Safely Back On American Soil

Thank the Lord for safe passage so far. It is good to be back on good old American soil.
One of the toughest parts of the trip are the hours that we have to spend in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. We arrived at the airport at 9:20 AM for our 12:30 flight. As usual, we barely made it to the gate just as the flight was beginning to board. Our team stood in line at the ticket counters for check in for over two hours! To say the lines are long in Manila would be a great understatement. Cathay Pacific Airlines is a first class organization, but Manila airport is an absolute bottleneck.



Here is a photo of one of the Cathay Pacific 747's like the one we flew from Manila to Hong Kong to Los Angeles. Security is unbelievable over there. Bags are screened in Manila at least two times and then again at the gate. Then in Hong Kong, even though you do not go outside of the secure area, you still have to go through a security checkpoint at the "Transfer Area" where bags are scanned and searched before one proceeds to the gate area. As you go down the ramp to the Jetway, carry on bags are searched again by Chinese military people. What was really interesting on this trip is that the plane we flew in from Manila to Hong Kong landed at Gate 23. We all exited the plane, walked nearly a mile, went through transfer point E-2 and then proceeded to the gate for our departure to Los Angeles. Gate 23! We got back on the exact same plane we had flown into Hong Kong. This is the second time this has happened on a trip back from the Philippines, and it seems that there ought to be an easier way to do this for people who will be on the same plane for the second flight.

At any rate, the trans Pacific flight was as comfortable as one can be in economy class. That particular leg of the flight lasted 12 hours (two hours shorter than the flight over!) and the crew is very pleasant. This plane seemed to be brand new, and had some very nice features even in coach. Six of us had seats in the back three rows of the plane and that worked out great. Those three rows only have two seats instead of three because of how the fuselage narrows at the rear of the plane. There is not room for a third seat, but there is a good bit of elbow room between the inside seat and the window. In a jam packed 747 that is a nice feature with elbow room by the window and the aisle.

It is always a wonderful feeling to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport. Back in the good old USA! It is a welcome sight indeed. Our flight landed about 2:40 PM, we picked up our luggage and cleared customs and then parted ways with our teammates from New Orleans. Their United Airlines flight was due to depart for the Big Easy from Terminal 7 at 6:00 PM. Joey and I will be flying US Airways out of Terminal #1 at 10:45 PM. What's funny is that they will be back in New Orleans before our flight even leaves LA. We should have time to freshen up in Charlotte between 6 and 9 AM tomorrow before flying back to Tri State Airport.

Looking forward to seeing the church family on Sunday.

Thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf.

Preparing to Leave Manila

Friday Morning 5:45 AM
Makati City, Philippines

Good Morning from Metro Manila.

Our flight arrived about 5:00PM – one hour late from Dumaguete (but that is pretty much par for the course for Philippine Air Lines. We have come to expect delays and flight cancellations on PAL, which is why we try to fly Cathay Pacific for our international flights. They are as different as daylight and dark. PAL, however, has treated us well on the two occasions that we have had flights cancelled.

Yesterday afternoon a representative met us at the baggage claim area and processed vouchers for the nine of us for rooms at the Charter House Hotel in downtown Makati City, meals while here, and two taxi/vans to transport us. No complaints about the service, only disappointment that the flight cancellation forced us to leave Dumaguete a day early and miss the second night of the crusade in Sibulan. I am happy to report, however, that Pastor Valdez left the sound equipment and musical instruments in Sibulan and since we had paid to reserve the municipal auditorium for two days, Pastor Neri Rio and his congregation from Sibulan were going to utilize the opportunity and finish out the last night of the crusade. Praise the Lord!

What a city Manila is! It is a huge metropolitan area and downtown areas look very similar to New York City or Chicago. There are, here in Manila, the extreme examples of poverty and plenty side by side. There are vast areas of slums with people living in the most deplorable conditions, and yet gleaming skyscrapers, malls and banks that rival anything you have ever seen in America.

