Preaching and Birthday Celebrations at Binmaley

Saturday, 27th August 2011

It rained heavily all night, and this morning it is still raining. There was a brown-out during the night, so the electric fans stopped working.

Sis Lea was not able to return from Bicol because they are in a Category 2 area, with very strong winds, and she is unable to travel home.

We enjoyed pancakes, scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast again, very American, but very edible for the children. While we were having breakfast, we heard children's voices singing Sunday School songs. Bro Rudi and Sis Lea have a Sunday School room in their back yard, complete with a sign “Asin Heritage Sunday School”.

Enjoying breakfast with Bro Rudi

Sunday School room at the back of Bro Rudi's house

Some of the Sunday School children colouring their pictures

Sis Arlee teaching Sunday School

At about 9.00am, Bro Rudi started up his blue chariot called “Jehu”, and drove us around to the Bible Mission Office to meet Felcris, who will accompany us back to Bugallon this morning. Rudi has to top up the coolant/water each morning, he told Silas that it needs to drink wine before it is ready to work. We greeted Bro Isaiah, Bro Rudi's brother. He lives next to the office. The office and the gardens are very well kept. Bro Felcris is a good housekeeper, and gardener. We had a tour of the office, had some mireanda, and were invited to stay there next time we are in Bayambang. We said hello to Bro Alexander, and some other young people before walking up the road to catch the bus to Bugallon. It is still raining.

The reception area of the Office

Lovely manicured gardens

An air-conditioned bus came along not long after we arrived at the waiting shed, so we made it back to Bugallon Hall in good time. Sis Jinky was cooking lunch for us.

While we were eating lunch, the jeepney we had hired, arrived ready to take us to Binmaley for the preaching work at Sis Laida's house. The jeepney helped furrow the front lawn at the hall as it spun the wheels trying to get through the grass. Silas got to sit in the front next to the driver, which was great fun for him, and great anxiety for his father and grandma, as he leaned out of the side. The driver should now know the song “O be careful little eyes” by heart, as Silas sang it all the way there and back again.

Matt spoke on Genesis 3, and it rained the whole time. We all sat outside under a small verandah adjacent to a “fish pond” (small lagoon about 3-4feet deep), I had to sit sideways so that the drips from a hole in the roof didn't land on my Bible. Sis Laida's father had questions about why so many religions, and what authority do we have to talk about these thing anyway. After we finished, the food was brought out, and a feast it was, we were celebrating Sis Laida's birthday, with spaghetti, bbq pork kebabs, chocolate cupcakes, marshmallows, handmade spring rolls and filipino cakes, made with both brown and white sugar. I think Silas and Noah managed to eat all the cupcakes between them...well almost!

Bro Felcris, Bro Jodel, Bro Edmond, Bro Cesar with Cally

Sis Tina, Mum, and Silas

Sarah, Matt, Noah and Sis Jinky

The fishpond behind the house

The birthday feast!

On the jeepney ride home - very spacious as we hired the whole jeepney!

On the way back home, Jinky and Felcris got off at the markets so that they could buy supplies for the lunch tomorrow. The rest of us arrived back at the hall and it was still raining.

While we were eating tea, Sis Ruby arrived and joined us for the Bible readings on 1 Corinthians 8 & 9, with lots of discussion afterwards. Sis Ruby will also sleep at the hall tonight. Stayed up late again, trying to work out a travel itinerary. Jinky and Felcris will be leaving at 5.00am in the morning to head down to Manila by bus for 5 hours, to attend a CYC meeting & memorial meeting. Lots of travel time here. And it is still raining...