Photos are Auntie Cora & alley
service, me in wood bunk bed frame at warehouse, my friend who does not like
wearing pants, either ant or dog in our "room", village scenes, ladies who
removed my sweaty clothes, fixing up the fan , the "toilet" hole, and cooking
area in Antipolo.
I last wrote on Thursday just before the four church meeting in San Rafael. The
meeting was very successful as many came from the previous nights in the same
area. Friday was the local Community Church in Pagnansian by the home of Pastor
Dulvay. Saturday was very packed day. We started by having a Thank You
breakfast at the local Jolly Bee for our team members from the Tarlac area. They
showed up from many villages on tricycles, motorcycles, Jeepneys, etc for
breakfast on Caleb Ministries. Then we went about two hours to the home of JCCCM
Administrator Marilyn Compas where she had prepared a special breakfast for me.
She showed me her air conditioned home with three bedrooms set up to host
missionaries should I ever wish to stay there. Then she served breakfast of
mango juice, sandwiches, oatmeal and rice, and what she said was black coffee
but actually was black tea. She then held a ceremony presenting me a special
gift of a carved jade pendant which she says insures good health and which
matches one she wears! For customs, she gave me the receipt showing it cost over
$150. I was sad she spent so much and she expects me to wear it always. I was
very moved by her gift and hospitality.
From there we journeyed east to a Thanksgiving Service for an Assemblies Church
having its fourth generation Pastor installed from the same family. After the
services, the food they served was something I could not have do the hostess
fried eight bananas for me. Very sweet! We then journeyed to a beach area where
I met the brother of Pastor Dulvay. He lost both legs in a blasting cap accident
and has been waiting three years for prosthesis legs. The local mayor is
apparent culprit in holding up the order. He lives in a beach home with his wife
and three kids, making bamboo furniture for a living. We said we would try to
help get the legs for him.
After the visit with him we went to a nursing home located in the jungle area. I
preached and then anointed and prayed with many. One lady is 104 years old. She
and the others asked a joint prayer for all of them as I left that they all
would have another 20 years of life!
Returning to Pagnansian-Tarlac and the Dulvay home, we had our parting dinner,
praying for each other and saying goodbye. This was very hard! At 11 pm we
caught the bus with all our bags and headed to Manila, arriving about 5 AM
Sunday morning. From there we were joined by four team members who came down
from Santa Maria by bus to help us set up. We rented a building on the outskirts
of Manila to use as a warehouse for our LBC boxes so we can serve our projects
in Antipolo, the highest point in Manila and a slum area where Auntie Cora
started a church a year ago. This was the first Anniversary of her church which
Beverly helped her with for 6 months. The warehouse is in rural area, has
sporadic electricity, no air conditioning, is partially bars instead of walls so
buggy creatures come in, has lots of mosquitoes, no furniture except one stool
and one wood bunk bed frame. The toilet was flushed by pouring in a bucket of
water. No place to cook or such. Just four rooms. We stayed there three nights
before moving to Antipolo itself.
Sunday afternoon after naps we ventured to Antipolo itself to held the Sunday
service. Monday we had services at Auntie Coras apartment in the alley where she
is reaching local kids. Auntie Cora is 80 and a Pastor from Marbens program who
has started many of his churches including two in Beleze. She just had a
mastectomy a week ago and I promised her I would be in Antipolo for the
Anniversary service on Sunday. She made it to the service! One cute boy kept
showing up without pants so I adopted the rule you cannot come to church or
class without pants! He complied but always at the last minute.
Tuesday Marben and Beverly and I moved into a home with a family in Antipolo and
stayed until I left for Seattle on Thursday night. This was amazing to the
locals as mort had never seen a white person and it was very rare to have any
guests overnight in the village. They grew to like me very much, so much so that
at night they decided to string together about 20 extension cords to bring
electricity to my room so it would run a fan! Then they added an electric
light! After preaching I was sweating and two ladies kindly but forcibly removed
my shirt and trousers and toweled me off and put on dry clothes so I not get
chilled. Fixing my bed (bamboo rack) for me, they insisted I must go to bed as
I appeared very tired. I did finally and they pulled the benches out the door
and sat and watched as I slept, some all night! I kept asking Marben when they
would leave and he said they do not want to as they just like you very much! I
gave up and slept. Tuesday the village mayor and the homeowners
representative both came by and said they want us to put up a church building.