Makati City is in the southern part of Metro Manila and was about a thirty minute harrowing drive from the airport. The traffic in this city is horrendous and the signs and lines on the streets mean absolutely nothing! Horns are utilized more than brakes and it is a miracle that there are no more accidents than there appear to be. You would NOT want to drive in this city.

Our hotel is directly across the street from the Green Bank Mall. Adjectives that come to mind to describe this three story mall would include swanky, opulent, upscale, and beautiful. The merchandise is top quality and the prices are astronomical. While walking through the mall last night, one member of our team remarked, “We’re not in Mayaposi any more, Toto!” Alvin, the taxi driver, told me that Makati City is the chief business city of the Philippines. I believe it. The place looks like lower Manhattan.

I am typing this in my room and hope to find an internet café which will allow me to post this to my blog. In the mean time it is time to wake Jay, get some breakfast, and prepare for the taxi’s to pick us up at 9:00 for the ride back to Nino Aquino International Airport.
Our Cathay Pacific flight is due to leave for Hong Kong at 12:30 PM and we are expected to arrive back in Los Angeles at 2:40 the same afternoon (Friday).It is always so good to get back into Los Angeles. Once on American soil, I always say, “I can get home from here!”

Our team members are all well and in good spirits. I thank God for the opportunity to work with each of these wonderful folks. Even though the bulk of our mission is completed, please pray that we will have good witnessing opportunities as we travel half way back around the globe. Prayer for safe travel would also be our request, as the weather report for Hong Kong is calling for strong thunder storms and there is a new Typhoon brewing in the Pacific.

Baboo, I’ll see you on Saturday Morning, Lord willing!

Love to all.

Final Report From Dumaguete

Thursday Morning
Dumaguete City

Today we begin the long journey home. It is always hard to say goodbye to our dear friends here, but we are looking forward to being home with our families and back in our own churches.

Last night was our final crusade activity – an outdoor service at the “municipal auditorium” next to the Sibulan City Hall. Jay led the service. Music was provided by Daniel, Janna, and Amanda. Boy can those young people sing!!! I preached about the man who came to the door of Heaven but did not go in (the Rich Young Ruler). He came to the right person, he asked the right question, he received the right answer, but he did the wrong thing. Pastor Jonathan Ugdoc of Bais City interpreted for me and it was a pleasure working with him. Preaching with an “interrupter” is not an easy task under any circumstances, but Jonathan was one of the best I have ever had. I was able to get into a flow of thought and speech and he stayed right with me. His help was most appreciated.

The crowd was much smaller than what we had hoped for as there were only about 70 persons in attendance. However, thirteen responded to the invitation, accepting Christ as Savior. That puts the total number of recorded decisions this week at over 110. The personal information on all of these respondents was taken and followup will be done by Pastors Ugdoc, Joseph Zerna, and Neri Rio.

Every one who made a profession of faith received a Cebuano Bible, and many English New Testaments were also distributed throughout the week. There are over 500 New Testaments that will be distributed by these three Pastors after we are gone. This will no doubt be the most effective part of this entire ministry – placing the Word of God into the hands of people who are in desperate need of hearing it.

And so, another mission trip draws to an end. We are all tired, but each of us have a sense of fulfillment in knowing that we have had a small part in what God is doing half way around the world from our comfortable homes. Many of my readers have prayerfully and financially supported us on this journey. The successes of it would not have been possible without that support. You are an important part of this team.

As always, I come away from this trip with a renewed zeal to serve God in MY field of ministry at home. There is a renewed sense of urgency in evangelism, and a fresh realization that God wants us to put the same principles to work in Huntington and New Orleans, as these precious Pastors in Negros Oriental do so faithfully.

I learned this morning that two of our church members at Westmoreland Baptist are facing the loss of dear family members. I understand that Ronnie Mills’ father was not expected to live through the night. Also Rick Rakes’ only remaining sibling, Trudy, passed away in Wurtland Manor Nursing Home. I urge our members to please reach out to these families in this time of their need.

