Philippines Journal 2007 #9

Today we went to the 6^th annual Timpupo Fruit Festival in Kidapawan, which is about 2.5 hours north of Gensan. To get there on time we left after 5:00am. When we arrived there the manager of the ABC had a great breakfast for us. At the festival we were introduced to the mayor and interview by the television station. They are trying to be in the Guinness Book of Records as having fruit stretching the longest on one stretch of road. This stretched for 3 kilometers. Before I could get out there to get some super shots, they had the “fruit wars” as they threw the fruit at each other and the passing cars. I did get some not very good pre- and post-shots, however. We then went by the park at the entrance to the city where some local boys were swimming. Lots of our team jumped in with them and played water wrestling with them. The Filipinos are such happy and wonderful people. I have yet to see one “sour” face! They are hospitable and so easy to get along with.

We then went to lunch at a buffet restaurant. But it turned out to be a surprise for Vie and myself’ 37^th wedding anniversary – which is today August 23. It was wonderful. We got back on time for the evening meetings. Tonight one of the features of the “Seminar” was special prayer for healing for those who were chronically ill. I usually do this on the Thursday evenings of my meetings. I was surprised at the very large crowd that came up for special prayer. The huge surprise of the evening was the anniversary celebration they had for us at the meeting – cutting of cake and all! We also had gifts given to us by individuals. On especially precious one was a cardboard vase made by a widow and her son. They are visitors to the meeting, and she was so impressed on Monday night when I announced that I was going to have prayer for healing tonight, that she has been coming since. I was introduced to her on Monday night and I had a prayer for her and her son (he has a huge sore on his lips and she has diabetes). The next night she told one of our workers that when I prayed for her she felt something going through her like she has never felt before. It was the Spirit of the Lord!

I’m sorry, but if you are a faithful follower of the photos, we have lots from today. It was hard to eliminate any!