Philippines Journal 2007 #2

Today we visited all the sites at which meetings will be held. Elliot Pevida is further away than anyone else’s -- a full hour round trip – in a place called Tupi. As you will see in the photos, many of these churches are using the opportunity to give themselves a face-lift. The Tupi church is one of them. We went next to Polomolk where Dr. Mihail Motzev (who teaches in the School of Business) and his wife Rumania Motzeva (they are Bulgarians, and the woman adds an “a” to the end of her name) will preach. This is the town that Dole has a very large pineapple plant and plantations. We have at least 3 churches there; and each of the churches that the Motzev/a will be holding their meetings has a church school. David Sandvik will be at the Country Garden Church. This church building was financed by a business man from the USA by the name of Mckenzie. I think they said the cost was $50,000.00. It is supposed to be the nicest looking church in the Mission.

At the next far end (as a matter of fact, it is about 3 km outside the city limits of General Santos City) is Emmanuel Serrano’s church, in Malandag. There they also have a church school (including a High School). Across the road is the government school; but many of the government teachers send their kids to the Adventist school. Down the road is a military base with many from the USA military stationed there. At the “Christ the King” Church, Dr. David Parks and Jane Li from our College in Hong Kong will be preaching. We are glad that a theology student from Hong Kong could be part of the Walla Walla team. There is also a church school at this site. At the Pag-ASA-Balite Church, Brittney Sandvik (she and David recently got married!) will be preaching. This church is also getting a great face-lift inside. At the large Central Church in the city Dr. Zdravko Stefanovic will be preaching the first week and Dr. Dave Thomas (the Dean of the School of Theology at WWC) will conclude the series. He will arrive late due to a previous appointment this coming week at Andrews University. This church also has a large school. Finally, Keith Rusk will be at the church here at the Mission Office. Some might say he is the fortunate one – he walks a few steps from his dorm room to his meeting place!

We also stopped by the main site where I’ll be preaching. It is a little larger than the school auditorium/gym that we used in Marbel in 1998-99. Next to it is the Sports Complex where we will have the final Sabbath Service, followed by a mass baptism. About a month ago they ended a week of meetings conducted by Dr. Dan Smith (pastor of the La Sierra Church) with a baptism of over 1100 at this same Sport Complex.

Finally a few tidbits: We brought with us, as a gift to the Mission, a Linksys wireless system. That was installed today. So all of us with laptops are able to freely interact with the rest of the world! Drs. Thomas, Stefanovic, and Parks, all have individual rooms here on the top floor of the mission building. The students will be in the dorm built by a team from Gem State Academy a few years ago. All are air-conditioned. The Sandviks and Motzev/a will be staying at a home on the compound next to the dining area. Did you notice our “security detail”? He follows me everywhere. We are safe and secure. One of the top security brasses in the city is an elder of the church on the Mission compound. The entire municipal (and it seems, national, as well) government is looking out for us!