Our trip home begins with a 2:45 PM flight to Manila, where we will spend the night. Then at 12:30 Friday afternoon we are due to board the Cathay Pacific flight for the Manila – Hong Kong – Los Angeles part of the journey. The amazing thing about that leg of the travel is that, due to the twelve time zones we will travel through, we will arrive in Los Angeles EARLIER than we departed Manila!
Joey and I should arrive back in Huntington about 10:30 on Saturday morning, We look forward to seeing many of you soon – especially Dr. Howerton. I seem to have cracked that tooth again.

There's no place like home!

Wednesday Morning Update

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Dumaguete City

Day is dawning on our last full day here in Dumaguete. The long journey home begins tomorrow when our Philippine Air Lines flight departs for Manila at 2:45 PM (that’s a quarter to 3:00AM Wed. night/Thurs. morning back home). Our departure from Negros was moved up one day due to Philippine Air Lines cancellation of the Friday flight upon which we previously held reservations. This will require an overnight stay in Manila. As far as we know, the remaining flights will all be on schedule for our return – with the New Orleans team arriving home very late on Friday night, and Joey and I returning to Tri State Airport around 10:30 on Saturday morning.

Today is basically a free day for our team until the scheduled outdoor crusade at 5:00 PM. This is a very welcome occurrence, since we began intensive activities here the night we arrived. On past trips we have always had a day of rest before the mission activities started. We did not have that luxury on this go around. The entire team is exhausted, especially after the last two day’s activities.

Billy Cox and Bobby Wood have worked like borrowed mules for the past two days, constructing an entrance canopy at Pastor Valdez’ New Life Church in Upper Batinguel. The project was 95 percent finished when the heavy rain washed out their activity yesterday afternoon. Billy indicates that only one piece of the metal roofing remains to be installed on the 24 foot wide structure, The necessary materials are there on site, and Dave Valdez (along with James Enclonar and other men of the church) will be able to complete the work with no problem. Billy and Bobby not only built a structure, but also a great relationship with Pastor Valdez’ son Dave, who worked along side them and spent some extra time with them, taking them for lunch to some really nice local places.

Please pray for Dave Valdez and his wife Michelle and son Genesis David. Michelle and the 8 year old boy are in California, where she is working in a dental office while holding down two other part time jobs. It is not unusual in Filipino families to have family members working in other countries to provide financial support for their families. Dave has graduated from nursing school and will soon test for his board certification. He is praying that is visa will be approved and he will be able to join them in America soon. As it is right now, they are only able to see one another once per year. I just cannot imagine how tough that must be on them all.

The Seminar, while not hard physical labor, was still exhausting. Both of the Seminar days began for Jay and I around 6:00 AM and did not end until 6:00 PM. Getting ready for the classes required a good bit of set up each day, and attendees began arriving as early as 7:30 each morning. Daniel, Amanda, and Janna took care of registration and provided worship music in the morning and afternoon sessions. These young people are tremendously talented and have a great spirit to serve. The girls also provided unofficial child care for a beautiful little boy whose parents attended both days of the seminar.

Joey Spurgeon, with video camera always in hand, split time doing several tasks during the seminar. Joe did everything from filming, to running the sound, to running the power point slides for the sessions that Robby Pearson and I taught. Joey is also most valuable as a team member who connects with the Filipino people. He is especially gifted in regard to children and youth ministry. He has been a valuable asset to this team in everything from house to house evangelism to the crusade activities. He preached one night in Bais City and 28 people responded with decisions to accept Christ.

Jay’s morning sessions in the seminar, dealt with Bible study, text selection, exegesis, and sermon preparation and delivery. The pastors in attendance soaked it up like a sponge. Some have had some Bible school or a little seminary experience, but most have very limited formal Bible education. I wish each of you could have seen the intensity with which they listened and took notes.