The mayor offered us a lot in the village if we would build. I agreed to buy
the lot and Marben agreed to build the church! They mayor asked one goat for his
lot but I gave him 5 goats, given to 5 families so they can sell the milk and
the cheese. Auntie Cora was thrilled! Thursday night I returned home, arriving
at about midnight Friday.
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Brian Riess
Thursday,
March 7,2013
Pictures tell the story better. Last
night was evangelism at a youth church. It was just incredible to see the Lord
at work revising this village church. Over and over on this trip we have heard
"Thank you for bringing life back into our dead church! Only two days left in
Pangasinan but we have nine requests to speak! The people are awesome here. The
last photos are from just last night. We were exhausted coming home but
ecstatic to see such results. The pastor has been here all morning talking and
pleading we not go to Manila but stay here till Wednesday.
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Brian
Riess
Wednesday,
March 6,2013
Sunday afternoon after the Vigan
Service, we journeyed back to Candon City and Pastor Barcoloid and his Living
Word Ministry. I spent a week with him in 2011 and we visited many of his 49
churches preaching and encouraging. Marben promised him the evening service this
Sunday and the morning service next Saturday, our only open dates In Santa Maria
area. He wanted five meetings but could not change the dates of services to
accommodate our few vacancies.
His wife, 2 daughters and son
greeted us royally with a big home-cooked meal of what they thought were my
favorite foods from the previous visit. They are big on fish dishes so last time
I enjoyed the chicken strips and catsup, mangos and oranges. This is what she
served again recalling them as my favorites. After dinner we went to their
Living Word Church and were greeted with great hospitality. Their son created a
video from my previous visit plus showing their use of our LBC box gifts over
the year. It is a kick! Then we held a big revival meeting. I preached
Deuteronomy 30 again and we had many slain in the Spirit after. The church was
very grateful and was looking forward to Saturdays visit at another of their
churches. We got back to Santa Maria after 2 AM!
Monday we visited Jollybee for a
treat for lunch, bringing three of the students with us and planning the week.
Monday night was service at Nalvo Beach in the beach house of Beth and Baber,
Marbens sister and brother-in-law. This is a vacation area of many bamboo raft
huts attached to the shore and rented out as vacation spots so the Pastora and
Pastors ran the beach inviting everyone to our service. We got many kids! Had
good service and distributed candy-packs.
Tuesday Michelle Lagmay, Marbens
doctor daughter, took us out to a special thank you meal at a new restaurant,
Mango Trove. She had called ahead and placed orders for our food, emphasizing my
seafood allergies. When we got there it was a very nice open restaurant of
bamboo huts and garden surroundings. The chef served our meal, starting with
squid soup. Michelle reminded him of what she told him and he insisted squid was
not seafood! Then he served a platter of pork chops alternating with fish and a
fish dish in the center. Again, Michelle explained to him and he said I should
just eat the pork chops, ignoring that they were touching each other. Then came
white rice decorated with shrimp and he suggested I just eat the rice at the
bottom. Finally, Michelle took him aside. He came back with two awful burned
pork chops and a plate of just rice. I felt very bad for Michelle but she took
it well saying it showed her the about of difficulty the allergies provide!
From there we went direct to Ruby’s
new church in a village. It is a Tobacco growing area and the lean-to is
attached to the tobacco smoke house. We held a good service followed by a meal
of baked sweet potatoes (roasted over fire) which people dipped into ground
sugar cane. It looked delicious.
On Wednesday while Marben and I were
in Banged for his medical checkup where he said we were to also meet a very
important person Marben described as the top leader of the Communist Party in
this area. He said it was crucial to getting access to the one last province in
Luzon we wanted to cover but that the people were very wary to allow anyone in.
