Reflecting Thoughts

  Perhaps it might be good to close off this blog with some reflecting thoughts of our first training session in the Philippines. Thinking back, we can be thankful to God that all went well and that He kept us safe and was near to our families back home. We are also thankful for all the prayers and support from our Providence Church family and broader community!

  It was a joy to be of service to God and to our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. God gave us much reason for joy!  There was a genuine desire to learn of the Reformation. There is genuine desire to follow God’s Word faithfully and return to the truth contained in it. A number of pastors whom we had contact with already had a good understanding of the Reformed doctrines. This is something to be very thankful for.

   Our time in the Philippines allowed us to become more familiar with God’s people there, to strengthen relationships and make new ones.  We also were able to learn of the difficulties and concerns of those desiring to follow the Reformed faith. Following God’s Word comes with a cost and the cost for these brothers and sisters is very real. Pentecostal pastors with once sizable congregations are now pastors of congregations with few in number.   Support and finances becomes a concern. Still though there is reason for smiles. (Filipino people are known for their smiles even in hardship.)  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”(James 1:2,3)  During our conversations it was evident that there has been blessing and a knowledge that our faithful God would continue to bless their faithfulness.  

   Please pray that these young congregations continue to stand firm in the faith, continue to be watchful and to be strong.  “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1Cor.16: 13,14) Please pray that they, and we, continue to love one another. “Love does no wrong to a neighbour…” (Romans 13: 10)

   The journey for these congregations will not be easy, but we rest in the knowledge that through the Word the Holy Spirit is at work in the Philippines. We trust that Christ continues to gather, defend and preserve a church for Himself. We can take great comfort in knowing Christ, seated at the right hand of God…seated in glory, has received all power and authority in heaven and earth. It is He who governs all things to our benefit, even at this very moment.  May God be praised and glorified! 

Malolos

Tuesday was a travel day. Early in the morning we flew to Manila. In Manila we had planned to meet with some other reformed missionaries who are working here. There was a little confusion in our communication so the meeting never happened.  From the airport we had already planned to go to the Mall of Asia so we needed to find away from the airport to the mall. We needed to find a taxi.  Finding a van would be ideal. We would ask the first nice van we saw pull up and drop off his passenger. Turns out it wasn't a taxi but after asking the owner of the van, he was gracious and  offered us his van and driver to drive us to the mall. We never expected that! 

The mall was large and modern with many of the same stores you would see back home. It also included an ice rink. People could rent skates and skate on the ice. There were not many good skaters but they all seemed to enjoy themselves. 

Later in the day we met up with Pastor Melo who had flown in later. With Pastor Melo we traveled to Malolos north of Manila. 

About 14 pastors and church members attended the first day of lectures held at the  Grace Community Church. Here again it's evident there is a desire to learn. A desire to learn more of the Reformed faith.  Like the church back in Cagayan de Oro they have a Pentecostal background.  The Lord is working here as well to bring about change. Something to be thankful for. 

Today  Dr. Bredenhof will continue with the Reformation Church History course.

Please pray for the continued reformation of the church here. 

On to Manila

This past Sunday we attended the  Balulang Christian Alliance Fellowship in the morning where Dr.Bredenhof delivered the message from Matthew 20:1-16. In the afternoon we went to the Kagay-an Reformed Church. Dr. Bredenhof preached a lesson from Lord's Day 5. Pastor Melo translating for both services. It  was again a previledge to have worshipped with them.

In the evening we were invited by the Jireh Reformed Church (Congregational) to a pig roast. They are a neighbouring church in the area. Pastor Lapiz and some of the members of the church attended the lectures. It didn't take long and the pig was gone. It was another memorable day.

Today we had a few meetings with our brothers here. It was a time to reflect on what God has been doing in the lives of these young men and their families. It was a time of encouragement.  We are also able to note there is much to be thankful for.  Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters here . They do  not have an easy situation. 

In the evening we were back in Balulang for a farewell meal. It was also a time to learn some more Genevan Psalms. We want to thank out hosts in Cagayaon de Oro. Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you also to the Shackleford's, being  able to stay at your place was a real blessing. 

Tomorrow morning bright and early we plan to fly to Manila. The Lord willing, TAP will  be offering an abbreviated course on Reformation Church History  north of the city. 

Please pray for traveling mercies. Please pray the lectures would be well attended  and be a blessing to all.

Adventures

It's been an eventful few days here. The lecture series in Reformation Church History finished on Thursday allowing for some time to have a brief course on Apologetics. We also had some time to take in some scenery.

I want to mention some observations I've made sitting in on the classes and talking to those who came. One thing that became very obvious is their readiness to learn.  It's also become quite apparent they have already learned much! They have a good grasp of the Reformed faith and a love for it. They also have a desire to sing from the Genevan Psalter and learn the psalms and hymns found in it. They've turned their backs on contemporary worship music.  Maybe they had some help when their band instruments and such were washed away in the flooding that happened during Typhoon Sendong. They tend to laugh about it when you asked them why they don't go back to a contemporary music style. They wouldn't think of it!  I wonder perhaps, is there a lesson here for us?  

