The Philippines - 2013

 

Sunday, March 17,2013

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


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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

 

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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.

Jerry B Riess


Photos from 1st Village

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