tracts distribution in the village. It was very hot during that time but it doesn't bother us in any way. We are happy to be spreading the words of God to everyone.
In the evening, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. Brother Dennis Yuson was invited and he preached the lesson "I hated all my labour". It was an enlightening message about how we should treasure the word of God more than anything in this world.
January 24 (Wedding)
We went to the wedding at San Francisco, Tabuk where brother Randy Lamarca is the preacher in the area. It is the unity of Gumpac and Valdez family. Brother Rody was the one who shared the words of God while we, the preachers who came, led in other works.
January 26 (Sunday Worships)
In our bible study here at Tuguegarao, brother Lino is on the last part of his lesson which is on Luke 18:35-43. In the sermon, brother Rody was the one who preach but before he starts, I needed to go to Tuao already. it is the last Sunday of the month and our schedule there is 12 noon.
I am the one who went to Palcaa and I preached about "The great faith of Noah". While brother Robert was the one who went to Dagupan.
January 28-29
It was 5 am in the 28th that we started to travel going to Parado, Dingras, Ilocos Norte. We first went to Paoay and visited brother Rolly Salvador. We arrived in the town at 1pm. After that, we went to Dingras at 3pm and arrived there at 4pm.
The next day was the Gospel Meeting at Parado Church in Dingras. There are a lot of preachers in the Ilocos region who came. They wanted to see us who are from Cagayan. We are a total of 29 who came from Cagayan and riding 8 vehicles. They are happy to be joining us. They admired our unity which is the best thing that we do here.
This are all the speakers and that includes me:
1. Mark Daquioag "Value of the soul"
2. Jerome Forelo "Why become a Christian?"
3. Willie Otey Pastor "Book of Mark"
4. Rody Gumpad "Genesis to Deuteronomy"
Invitation was extended but there were no response. Brother Rolly invited us again in Paoay and there were 4 who obeyed the gospel. We baptized them in the nearest seaside. We are also viewing the wonderful works of God.
February 1 (Bible Study)
We were invited by brother Mario Bunuan at his house in San Luis, Tuao. He invited his neighbors to join us. He is working in Manila but he just came back home earlier this week. He wanted to have bible study in their house. Brother Jerry Soliva shared a good lesson on the book of Hebrews.
We also went to the wake of brother Leonito Tabbu. He is just 45 years old but suffering kidney problems for more than 5 years. He passed away January 30. According to the brethren, when he was healthy, he was very faithful, but then, when he is already bedridden, they haven't seen him in the church since. We had a service at his wake and brother Jerome shared a lesson about the Rich man and Lazarus.