He hoped we could make a strong impression on the leader as he has been trying
to open this last area above Abra to ministry for years. Unfortunately, they had
to postpone at the last minute so we agreed instead to meet tomorrow afternoon
in Santa Maria. We visited two other churches in the afternoon and left candy-
packs.
Wednesday was Ag Agrao Barangay and
a big meeting with many young children. This is a poor village we supply rice in
the winter and supplies when the floods hit which is frequently of late.
Thursday morning we went to Nalvo Beach (Caleb Storage) and packed 12 LBC Boxes
for shipping by bus to Tarlac and Pastor Dulvay to start his Caleb outreaches
there.
On Thursday afternoon I was here alone when a lady arrived, sitting quietly in
the lobby. I went out and visited with her just to pass the time. She asked if
this was my first visit to the Philippines. I said no, actually I came the first
timer in 1980 on a goodwill visit with World Concern of Seattle, now known as
Crista Ministries. We visited here and then went on to China. She asked what we
did while in The Philippines after I told her I did not even meet Marben until
2008. I said we visited a very remote tribe of people who had been previously
feared as headhunters and cannibals. This they assured us was their way of
scaring off intruders and keeping their village safe. They were way up in the
mountains and World Concern had been providing medical assistance to them,
building facilities and treating health concerns including tb. They wanted to
express their appreciation so entertained our group, providing a banquet of
local foods served picnic style on banana frons on the ground and doing tribal
dances, etc. She asked what the buildings were like and I described them
including a concrete block house holding a chest x=ray machine labeled U of W
Hospital with an emblem of the Husky Mascot dog. She told me this was and is her
home village. It is very deep in the mountains and rarely does anyone get to
visit it. She is the Pastora and leader of the village and came down to thank
Pastor Lagmay for sending 12 boxes of clothing, medical supplies and food last
year when they suffered a devastating fire. Marben then arrived to join our
conversation, introducing me to Pastora Basara (sp?). He told her I had sent the
LBC boxes plus the $600 to buy food for her village. He told her about Caleb
and I presented her with one of my books, autographing it at her request. She
and Marben then spoke at length in Ilocano and I heard occasional words like
"Imperialist", "Palestine","Israel", and "Obama" but elected to stay out of the
conversation. Then she asked me to pray for her (which I did) and invited me and
Marben to come to their village for a Family Reunion she is sponsoring this
week, to speak, hold services, and pray for four sick people. We are trying to
arrange the schedule to accommodate this and she has to get clearance from the
village itself as well. She was curious why I was not eating the sweets she
brought and Marben explained I was diabetic. She then turned and told me I was
safe wherever she held influence, welcome anytime at her village or province,
and that I had safe travel upon her command! She then prayed for me asking
healings and blessings and travel mercies!
It is awesome to realize in this land I have "safe conduct" from the Government
officials, The Rebels and Rebel Leader, and now The Communists!
We then went to San Estbeban for the evening service and I then surprised and
shocked Marben by telling about how The Lord had introduced me to Pastora
Basaras village 33 years earlier. He was absolutely speechless, saying also
assuredly anyone going there in 1980 certainly would be kidnapped or shot,
particularly a white person. He was floored at how Jesus had protected and
provided for this encounter so long ago. He was still talking about it this
morning. I spoke of Mars Hill and Paul, how the Lord as architect of history
arranged for the Monument to the Unknown God to be erected hundreds of years
before so Paul could refer to it at the acropolis when presenting Jesus. The
serviced went very well with many coming forward and one lady being healed so
she could again walk without her cane!
Friday night we went to a village we lunched at a week ago where they killed
the chicken just as we arrived for lunch. We are doing their first village
service. They had a nice dinner waiting for us as it is long journey to their
village. As we ate, the young pastors and pastoras arrived carrying chairs from
the church on their tricycles, cleaned up the yard and set up the area for
service. Then they went to the surrounding houses inviting people to the
service. It went very well with many children and then in the shadows watching
many of the curious adults. Most everyone came forward for prayer after which we
installed Jean as the assigned Pastora for this new church. She immediately
started taking names of the kids for the bible class, knowing this will get the
adults there! Our host family was very excited and showed up at Santa Maria to
thank me personally and bring me more bananas!
