After about 24hours of flights and airports our team of 4 arrived safe in Manila. Walking once again through the international arrivals
building I notice immediately that a peace had filled my heart, I am back at my home away from home. Arriving on Good Friday in Manila was certainly different. Only a faction of the usual traffic filled the streets in this dominantly Roman Catholic society. Our Friend & co
laborer Pastor Danden Sales once again faithfully met us and welcomed us back to his country.
Everyone was assigned a different church to preach at on Easter Sunday, then a Church Thanksgiving service in the afternoon and evening service at the main church in Bais City. A busy first day. At that point our biological clocks are still on EST & do not understand we are now 12 hours ahead. I awoke at 5:30am fully refreshed so started praying reading the word, an hour & 2 cups of coffee later I couldn’t understand why it wasn't getting light out & no one was sirring (they are early risers around here.) Come to find out I was reading my watch upside down & it was now about 2AM! Oh well, time well spent.
This week was the Faith Island Mission’s 25th Anniversary. Over 40
congregations were represented. Only a few of the more distant pastor under FIM could not make it. What a great sense of privilege (humbling actually) & responsibility to minister to these men & women of God who have forsaken all to follow Jesus into ministry. I was particularly touched that while a certain song was playing, all the former Bible school students, some 25-30 all together who now pastor works, began to walk up on the platform. I thought “my God look at them they are all so young but have taken on such a great challenge” The Vision, Efforts & Labors of Pastors Danden & Shirley are paying off with fruit that has eternal dimensions. Not to forget the many others who have sown into
this ministry over the years as well.
We finished off our week on Friday with a small local crusade that saw
over 30 give their hearts to Christ. The young people were diligent to
take down names for follow-up later. On Saturday it was up to the
Mountains for another Church Thanksgiving service. This one near the
Mt. School we visit last year (see Philippine 06 chronicle #3 at
www.rrutler.blogspot.com ) There we were able to donate a microscope
given to us by Sandy F. of Freedom, NY. Though the students are on
their summer vacation right now the Principle was there and was most
happy to receive the gift.
Pastors Gene & Sharon & Danden & Shirley will leave tomorrow Tuesday 4/17/07 for a
"closed country" to share with the underground church. Please keep them in prayer. I will be staying on in Bais City to take care of some of
Pastor Danden's ministry responsibilities.
God's Best & Blessings to you.
In Christ, Russ Rutler
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