The Long Nights Journey

We are here and thankful to God for bringing us to Cagayon de Oro safely.

  Early Thursday morning we boarded the plane and started our journey. Our 16 hour flight took us over the Artic, Russia and China, finally landing in Hong Kong. 16 hours of traveling in the dark. A quick Star Bucks coffee and we were on our way to Manila. In Manila we made it through Imigration and quickly found a shuttle bus to take us to Terminal 4 where we would catch our next flight. We thought the sign read " Free Shuttle", somewhat surprised then to be asked for 20 Pesos for the ride. We smiled, gave the bus driver the money and went.  A good thing we had gotten some Filipino money back home, just in case. Outside the air was warm and humid, that was a nice feeling. The bus ride gave us a glimpse of the surroundings, everywhere  its busy with people and cars. Waiting for the next flight, Dr. Bredenhof bumped into someone familiar from Cagayon de Oro who was heading back home after visiting some relatives. 

After landing in Cagayan de Oro it was another hour and a half taxi ride to our place here. The ride took us though the country side. Rice fields and the odd cow tied up in a field. Homes lined the roadway almost the entire ride. Jeepneys and motorcycles passing by. Roads being worked on. I was struck by the smell of burning fires along the way, I suppose people were cooking or burning their garbage. But it wasn't only the smell of fires, it was the scene of poverty that passed by home after home that struck me. 

   We had rented a place here while back home on the Internet. Very modern, clean and well protected . We are thankful too for our gracious hosts, Ed and Luanne Shacklefords, long time missionaries here  with the organization Christar, something I did not know when I first found the place.
     Once settled it was time for supper and a trip to the mall for some groceries. The mall is right around the corner, within walking distance of where we are staying.  The mall here is modern and busy with people.  It's a different  scene than our ride here. The grocery store is big and modern, looking much like what we have back home.  Pastor Glem Melo treated us to a delicious meal, took us grocery shopping for some breakfast items. Then it was time to head "home" and hit the bed. Lights out!
    This morning the sun is out and and the weather looks good but I do think a tropical depression is on the way. Today we will rest up and see some sights. Along the way we will talk with Pastor Melo about his work here and how we will plan the rest of the week.
   Please continue to pray for the people here in the Philipinnes and that doors would be open here to spread the Reformed faith.

Travel Day

      

           This evening we head off to the airport and begin a long day of travel to the Philippines, 15 hours and 40 minutes  to Hong Kong, 2 hours to Manila, 1 ½ hours to Cagayan de Oro on the southern island of Mindanao, then another 1 1/2 hour ride to our destination. We well be in Cagayan de Oro the first week of our travels.  Personally I’m not looking forward to the plane ride, although the anticipation of 30+ degree Celsius is helping.

            In the second week of our travels we head to the Metro Manila area on the northern island of Luzon.   Dr. Bredenhof will be teaching a seminary-level Reformation church history course both in Cagayan de Oro and the Manila area. There will also be opportunity for Dr. Bredenhof to preach the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ which God uses to gather His church and work faith in the hearts of those who believe.  We pray that God would bless our efforts in the Philippines and may His church grow in this country. Please pray many would come to the courses being taught and be blessed by them.  

   “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

            Besides the course being taught we will also be meeting with others doing similar work in the Philippines. I’ll write about this in future posts. I hope you follow along and feel free to comment on the blog. I haven’t thought too much about an internet connection while I’m there, hopefully it won’t be difficult to find.

            Since January 1st some parts of the Mindanao region have received over four feet of rainfall. I can’t imagine this amount of rain but I can certainly imagine that this has been a challenge for the people there. Landslides, bridges and homes washing out, rivers rising  have all been part of the difficulties encountered. Not to mention a number of deaths. We are grateful the rains have stopped, although thunderstorms are still in the forecast. 

            Please pray for traveling mercies. Please pray for the people of the Philippines and the advance of the Reformed faith.

Devotional

    Perhaps if you plan to follow along with us, you would also like to follow along with a devotional. Beginning January 16th the members of the TAP committee traveling to the Philippines will be following along a 30 day devotional which will take us to the end of our trip.  For those who would like to join us in this devotional, I've listed it below. 