Cagayan de Oro is known for a few things. One of them is white water rafting. With time to spare we decided we would give it a go. The Jeepney arrived at our gate right on time. The raft secured to the top of it. They were going to take us on our tour of the rapids. Jeepney rides are always an adventure and I was wondering what would be more exciting the Jeepney ride or shooting the rapids. After some instruction by our guides we were off in the water. I have to say, the rapids weren't all that exciting but they did have their moments. Next time we're going to have to take the extreme course, my fellow travelers always want to play it safe. What was exciting however was the beauty all around us and evidence of how powerful Typhoon Sendong really was. A highlight of the the experience was witnessing a family of monkeys playing in the trees....Rafting in the Philippines, watching monkeys playing in the trees. How cool is that? Our God is an amazing creator, He's an amazing God! 

The plan for Saturday was trip to the mountains and a picnic.  Our destination, Mount Kitanglad, the fourth highest peak in the Philipinnes. The Jeepney arrived early in the morning, having picked up our friends along the way. About 22 of us including our supplies packed the Jeepney. We were off on another Jeepney ride! Mt. Kitanglad proved to be a ways a way and for a guy who's six foot plus, a ways a way is one a way to far in a Jeepney. Once there though, we did find a large plantation of Pinapples. Have you heard of DelMonte? They built a small town of people and stores near the peak.  There's a lot of Pinapples growing here!

The picnic and hike to the top of the mountain was great. The Philippine people seemimgly love the simple things in life.  The simple pleasure of being with each other, enjoying conversation, enjoying a meal,  enjoying their surroundings. The views at the top were awe inspiring and showed us a different view of the Philippines we hadn't seen. Farms and fields quilted the landscape with mountain tops in the background. 

It began to rain and  the day was getting on. It was time to head home. Back we were, in the Jeepney. How do they do it? I felt like a kid again in the back seat wondering when we were going to get home. "We almost there yet?". My butt cheeks were in agony! And then the moment I had been fearing, the Jeepney stalling. The stalling part wasn't so bad. The bad part was we were on an extreme hill. "Just relax!". Here's what I'm thinking, "Yea right! The Jeepney's loaded, there's a hill and a curve in the road to boot, no way he's going to pop the clutch and get this thing up the hill.  How do I get out of this thing?" Well, out jump a few passengers to lighten the load. The driver pops the clutch and away we go. Problem solved!  Another Jeepney adventure.

It was a fun day and a great day of building relationships. Looking forward to worshipping our great and awesome God tomorrow and wishing everyone back home a great day as well. 

Brokenness

....you are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest. As He has done for you...  Joshua 1: 14-15

Each morning we drive to where we are holding the lectures. Each morning we pass by people in need. Somedays our route takes us past a garbage dump. It's a large pit and garbage from the surrounding area is dumped over the edge. People live there! It's not the first time I've seen this, a few years back I was in Colombia and saw the same thing. Things are not all that much better as we drive along and look at the places where people live, at least not according to my Canadian culture and way of living.

You want to help and yet it seems somewhat hopeless. Typhoons regularly rip through the area anything built is seemingly a temporary fix. So how do you fix things? Build stronger homes, better sewers and sanitation? 

What really is the root cause of our problems in this world, not just here in the Philippines, but the world? The rest of the world has its problems too. 

The root cause of our problems is sin, our brokenness. It's a broken relationship with God and this ultimately affects who we are and what we do. We can fix homes, we can build better homes. Will it help? Not really.  The answer is Christ, the God-Man, who lived and died to deliver sinners from the curse and misery of sin. He rose and now lives. For those who believe, we have been raised with Christ, our former way of life has died and now our life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:1-4) 

Given that sin is the problem. Initiatives such as TAP which seek to further educate pastors and elders here in the Philippines  are critical  in restoring this broken relationship. It's critical in bringing hope into the conditions, sometimes appalling conditions we see on our ride. 

Please continue  to pray for the pastors and elders here. May they be a blessing to the people in bringing hope and reconciliation with a just God.

Another Day of Classes

We are getting settled in here in the Philippines. We tend to get out of bed early. I notice our neighbours do the same. Cleaning their yards or their cars, getting ready for the day. We are staying in a more affluent area, a gated community with a guard at the entrance. Seeing a security guard in the Philippines is very normal. They are at a lot of entrances ways. To enter the nearby mall you are greeted by a well dressed security guard. "Hello sir!", he will say as he checks for any explosives. In fact as you pass by any store employee your going to hear "Hello sir!"  Another  thing we noticed is the "crazy" number of employees at the local department store. Each section of the store will have 10 to 20 employees ready to serve you. It seems very extreme, but I'm sure those who have jobs are very grateful. 