We hurried back to Santa Maria to
bring the 12 LBC boxes for Tarlac by Tricycle from the Nalvo Beach house to the
highway to catch the 11 pm “Rabbit” bus from Abra, as prearranged. Hauling the
boxes up to the street, we were bitterly disappointed when the bus drove by,
leaving us by the roadside with having to haul them back, about 5 miles each
way! We called Rabbit about it and they said it was there dispatcher fault and
they would stop tomorrow.
Saturday we went to Candon City and
a remote town where Pastor Barcoloid has a former 7th Day Adventist Church. I
had preached there before and it was a fun service. They set a beautiful spread
“picnic style” on the lawns and in the garden after. One lady was
confrontational that we did not believe Saturday was the Sabbath. I kept telling
her it makes no difference with me as long as you worship Jesus but she was
adamant about her legalism. I drew a lot on the “Bait of Satan” teachings in our
discussion. We parted friendly.
We again hurried back to Santa Maria
for the second night to bring the 12 LBC boxes for Tarlac by Tricycle from the
Nalvo Beach house to the highway to catch the 11 pm “Rabbit” bus from Abra, as
prearranged. Hauling the boxes up to the street, we were bitterly disappointed
when the bus again drove by, leaving us by the roadside with having to haul
them back. We telephoned Tarlac to advise them not to meet the bus, AGAIN. We
got a call from the Mayor of San Fabian. She was one of those waiting to receive
our first Caleb Medical Boxes to her community. In Response, she sent her own
truck from the town charity ministry to pick up the boxes! They arrived at 5
AM. The boxes were delivered to Tarlac Town Center and there the Mayor held a
public ceremony accepting our gifts and DISTRIBUTING THEM while we still were
in Santa Maria!
Sunday was the 5 AM shopkeeper
service and then at 11 AM a big inter-faith service for the Elohim Covenant
Churches, held at Isac Junior College. (Ilocos Sur Agricultural College)) About
350 attended, mostly college age kids! Awesome service!
Sunday evening we held a service at
Marbens Church for Melody and Milten……a nice service and fun to be part of. The
Bride’s mother asked me to be a sponsor which I was glad to do. I gave a gift of
500 pesos ($125) and paid for the supper after the service. This was a big feast
(but not expensive) served at the Grooms home.
Monday was bus trip back to
Tarlac-Pangasian area and Pastor Dulvays’ family. We brought three more LBC
boxes with us which they immediately opened, inventories and allotted to local
churches. Tuesday was a confusing day. We started out at 10 AM from Pastor
Dulvays home in Cimingling to go to Pagnansian, stopping at the hospital to make
appointment for his son who has unusual viral condition affecting his nerves. He
is 35 and a teacher but has been unable to work over a year. They set the
appointment for noon. We went on to Jesus Christ Christian Mission School for a
day visit to the school, candy pack distribution, and returning at 7 to preach
in the church. But Pastor Dulvay returned to the hospital for his sons
appointment but was repeatedly delayed until after 6 PM. We had our day visit
and were then left to wait in the school office until evening service, which I
conducted in walking shorts! Everyone was understanding but it made a long day,
especially when my plastic chair collapsed! The school Administrator is its
founder, a widow lady named Marilyn Combs. She is dynamic and has started many
churches in this area. We had great visit throughout the afternoon.
Wednesday was back to Pangasian at
10 am for meeting with 12 local pastors. They watched the Caleb Ministry video
with interest and wanted a number of services locally. Many wanted my book
“Building Saints” autographed, which was great fun. On the way we stopped at the
Philippine Land Rural Bank to withdraw funds from the ATM. Sadly, I missed a
step in the tile work on the bank porch and fell like a ton of bricks onto the
tile, hitting my nose! My glasses left a cut on my eyebrow and my upper gums
were badly chewed up. The “sand and blood mural” I created on the tile was
rather spectacular! Bank guards were running everywhere for mops, bandages,
swabs, etc. Marben and Beverly both assumed blame for not walking with me but
truly iut was my own fault for not seeing the step. (Happens often with these
bifocals) Today the nose is still bruised and the gums hurt a lot but rest seems
in order.