My two afternoon sessions included lessons on the Characteristics of an Effective Leader on Monday, and Developing Leaders Through Discipleship on Tuesday. These were also well received by everyone in attendance. Robby Pearson’s two personal evangelism sessions on Casting the Net and Drawing the Net were simply outstanding. Robby is a likeable guy with a sharp sense of humor and an infectious laugh. For those of you who may be NASCAR fans, you might be interested in knowing that Robby’s father and grandfather were both drivers. In fact, his grandfather, David Pearson, was the top rival to superstar Richard Petty, back in the day.

Bethel Guest House was the perfect venue for this event. Their central location and reputation as “THE CONFERENCE CENTER” in Dumaguete lent an immediate air of credence to the event. Most of these pastors and their wives live in the most humble of dwellings and rarely have opportunity to be treated as special as they were here at Bethel Guest House. It was a real treat for them to spend two days in these comfortable surroundings, and it was fulfilling for us to be able to “pamper” them a bit.

I could go on and on about the seminar, but suffice it to say that I believe it may have been two of the most valuable days we have ever spent here. The other activities were important as well, but this was a special time of intensive training for the men who are on the firing line here all the time. The 71 in attendance were most appreciative of the event and many voiced their hopes that we might be able to do another seminar in the future.

Every attendee extended their gratitude for the free opportunity to learn and to have fellowship with one another. No one went away empty handed as nearly $1,000 worth of Bibles, Bible Reference books and other printed aids were distributed to everyone in attendance. Many shed tears of joy. I was most touched by a lady named Muffett Villiagas who is the wife of Pastor Andrew Villiagas. Muffett is a very talented lady who is a local radio and television personality and also writes a column for the Negros Chronicle newspaper here in Dumaguete. She is fighting a battle with cancer very similar to my own. Her prognosis is uncertain and she is pretty weak, yet she managed to attend most all of the sessions. On Tuesday afternoon she called me aside and gave me a plastic bag that contained seven small framed water color pictures that she had painted. She wanted each of our seminar team members to have one as a token of her appreciation for what we were trying to do here in Dumaguete. I cherish that little picture.

Thank you for helping us – both prayerfully and financially – to bless these precious people.

May God bless you!

Seminar Is A Great Success

The Pastor/Church Leader Seminar finished up today. Total Registration was 71! We could not be happier with the results. Here are some photos.

Monday's Update From Dumaguete

I hope all of our friends back home had a wonderful Memorial Day holiday. Although very busy today, and 12 time zones from home, my thoughts have often been about those whom we honor on this special day – those who have given their lives in defense of our great nation.

As a child, Memorial Day was special to me. It was that day in the spring when Dad was off from work and the school year was coming to an end. Dad would load the trunk of the car with wreaths and other floral arrangements, and Mom would prepare a picnic lunch. Then we three kids would pile into the back seat of the car (no seat belts in those days) to make long trip down State Route 10 to Logan, WV for our annual “Decoration Day” activities. It was always a day packed with great fun for my brothers and my Logan County cousins.

We visited the cemeteries that were sacred spots to my maternal grand parents. The little graveyard on the hill overlooking the little community of Chauncey. There, in a little fenced enclosure were the graves of Mamaw Stidham’s family. Her mother’s marker was there, as well as those of several other family members. Mamaw always knelt at the gravesides of two of her own children, Hessie (who died of leukemia at age 12) and “Little Buddy” (who was only three months old when the Lord took him). I could not comprehend it then, but now my heart breaks at the thought of the grief my grandmother must have experienced to lose two precious children!

Following the time at Chauncey, our three car caravan would travel to a place that my Grandfather called Sunbeam. There we would exit the cars, everyone would carry a wreath or mowing instruments and walk across a railroad trestle and along the track for what seemed to be a mile or more. At a certain place (only Papaw knew the spot) we left the tracks and climbed a steep hill to the grave site of his parents, Asbuury and Lucinda Stidham. These graves were barely discernable in the growth of underbrush in the deeply forested hillside. Sickles and trimmers were used to clear away the brush before the wreaths were lovingly placed upon the graves of my great grand parents.

