By Rev. Nollie Malabuyo
Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines
It’s already summer vacation in the Philippines (April-May), and it’s supposed to be dry and hot and humid, but instead we’re getting an almost daily dose of rains. The weather people are now saying that the country is experiencing a change in its annual weather pattern — a rainy season two months early.
This is a blessing in disguise for our mission church. Because of the rains and the overcast, temperatures have been abnormally lower, so our Sunday worship services are not as uncomfortable as we expected because of our lack of an air-conditioner.
We have had a few visitors these last few Sundays, so we now have up to 12-15 adults sometimes. Because the six children are very young and hard to control, Rachel started a Sunday school for them. They have enjoyed learning and singing together, but we need to get a better curriculum for them. Also, she has missed the preaching since she started teaching, and we have to rely on the manuscript for her to read.
The book of Numbers has been our focus these last couple of months, with the theme “Pilgrims in the Wilderness.” I didn’t expect to learn so much personally from a book that many others shun because it is boring and “irrelevant” to Christians today. But like Israel sojourning in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, we too are pilgrims and strangers passing through this world on our way to the heavenly city of God.
Nollie & Evelyn with Rev. Allen Vander Pol visiting from Miami International Theological Seminary
Our Sunday catechism lessons after the service are suspended for the summer because of the heat. But three of our regular attendees have expressed their desire to make their profession of faith before the elders of United Covenant Reformed Church in San Carlos, Pangasinan, so I’m now conducting a member orientation class for them. The profession of faith is planned for May 3 at our retreat in Tagaytay City, Cavite, about two hours south of Pasig City. The four little children of one of the “professors” would then be baptized. That would be an exceedingly joyous occasion for our covenant community.
Everyone is looking forward to our retreat on May 1-3 in a resort house that we rented for a whole month (much less cost-effective to rent for just a weekend). We anticipate a packed house because two to three other families might join us. We will be studying 1 Peter with the theme “Strengthened—not Surprised—by Suffering.” In his letter to the first-century brethren who faced untold persecution and hardship during their own time, we too are encouraged by Peter to persevere to the end. Evelyn feels overwhelmed by the preparations.
Family Visitation: There are only two families in our group, both of them with 4 young children; the rest are young singles. I visited one family in April, but have yet to visit the other family. One family’s children are a mix: the oldest one goes to a megachurch; the second sometimes goes with her parents, but most of the time with her Catholic grandma; and the younger two are with us regularly. Please pray for unity in the faith for this family.
The other family started their family worship just last week and we praise God for this maturing process.
Men’s Saturday Breakfast Fellowship: We started this last week. There are only five active men, two are mature Reformed believers, and a couple are from Catholic backgrounds new to the Reformed faith.
Women’s Saturday Breakfast Fellowship: Evelyn plans to lead the women, alternating with the men on Saturdays. Most employees work half-days on Saturdays.
CHURCH RETREAT UPDATE
God was gracious to us that in the midst of a storm brewing just east of the Philippines, we had great weather all throughout our retreat. Up in the mountains, we had relief from the heat, humidity, smog, congestion and noise of Metro Manila.
Many visitors graced our retreat. A family came from 5 hours north of Manila, and another from about 2 hours to the south. Some members of our church family invited their friends to join us, some of them making the difficult 2-3-hour commute from the metro area.
Since it was our first retreat, and also the first time for many to visit this mountain city, we didn’t structure it too much, leaving more time for R&R and fellowship. But we did have three teaching sessions on 1 Peter 2-3 from Friday night till Saturday night, and a worship service this Sunday morning. The sermon was “Severe Penalty Against Covenant Disobedience” based on Exodus 4:18-26 and Acts 2:37-39.
But the most joyous part of the retreat were the professions of faith of three members and the baptism of all four of the children of one of the “professors.” For the first time, our whole covenant community witnessed God’s work among both adults and young children.
Tired but refreshed, the Lord sent us home with his blessing of grace, mercy and peace.
Our Pressing Needs:
• Air-conditioning for the rented space
• Sunday school materials for nursery through Grade 3
• Membership class study guide
• Elders’ training study guide
NOTE: Please make your checks payable to MEANS (Mission: East Asian National Support) with the memo line saying “R1612 (FEURM)”. Send to: P. O. Box 8434, Bartlett, IL 60103. MEANS tel. no.: 1-630-542-2168
We appreciate your continuing prayers and support of the Philippine mission.
Nollie & Evelyn Malabuyo
Far East United Reformed Ministries, Inc.
Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines
Email: dvopilgrim@gmail.com
Web: blog.twoagespilgrims.com; www.twoagespilgrims.com/marshill