Then Wednesday evening we visited
Basara, a village church started by the school founder Marilyn Combs. The church
was packed, including over 200 kids coming for candy packs! WE held a strong
evangelism following the service and then had late dinner treating the school
administrator and her family in a local restaurant.
It is now Thursday Afternoon.
Tonight is ministering to joint service of four churches. This will probably be
last report from here as I fly out from Manila in one week starting my 30 hours
trip home.
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Brian Riess
Simply
Incredible but True!
On Wednesday while Marben and I were
in Banged for his medical checkup we were to meet a very important person Marben
described as the top leader of the Communist Party in this area. He said it was
crucial to getting access to the one last province in Luzon we wanted to cover
but that the people were very wary to allow anyone in. He hoped we could make a
strong impression as he has been trying to open this last area above Abra for
years. Unfortunately, they had to postpone at the last minute so we agreed
instead to meet tomorrow afternoon in Santa Maria.
Thursday morning we went to Nalvo Beach (Caleb Storage) and packed 12 LBC Boxes
for shipping by bus to Tarlac and Pastor Dulvay to start his Caleb outreaches
there. (pictures above)
On Thursday afternoon I was here alone when a lady arrived, sitting quietly in
the lobby. I went out and visited with her just to pass the time. She asked if
this was my first visit to the Philippines. I said no, actually I came the first
timer in 1980 on a goodwill visit with World Concern of Seattle, now known as
Crista Ministries. We visited here and then went on to China. She asked what we
did while in The Philippines after I told her I did not even meet Marben until
2008. I said we visited a very remote tribe of people who had been previously
feared as headhunters and cannibals. This they assured us was their way of
scaring off intruders and keeping their village safe. They were way up in the
mountains and World Concern had been providing medical assistance to them,
building facilities and treating health concerns including tb. They wanted to
express their appreciation so entertained our group, providing a banquet of
local foods served picnic style on banana fronds on the ground and doing tribal
dances, etc. She asked what the buildings were like and I described them
including a concrete block house holding a chest x=ray machine labeled U of W
Hospital with am emblem of the Husky Mascot dog. She told me this was and is her
home village. It is very deep in the mountains and rarely does anyone get to
visit it. She is the Pastor and leader of the village and came down to thank
Pastor Lagmay for sending 12 boxes of clothing, medical supplies and food last
year when they suffered a devastating fire. Marben then arrived to join our
conversation, introducing me to Pastor Basara (sp?). He told her I had sent the
LBC boxes plus the $600 to buy food for her village. He told her about Caleb
and I presented her with one of my books, autographing it at her request. She
and Marben then spoke at length in Ilocano and I heard occasional words like
"Imperialist", "Palestine", "Israel", and "Obama" but elected to stay out of
the conversation. Then she asked me to pray for her (which I did) and invited me
and Marben to come to their village for a Family Reunion she is sponsoring this
week, to speak, hold services, and pray for four sick people. We are trying to
arrange the schedule to accommodate this and she has to get clearance from the
village itself as well. She was curious why I was not eating the sweets she
brought and Marben explained I was diabetic. She then turned and told me I was
safe wherever she held influence, welcome anytime at her village or province,
and that I had safe travel upon her command! She then prayed for me asking
healings and blessings and travel mercies!
It is awesome to realize in this land I have "safe conduct" from the Government
officials, The Rebels and Rebel Leader, and now The Communists!