January

16. Spiritual Renewal for Service---- Psalm 51

17. Taking Time to Pray-------------- Mark 1:35-37

18. The Word and the Way-------------Psalm 119

19. The Power to Serve -------------- Acts 1:1-12; Eph. 5:18

20. Blessed to Be a Blessing--------- Psalm 67

21. Here I Am. Let me Go!------------ Isaiah 6: 1-12

22. Attitude of Humility ------------ Philippians 2: 1-16

23. Availability Plus Christ--------- John 6: 1-14

24. Empowered to Serve--------------- Matthew 28: 16-20

25. The Lost Sheep/Coin/Son---------- Luke 15: 1-32

26. The Unlikely Witness------------- John 4: 1-42

27. The Harvest---------------------- Matthew 9: 26-38

28. Spiritual Courage---------------- Acts 4: 1-31

29. Revive Us Again------------------Psalm 85

30. Overcoming Difficulties---------- Numbers 13: 25-33

31. Jesus’ Travel Advice------------- Luke 10: 1-20

February

1. True Greatness ----------------- Matthew 20: 20-28

2. Abiding in Christ---------------- John 15 : 1-11

3. Facing Your Fears---------------- Luke 12:22-34

4. Peace in the Storm--------------- Philippians 4: 8-20

5. Lessons from Jonah--------------- Jonah 1 : 1-3; 3: 1-10; 4: 1-11

6. Serving with Gladness------------ Psalm 100

7. Loving the Lost------------------ John 21 : 15-23

8. Dedicated Service---------------- Romans 12

9. Getting Along with Others-------- 1 Thessalonians 5 : 11-18

10. Calling and Obedience------------ Genesis 12 : 1-4

11. God’s Wisdom--------------------- 1 Corinthians 1: 18 to 2:5

12. The Power of the Word------------ Romans 10: 9-17

13. The Word Became Flesh------------ John 1: 1-18

14. Proclaim Liberty to the Captives-- Isaiah 6: 1-6; Luke 4: 16-21

An Update

    I wanted to provide a brief update concerning the work of the TAP committee.  Lord willing in the first two weeks of February we will be sending  Dr. W. Bredenhof  to the Philippines. He will be our first instructor. His task will be to teach a course on Reformation  Church History. He will also be preaching in a few of the churches there.  Two members of the committee will be joining him, John Langendoen and myself (Joe Bontekoe). We hope to lay the ground work for future instructors, assess the needs as well as the viability of the project as a whole. We are also planning to meet with representatives from the Church of Baldivis who will already have been there providing instruction.
   We are excited about this opportunity to serve God and our neighbour in this way. We ask that you travel along with us by way of this blog. Please keep us in prayer . Also keep in prayer the people of the Philippines. As I write this I'm following the news and reading reports that days of rain have triggered floods and landslides in the Caraga Region in Mindanao, killing at least 14 people. This is a region a little northeast of where we will be.

A Little Background Information

   Earlier in 2013 the Providence church realized an opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ and the Reformed faith in the Philippines through a contact made there with a pastor who had discovered the Reformed faith. A committee was struck and work began to sending a seminary level professor to train indigenous pastors, elders and deacons in the Philippines. By sharing our Reformed heritage, our creeds and confessions, we hope to give gospel comfort to sinners and, above all, glory and praise to God.
  We are thankful as well that we are able to work in cooperation with the Free Reformed Church of Baldivis, Australia. They have similar interests.
  Initially this well be a three year project to be reviewed in September of 2017. The hope is to have training sessions in two week increments twice per year beginning in February of 2014. With Baldivis doing the same, there will be eight weeks each year in which the Reformed faith will be taught in various subjects. We pray that church leaders might be blessed by these classes and in turn be a blessing in their churches.
  In September our TAP committee became members of the Canadian Reformed Mission Association. This is a fledgling organisation itself. We hope to be able to draw on the experiences and gain contacts of other church mission committees who are a part of it.
  In future posts I look forward to sharing with you what's happening concerning TAP.