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Philippine Report for Tuesday (4/18/06)
April 18, 2006
from Harry Osborne in Tuguegarao, Luzon, Philippines
This was our second full day of classes
in the preacher training program and they are going
very well. All of us had a class this morning –
Rody on the NT Church, Mike and Steve teaching OT
survey classes, plus mine on 1st & 2nd Timothy
and Titus. After lunch, a brother Rick Ulidan is teaching
the students about music and leading singing. That
is usually a time taken by Rody to teach, but he is
under doctor’s orders to rest and we are helping
to enforce those orders. All other afternoon classes
remain unchanged.
My afternoon Church History class discussed the numerous
cases of Catholic atrocities committed against those
opposing the Roman Catholic hierarchy and its pronouncements.
We noted that adding up the number of people killed
throughout history by the Catholic Church leads one
to an inescapable conclusion – that the Roman
Catholic Church is the biggest mass murderer in the
history of the world. Since Catholicism dominates
the Philippines and has for several hundred years,
the young people grow up having never heard of the
Inquisition or the systematic extermination of the
Catharists, the Waldenses, the Albigenses and other
groups who opposed the Catholic hierarchy on grounds
of conscience. Each year, this material is a shock
to the students because they have never heard these
facts of history. It helps them see the evil of the
Roman Catholic Church in very clear terms.
Mike Lusby continues to be amazed at everything here.
It has been a joy to see him react to the brethren,
this effort and daily life in the Philippines through
fresh eyes. He notices things that I have started
to take for granted having been over here so many
times. He has been a great help in the work. I am
sure he will come home with many interesting stories
to tell. You may want to ask him about his fondness
for the 4am bell ringing by the Catholic cathedral
across the street from his room.
At the Gumpad house, things have changed very drastically
for us in that Rody has almost doubled the size of
his office. Before the expansion, only two or three
could fit in the office and only one could have space
to work. Now, all of us can comfortably be at work
at the same time. I do not know who all helped to
finance the enlargement, but we all appreciate it
very much. By the way, the mice also appreciate it
as it gives them much more room to roam and avoid
execution by stomping Americans. To date, we have
been unsuccessful in providing fresh meat for cats
or Filipino restaurants J. Guess none of us are as
quick-footed as Steve Lee was last year.
That is all I have to report right now. We are about
to eat supper and then begin our evening service.
After the students do their part, I will be teaching
on the use of the Bible maps. Then, we will get back
to the hotel and start studying for tomorrow. I have
to grade the sermon outlines handed in by the students
in my morning class and get them back to the students
tomorrow. Thanks again for your support and prayers.
We appreciate them so much as they make possible our
part in this effort. May the Lord bless all of you
in your every service to Him.
Brotherly, Harry O.
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