We then went to San Estbeban for the evening service and I then surprised and
shocked Marben by telling about how The Lord had introduced me to Pastor Basaras
village 33 years earlier. He was absolutely speechless, saying also assuredly
anyone going there in 1980 certainly would be kidnapped or shot, particularly a
white person. He was floored at how Jesus had protected and provided for this
encounter so long ago. He was still talking about it this morning. I spoke of
Mars Hill and Paul, how the Lord as architect of history arranged for the
Monument to the Unknown God to be erected hundreds of years before so Paul could
refer to it at the acropolis when presenting Jesus. The service went very well
with many coming forward and one lady being healed so she could again walk
without her cane!
Tonight we go to a village we lunched at a week ago where they killed the
chicken as we arrived for lunch. We are doing their first village service
tonight. So this brings you up to date. Having a great adventure......The Holy
Spirit indeed is with us.
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Jerry Brian Riess
February 25,
2013
As many of you know, my laptop has
been struck down in the field of battle. So I am without my notes or photos but
wanted to send an update on my journey. It has become very exciting on this
journey and I don't want to deprive any of enjoying it with me as
contemporaneously as possible.
I last wrote on February 12th following the exciting evening of our evangelism
in San Fabian after the Mayor interceded and prevented our use of the large
rented hall. We settled for a local Church near by that holds about 300 and it
was crowded and a lively moving service with many healings. The trip back from
San Fabian, about 2 hours, was precarious because the lights failed on our old
van, The doors are held shut by two ropes on each side and must be opened from
the outside. The window falls out on my passenger door so we handle it gently!
We drove home with my shinning my flashlight out windshield at oncoming traffic
to warn of our presence! But we were all so excited as were the sponsoring
pastors who immediately wanted to schedule more meetings with us. Wednesday
after I sent my Report we went to Talrac to get lights fixed so we could drive
at night as we have meetings every night. Wednesday was at a new village for me,
a church of about 200. It was a good evangelism with many coming forward for
prayer and being slain in the spirit. After, the pastor fixed us dinner, a pork
chop and rice for me and many fish dishes for the rest (almost all meals now are
overcooked pork chop or chicken). Thursday morning we worked on the van again,
had noon meeting with San Fabian pastors to set more meetings, and then had
evening meeting again in same village church as last night. The 15th was
interfaith youth rally held in civic plaza. You have never heard LOUDER worship.
It was awesome as the youth came forward volunteering for missions and bible
school. Our first boxes of Candy Packs arrived for distribution as well. We are
heroes here! Then Saturday was our symposium on gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Twenty young adults participated in the all day program. I taught the first part
on preparing yourself for service, harboring unforgiveness, necessary
scarifies, etc. Marben taught section 2 on gifts of the Spirit. He and I jointly
did the last sections on receiving, identifying and using the gifts. It was very
successful as ALL 20 received the gifts and used them very effectively, even
interpreting for each other! Saturday night we ventured to "Paradise" Tarlac, a
sort of Las Vegas area in the wilderness where little rules apply. Here we held
an evangelism for young people and it rocked! The building has no roof over
one-fourth of the area, just being built. The Pastor and his family live in the
church. They were wonderful hosts and most receptive to our program. Sunday was
different. Marben and Beverly went to one village and Pastor Dulvey and I to
another. Mine was a new "home church" in a small building. It is his home
village and home for much of his family so he wanted them to meet me. After
service, a "marshal" and a City Board Member (lady) arrived to command my
presence at the home of the mayor of San Fabian. (The mayor who reportedly
cancelled our Tuesday meeting in the town hall). We were called upon to explain
the "ruckus" we had started in their community. I had no idea what to expect so
told Marben to prepare to lower me over a city wall in a basket! He also had no
idea. We arrived at the mayors residence and she was pleasant, cordial but very
curious about what we were doing. I explained as best I could and she invited us
to her living area to pray with her, for her, and for here family. She was
clearly affected by our ministry. Her husband, the prior mayor now barred by
term limits, also was very cordial. They then thanked us by serving ice cream,
frozen fudge treats, 7 up, and cakes. As a diabetic I had to politely decline,
finally getting water. Then she gifted us 2 cases of "Salted Bunt Fish" to use
in our work, their family product. It was truly a surprising evening and totally
unexpected interruption to our schedule. She invited us to use the town
facilities as we needed for our programs. We then hurried to the church where
our evening meeting was waiting. Here we again experienced many healings in the
service including four from wheelchairs walking before the night was over!