After the picnic lunch with the entire family, our five loaded back into the car for the 69 crooked miles of Rt. 10 that would take us back home. There was one more stop for us along the way home. That was Forest Lawn Cemetery in Peck’s Mill, where Dad’s mother and father were buried. That large, well manicured cemetery stood in stark contrast to the overgrown grave yards we had visited earlier in the day. It was always a breathtaking sight to see the hundreds of little American Flags adorning the graves of the veterans across the rolling hills of Forest Lawn. Dad would explain to us that this is what that holiday was about.

My grandfather buried there was a “Doughboy” in France during World War I. It is hard for me to believe that today only one veteran of World War I still survives. Time passes quickly. Dad was a veteran of World War II, and those vets are also leaving us in great numbers every day. I thought of them today as I walked on one of the 7000 islands here in the Philippines where thousands of young American men shed their blood and gave their lives for the cause of freedom. May those who have died here, and in other remote areas of the world, be remembered today with love and devotion. May we say in unison today, “Thank you. We will never forget your sacrifice.”

*******

Today was the first of our two day Pastor/Church Leader Seminar, “Practical Helps for Effective Ministry”.

Fifty Five gentlemen and ladies were in attendance at the beginning session. Each of the registrants received a program, biography of each teacher, spiral notebook, pen, and packet of printed notes. I welcomed each of the registrants and we asked a dear friend from several years back (Pastor Roberto Martin from Bais City) to lead us in prayer. The program then opened with 20 minutes of praise and worship music. Daniel and Amanda led the congregation in a time of joyful celebration. Then Jay began the first session on Bible study, prayer, preparation, and presentation of the Gospel message. While aimed particularly at the pastors, this lesson was also helpful for any Bible teacher or Bible Study leader. Jay will conclude this series of lessons on Tuesday morning.

I began the afternoon session with a lesson on “The Characteristics of Great Leaders” using two Bible characters (Caleb and John the Baptist) as examples. On Tuesday, I will conclude my unit with “Developing Leaders Through Discipleship”. What a blessing it was to share with these precious folks!

Robby Pearson completed the day’s teaching with “Casting the Net” in an important session on personal evangelism. Tuesday he will conclude with “Drawing the Net”.

Along with providing us with great music, Amanda, Janna, and Daniel handled all the registration activities for us. Joey Spurgeon was a tremendous help, working the sound, running our power point presentations, and video taping much of the proceedings. While the seminar team labored here, Bobby Wood and Billy Cox spent the entire day at the New Life Church where they were constructing a porch type canopy over the entrance of the church building. They made great progress and expect to finish it on Tuesday.

*******

To say this seminar was well received would be a tremendous understatement. Just seeing the joy on the faces of these pastors and many of their wives was a blessing in itself. We gave away more than 80 Bibles, reference books and Bible Study guides. Thirty more will be given away on Tuesday along with three very special study Bibles.

In one of the drawings, Marissa Martin, a pastor’s wife from Bais City, ran to the table when her name was called and grabbed a thin line bible with a snap cover and clutched it to her chest. “I have been praying for one of these for years!” she said through tears streaming down her face.

One gentleman who is a teacher at a Bible Institute in Mindanao told Jay, “You don’t know how important something like this is to these pastors. What we need here and throughout Asia is ‘traveling education’ because these men do not have the means to attend Bible Colleges and Seminaries. Please do not let this be the last time you do this!”

Each attendee was honored to receive the gifts and to eat the delicious meal prepared by the hotel staff. Most of these men and women would never have the opportunity to meet in such a comfortable venue and receive the gifts provided by our friends back home.

Saying “Thank you” for supporting this mission work just doesn’t seem to say enough. You who have given to this effort, and the earlier efforts have helped make an eternal difference in the lives of many.

THANK YOU!

Sunday Morning Post from Dumaguete

Sunday Morning
Dumaguete City

Hot and HUMID are the two words that would best describe the weather here in the Philippines this week. Temperatures are surely in the 90’s with equally high relative humidity. We have been blessed to have escaped any major rain storms to this point. This is great, since most of our activities thus far have been outdoors.