Getting back to our place. We've settled into our routines and we manage to be rather domesticated. I guess our wives have had an influence. We are thankful for a place we can retreat to and take in the days events. 

The lectures continue to go well and be well attended. There is much to take in for these young men. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, debates regarding the Lord supper, the Anabaptists, the Marburg Colloquy to name of few of the things they are learning about. Things I'm learning about. They are attentive and have questions.  Continue to pray for the young men and women who have been attending the lectures that they might absorb what is being taught. 

First Day of Lectures

Day one of the Reformation Church History course went very well. 14 members and pastors of area churches where in attendance. Most of the churches represented  have a Pentecostal background. They are young in the Reformed faith. Studying the history of the church will provide them with an understanding how Christ has gathered, defended and preserved His Church through the Reformation. It will give them an understanding of the catholicity of the church and how the church extends through the ages.

Psalm 78: 7

"so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments"

 Medieval theology, medieval mysticism, the rise of the popes , the decline of the popes. Key figures such as Wycliffe, Huss, Johann Von Staupitz, and Luther were touched on in the lessons today.

After the lectures it was time for supper and a Jeepney ride downtown. We met with our brothers from the Baldivis church. Rev. t'Hart and br. Hendrick deJonge who have been doing similar work in the area the past week. It was great to meet with them and enjoy a nice meal. 

Please continue to pray for the work being done here.

Sunday in the Philippines

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 

that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 

The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 

God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! 

 A blessing we hear every Sunday. I can't help but reflect on it today being separated from family who are on the other side of the world. Today too we received this blessing from a God who is able to do all things. A God who is here caring for us but also caring for our families back home. A God whose saving power is at work among all nations, including the Philippines

Today had the privilege of worshipping with our brothers and sisters here in the Philippines. In the morning we worshipped with the Balulang Christian Alliance Fellowship. Pastored by Jeff P. Uriarte. Dr. Bredenhof delivered the message using the text of 2 Kings 6: 8-23.

In the afternoon we worshipped with the Kagay-an Reformed Church, pastored by Glimar B. Melo. Again Dr. Bredenhof delivered the message, a lesson from Lord's Day 4. Pastor Melo served as the translator.

The liturgy is quite Reformed, much like we would have back home. There are some differences, scripture is read aloud by all. The catechism is read  by all. Having  everyone read is useful in reinforcing their learning of scripture and the catechism.  They sing from the Geneva Psalter, something that is new to them, something they do quite well. It was beautiful to hear them praising God and ministering to each other in song. 

We need to continue to pray for our brothers and sisters of these churches. They are small and things are not easy for them. The world around them is not an easy place but we trust that our mighty God will preserve the church here against the fury of the world they face. May God continue to remember them with favour.

The Sights

Today was a day to get on track with our days and see the sights. Flipping your days to the other side of the world plays tricks on the body. After breakfast it was time for a walk through our neighborhood.  Apparently  vitamin D helps you overcome jet lag. It was great to feel the warmth of the sun. 

Pastor Melo was right on time. He would be our host today along with his  daughter Gionah and son Yanan.

We planned a hike, more vitamin d and fresh mountian air. But first, to the city for some lunch supplies. 

The city is busy. The traffic chaotic, although Pastor Melo would have you think its normal and perfectly safe. Some how it all works, no traffic lights, no stop signs, no obvious rules of the road and yet it seems to be a well orchestrated dance of metal mania. It is something to see.

We found ourselves on top of a mountain overlooking the city of Cagayn de Oro. The ocean and distant mountains in the background, God's majesty filling our minds. God's an awesome creator, there is no doubt! Still its easy to focus on those  mountains, on the blue water and yet the city was directly below. A city filled with people, people created by God, created in the image of God. We had just past by those people many of whom are in great need of a Saviour. Where the world would pass by and see the conditions of the homes, of the streets, the poverty and see where things could be improved. That's not their greatest need. Their greatest need is to hear the Word, the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Our main focus will be to help in presenting God's Word accurately. 

Our devotional for today was Mathew 20: 20-28 and we were reminded of having a servant attitude, a servant heart. We pray for humble hearts.

Our day continued with a hike. The hike through the mountains was refreshing. More vitamin D, more warmth, more of the majesty of God filling our minds. 

Our ride home took us back though the city. Here the minds are treated to something completely different. Sensory overload! There is no way to capture the hustle and bustle in writing, you can't. It is something to experience. The smell, the noise, the honking, the dance of the metal, people dodging about, people watching life go by, people surviving, vendors selling their wares. It's about all the senses can handle, including  your taste. Why someone would eat Balut is beyond me. I'll have to let Dr. Bredenhof answer that.

It was a great day. Thank you to our gracious hosts. Time for dinner. Time to hit the bed. Tomorrow we go to worship our great God with our brothers and sisters here. Looking forward to it.

"It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20: 26-28