The next morning we went to town to get funds for our trip north but the battery
failed in the van and we had to have it replaced, consuming most of the day.
Hurriedly at 7 pm we boarded a bus North from Tarlac to Santa Maria where we are
staying in Marbens home church. We arrived about 1 am. The morning brought
disaster as one of the students attempted kindly to connect my laptop to the
local wireless network but mistakenly connected it to the master server
resulting in it thinking I was hacking and responding by zapping my poor laptop
into unconsciousness. Since then, it basically kills any program I open! Tuesday
we did laundry and washed and then drove to Abra to visit Cynthia. She was very
pleased and surprised. She reports having about 45 for services, including kids,
on Sundays, still doing the Vitameal feeding programs in 6 villages, and
receiving gifts of medicines for medical days from the Governor we visited with
her in 2009! She said some candy packs arrived in poor condition in that "Jolly
Rancher" candies melted in travel. From Cynthia's we visited three other Pastors
, two with new babies, all graduates from the program in Santa Maria and now
having strong churches! This was so encouraging to see!
Wednesday, Baber and Ruth (Marben's brother-in-law and sister) and I went with
Marben to Bengeud in central Luzon Island. Actually, this is just over the hills
from Tarlac where we came from. This is the coolest city in The Philippines,
being high in the mountains, and is popular tourist spot and vacation area for
locals. We stayed the night with Joshua and his family, another Marben graduate
pastor, and we preached in his church which has many Africans! Thursday Marben
took us to Mines View to look at the area he wants us to visit next year!
Flower festivals were going on in Bengend and it was very crowded so we returned
to Santa Maria by late night. Friday was the youth interfaith service at Santa
Maria and Saturday a joint Mens Fellowship conference. Saturday afternoon Marben
and Beverly and I went to pray for a lady who just returned from Ontario. She
has been in wheelchair for years. No more! She is walking! Saturday night was
special for me. Bishop Barcoloid of Candon City wanted very much two or three
days with me but schedule would not permit. So we cancelled Assemblies Church
service at Santa Maria and instead went to Candon City for Barcoloid. He greeted
us with huge meal of all the things he recalled I liked when I stayed there.
Then we went to his church for service. I was greeted royally. They had a video
multi-media presentation of my work with them before, videos of Caleb boxes
arriving, and little tennis shoes everywhere! I have a copy to bring home! We
held a very good evangelism service and will return again next Saturday! He
reports Jolly Rancher problem and showed he took each candy pack apart and
washed everything, even drying out the color papers!
Sunday after I did the 5 am market
service we went to Vigan for services at Jesus The Great Messiah church.
Jerry Brian Riess
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
February 14,
2013
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
February 12,
2013
Our Present Home Base and
Outreaches until Sunday
This is where I have been since
Wednesday (a week ago) and will be until Sunday. We are exactly on border
between Tarlac and Panginian. We are reaching out 100 to 150 miles each
day to new churches. It is very hot, no AC anywhere, and no conveniences, but we
are seeing lives changed! 40 local pastors are sponsoring our crusades here
including Assemblies and Foursquare Pastors. We are in the very center of Luzon
Island now working our way north and west above Manila. Sunday we go to LeUnion.
Food is totally fish, so I am on oatmeal and Mangos...
Jerry Brian Riess
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
February 7,
2013
I am online now, but it's never
a sure thing to have Internet here at any time. It is Friday AM and I'll be staying in
this area until Monday and then move up Island to LeUnion. Very, very hot here. Have great crusades and people are very receptive.
Our itinerary shifted from intended one as Pastor Marben
wants to be at a certain place for a 25th Anniversary celebration of a ministry,
so we reversed some of the plans. Its 85 already at 8
am here. The shade is meaningless. I am washing clothes constantly trying to
keep up. Good news is it dries instantly. God Bless you all.