This morning we are splitting into three teams, each of which will be ministering in different churches. Robby Pearson will be preaching at Pastor Valdez’ New Life Church in Upper Batinguel. He will be joined there by Billy Cox, Daniel Savage, and Janna Johnston. Brother Joseph Zerna’s Easy Ride will be departing the hotel at 8:00 AM to take the two other teams north to their Sunday assignments.

Jay Adkins, Bobby Wood, and Joseph Spurgeon will be dropped off at Bais City to minister this morning at the church there with Pastor Jonathan Ugdoc and his wife Joan.
(our teams had previously spent two days in Bais – assisting in starting two new preaching points in that area). After the two hour drive to Bais, we will leave that group there, and Amanda Lindsey and I will accompany Pastor Joseph Zerna and Juvy on the one hour trip into the mountains of Mabinay. I will preach at the Mayaposi Southern Baptist Church, and Amanda will provide special vocal music.

Let me say a few words about our team members.

This is the youngest, most diversely gifted group that I have accompanied in my eight trips here since 2000.

Joey Spurgeon has a great gift of love for these people and is tremendously valuable in ministry to children and youth. He has taught them songs, told Bible stories, and generally made friends with every child and teenager with whom he has come in contact. The video camera has been his constant companion and already I am anticipating viewing the finished product. Joey is well loved and accepted by the people here. Folks from Westmoreland Baptist can be very proud of how Joey is representing our church and our state.

Jay is putting together the nuts and bolts of the Pastor/Church Leader Seminar, which will be here at the Bethel Guest House on Monday and Tuesday this week. While I have taken care of the logistics, Jay has set the schedule and planned the content of the two day event. We have 50 pastors and church leaders registered, but we have already heard from more than a dozen other pastors requesting the opportunity to attend. We will do our best to accommodate all who come.

The rest of our teammates are all members at Jay’s First Baptist Church of Westwego in metropolitan New Orleans. While a couple of them have previously made other mission trips, all of them are first timers here to the Philippines. Although I was already this past week, and deeply appreciate their efforts in this mission.

Bobby Wood is the tall guy in the photo above. I cannot say enough about Bobby. He is a great young man with wisdom beyond his years. He serves as Education Pastor at FBC Westwego. Married just since early April, this trip has been a little tough for him and his new bride, Lindsay, who stayed behind! Bobby has been a big hit here , and a valued member of this team.

Billy Cox is the senior member of the group. Like all of us, he is exhausted from the grueling travel the last three days in the “Easy Ride”. He and Bobby Wood worked several hours yesterday morning on setting posts in concrete, making preparations for the construction work they will be doing at New Life Church Monday and Tuesday while the seminar is going on here at the hotel. Billy has a sweet spirit and is taking up the “Thamer Calhoun” roll on this team!

Robby Pearson is an excellent preacher and as fun to be around as anyone I have ever known. He has a quick wit and contagious laugh. Most of all, he loves Jesus, and has a burning desire to tell others about Him. I know that the expense of this trip has been a financial burden on him and his family, but I am so glad he came along.

Our three musical team members, Daniel Savage, Janna Johnston, and Amanda Lindsey can be described in one word. Wow! What talent. These are great young people who love the Lord with all their hearts. All are students at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and actively involved in various ministries on campus and at FBC Westwego.
Daniel will be going to Korea just a few weeks after returning home from this trip. He will be serving as a worship leader for a LifeWay camp there in Korea.

Janna, a pastor’s daughter, will probably serve in full time missions upon her graduation from NOBTS. She is a tireless worker, and deeply spiritual. The beautiful voice that God has given her is a bonus. Amanda has the heart of a true servant. She gladly does any assignment given her, and does it with a smile. She is a trained counselor and has the potential to impact many lives with her God given gifts. And can she sing? Wow!
What a set of pipes!

Well, time to go for now. I just wanted to share these thoughts with you as we head out for church this morning.