Hello Grace Chapel Partners,
What an exciting week! Thank You Lord!!! I am totally in my element here. My experiences are night and day different than what life is like in American and I love the differences.
Saturday August 13, 2011
My travel this week was on the back of Pastor Alagos motorcycle. I also traveled by three-wheeled motorcycle. It’s a motorcycle with a sidecar. They pile people high on these. They were not made for a big guy like me. I’m packed in like a sardine. I’m giving the messages, and Pastor Alagos is interpreting.
Pastor Alagos took me to the Buhang Barangay in Hamtic. Buhang is where our new Church plant is taking place. The name of our new Church is Buhang Christian Fellowship. It was about a 45 minute ride through the side streets of San Jose and some beautiful country side with rice fields almost ready for harvest. It is the largest Barangay in the Hamtic municipality. There are 48 Barangay in Hamtic. I gave messages to two of the Bibles Studies going on there. I met the Pastor of our new Church, Carlos Zamora and his wife Jan.
The first study was in what they call the squatter’s area. They truly are the neediest of God’s creation. My heart pumped with compassion for them. What a privilege to have the opportunity to love them for the Lord. I know now why the Lord had me live two years unemployed and the experience of relying on Him day by day for survival. I shared that experience with them and God’s faithfulness through it. One young man had a bandage around his wrist. Someone had recently cut off his hand. He is a good looking young man with a friendly smile. There were about 12 who showed up. As I shared how much God loves them, some had tears in their eyes. Afterward, we prayed for the Lord to heal 4 people who are sick. Please hold these in the squatter’s area in your prayers. We will introduce a feeding program for the children next week. We will provide healthy food for the children that come to the service each week. Malnutrition is the life enemy of these children. We are talking about a school supply program for them. About 1300 pesos or $31 will provide their school supplies and uniforms for the school year. People really don’t know how much you love them until you start loving them. James says I’ll show you my faith by my actions.
The second study was at the Barangay Captain’s home. There was a funeral, so many were not available. About 8 people attended. Again tears were in some of the teen’s eyes. The Lord is reaching their hearts. We still do not have a site to build this Church so, please keep this in your prayers. At the end, of the day we went back to Grace Chapel for services at 5:00pm.
Sunday August 14, 2011
We were back on Pastor Alagos motorcycle heading for two remote mountain churches. Both Churches were started by Pastor Alagos. This time we were on some dangerous mountain muddy roads. We climbed some hills that were about 30 degrees by my estimation. Pastor Alagos said many have lost their lives on this road. But we are on our way with prayer and faith to encourage them through God’s Word and the testimony of my life. In every message, I tell them about love and prayers of Grace Chapel Partners and River Rock Church.
The first Church we visited was about a 45 minute ride. This remote mountain Barangay was in a spectacular farming valley. I told Pastor Alagos I could easily live here. If my goal were to sit back and retire in God’s beautiful countryside, this would be the place. This is the Sitio Culby Igburi Barangay of Patnongon. The Church was 7 years old and is called Blessed Hope Fellowship. It was rightly named. Several teachers attend this Church. We had a marvelous time of worship and fellowship.
The next Church was in a different Barangay. This Church was only two years old. It is the first church that has survived in this Barangay. Pastor Alagos said many denominations tried and failed because of the prevailing witchcraft practiced there. This Church was also named appropriately. It’s called Miracle of Life Fellowship. The walls were half constructed and the floor dirt. There are typically about thirty that attend, but today was about 10. What an opportunity to preach the truth of God’s Word in the heart of that Barangay and encourage the faith of His Church established in the heart of darkness. Because the walls are only half up, many strolled by to see what was happening. I pray the Holy Spirit was active in their hearts as Jesus was being glorified through His Gospel. Please pray for the Lord to provide a new, young Pastor. The two Pastors there now, are very old. They are praying for a young Pastor to replace them. But still the Light of Faith showed bright in these old Pastors eyes.
We ended today at Pastor Alagos Church the Tabernacle of Praise. Its name is appropriate also. Praise and worship was the end of a blessed day.
Please continue to keep these churches in your prayers.
May the Lord bless us all,
Steve Bragg
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