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BILL WESTERBERG APRIL 2012 MISSION REPORT
TALISAY CITY, CEBU, PHILIPPINES (5-2-12)
Hello again everyone. April was an
unusual month. I was sick for a week with Dengue fever, and
even spent three days in the hospital. Also, this summer season
in the Philippines has been extra hot much of the time. The
weather service even issued warnings about the dangers presented
by the high temperatures. I have been careful and suffered
only the discomfort of feeling extra sweaty and sticky most
of the time.
I have gotten back into my normal routine
for the most part, although the Dengue fever stood in the
way for a while. Most of my World Bible School contacts are
happy to see me back, and I have resumed the same Bible study
schedule that I had before. I didn't get the World Bible School
enrollment campaigns going yet, since I was sick for a week,
and also because I was busy with my visa renewal and preparations
for the Vacation Bible School in May.
The Echavez family has finally received
permission from their relatives to use the land near their
house for goats. I plan to send Corinth Echavez to get another
week of training, and then with God’s help
we will build the goat house and bring in some goats in May.
Maria Fe Sabroso is also interested in raising goats, and
I will begin working with her as soon as the Echavez family
is all set.
My new work partner arrived on April 30th.
His name is Rudy Catanjal, he is 52 years old and single like
me. He has worked in the ministry for many years here in the
Philippines. He is aware of my WBS work, the walking that
the work requires, and my planned livelihood work with goats
and water purification. And he is eager to be part of it all.
Before I left for my two month visit in
the USA on February 1st, I asked church member Emelio Macalisang
to take care of the Sunday house church assemblies for me.
I taught him and his wife how to make the communion bread,
I made some Bible lesson outlines for him, and left some funds
for travel and the snacks that I usually share with the people
after the assemblies are finished. Emelio did all of that
and more. He taught and encouraged the visitors and WBS contacts
to the point that some of them were ready to be baptized when
I returned to the Philippines. And so we had eight baptisms
in April.
Those who were baptized in Tangke: Martin
Hinampas, age 58; Rose Panggo, age 53; and Minga Genilla,
age 21. Those who were baptized in Linao: Nimrod Echavez,
age 15; Perlito Gemang, age 14; Pepito Alinar, age 14; Jason
Torres, age 14; and George Jaculbe, age 13. We also had good
attendance in April, with a combined 37 adults and teens for
the three house churches. Praise God for these results!
And please don't forget about the two who
are looking for college funds, as I reported last month. Jayver
Alcontin and Jessa Ajer can pay for a year of college with
just $750 each.
The Tangke baptisms BillW, Martin, Rose
and Minga.
The Linao baptisms Emelio Macalisang (white shirt), Jonathan
Echavez (right side of Emelio), and the five youth who were
baptized, left to right: Nimrod, Perlito, Jason, George and
Pepito.
The Linao house church meeting on Sunday, April 1st.
The Tangke house church meeting on Sunday,
April 1st.
Finally, I will include the list of goals
that I have for this year and the coming years. This is the
same list that was in last months report. I am including them
again so that you can remember to pray about these goals.
Also please pray for the upcoming VBS in May.
Goals:
1. Build up the World Bible School program through enrollment
campaigns in this area.
2. Establish the livelihood programs goats, water purification
and other opportunities that might become available.
3. Build up the house churches to the point that they can
function at least partly on their own, and then plant at least
one more house church in Talisay City.
Take care and God bless.
Bill Westerberg
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