7th UPDATE FROM THE PHILIPPINES

It is now Saturday afternoon here in the Philippines (1:55PM here and 12:55AM there)....We have been busy this morning, as we went to a baptismal service at our driver, DoDong's, home....They had a small concrete pool filled with water to be used as the baptistry....I spoke a few wrods upon request by Pastor Josue to encourage the ladies being baptized and explaining the purpose of baptism....Josue then gave a short message from the Word of God before baptizing them.....We then visited inside of DoDong's home for a few moments before I lead a prayer of blessing and dedicaton for his home, house, and family.

We aslo had an opportunity to get an update on the work completed, and still needing to be completed, on Nico's motorcycle.....Several things were repaired yesterday and several more will be done today and others will be done as the parts come in and are avialable....Nico and Joselyn are very happy and thankful and blessed for the gifts that were given to help repair his bike to a safe condition; this is a 12 to 13 year old Honda motorcycle....God is so good to supply our every need! Thank you Lord!

After leaving DoDong's home we went to Pastor Josue and Christy's home to visit....The Philippine hospitality is above any I have experienced anywhere else in my lifetime....They desire to make you happy, comfortable, and welcomed so very much....They treated us to much fruit and some homemade bread, which was very good....We sat around their table and, as we cooled down, we discussed some things that needed to be discussed, between pastors and friends....We had such a wonderful visit! Their home is beautiful, although it is not completed yet; Richard Shields, Central Baptist Church, and several others have been donating designated offerings and gifts specifically to build Pastor Josue, Christy, and their family this home so that they would have somewhere nice to live and and welcome others into to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ....By Philippine standards it is a nice house, but by American standards it would still be lower - lower class, but none of that matters because it is a "high class" home, dedicated to the use of God's ministry to further His kingdom here on earth and to make an impact on the world for God!!! Many would look at their home and have negative first thoughts without having all of the information they need; many would make comments and spread untruths saying that the Cadioa's used ministry money intended for the church, etc....These people do not have the character of God, which tells us to think the best of others initially, till they prove otherwise....Absolutely no moneys intended for the BCF ministry has been misused by the pastor in any way shape or form; they have been very careful to be responsible with God's money....The money used for building their house, section by section, was given to them with the specific instructions on how to use it....They are very humble and appreciative for what God has done for them and their family and they do not fail to give Him the glory, honor, and praise!!!!! God is using these fine godly servants to complete His mission He has set before them, as they continue to spread the Gospel and plant many SBC churches!!!!!! Praise GHod!!!!!!!!!

We then went to the church and while Scottie and Pastor Josue discussed computers, Richard and I discussed the "booths" and made the decisions from the perspective of judges and decided on winners for each category and the overall winners and their placement; results will be announced tomorrow afternoon during the celebration....They then brought me back to Sta Monica so that I could update my blog and study for my sermon for in the morning during the 12th Anniversary Service, while Richard went to secure a couple of canopies and 50 chairs (rent) for the service and celebration....Scottie stayed behind to work on their computer.

It has stopped raining so far today and we are praying for, and believing, no rain tomorrow, as the service and celebration is outside....Please pray and believe with us for beautiful weather tomorrow!

This has been a very successful mission trip and GOD has accomplished a lot through us to help the local Filipino Pastors, their families, and their ministries....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! GOD IS SO GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU BACK HOME FOR YOUR SACRIFICES AND GIFTS TO MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE; MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL INDEED!!!!!

I am getting to the point of the mission trip where my heart starts telling me how much I am missing my wife, Debbie, my children, my grandchildren, my family, and my church family at Central Baptist Church....It will be very difficult to say "so long" to our friends and "family" here in the Philippines day after tomorrow, but it will be nice to get back home to our own beds.

Please continue to pray for us, for our health, for the service and celebration tomorrow, and for safe travel home next week...."To God be the glory, great things He has done"!!!