The Philippines is where I had my first experience in missions. One trip there was enough for me to know I wanted to be a missionary. The Filipino people are wonderful, especially the members of the church I have had the privilege of getting to know over the years since.

The Lord has allowed me to go to the Philippines on ten occasions, and spend about seven and a half months in that magnificent country. From Luzon to Bohol, I have been on fourteen of the 7,107 total islands and islets. It has been my pleasure to be part of planting five congregations of the Lord’s church there (six if you include the securing of funds for the new plant in Sta. Maria, San Jicente, Pangasinan) as well as teaching Bible Geography for one semester at what was then Philippines Theological College.

Our original plan, once we began full time mission work, was to focus on the Philippines, but our plans are not always God’s plans. He knows better than we do. He sort of put Guam in our way. I do not mean in a stumbling block sort of way, but more like a “Why don’t you think about working there?” way. Otherwise, we would be in the Philippines working full time.

I still have many close connections to Christians in the PI, and may still end up working there eventually. The Philippines work is easy. Oh, I am not saying that everything just happens without much effort or that every place his comfortable, or that the travel (getting to there and while there) is easy.

No, I say that it is easy because the Filipino people are amazing! They are friendly, receptive, loving, resourceful, and resilient. I love the people, the culture, the food, the landscape…pretty much everything about it. A part of my heart will always be in the Philippines.

Recently, Joanna and I were able to go back to the Philippines and spend valuable time with several Christians. We visited several congregations, and where one is just being planted.