“… the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God,” (2 Cor 4:15).
The Isnags are thanking and praising the Lord for their renovated Church building! During our praise time in our first Sunday morning service after the renovation, one elderly lady said, “I thank the Lord very much for giving us a beautiful Church! Let us also be beautiful and straight in our faith!” Indeed the Church looks nice, and it is now termite proof. It looks like it could also withstand a strong typhoon and an earthquake! But unshakable of all are the praises of the Isnag believers to God for His goodness. You all made this possible through your prayers and your generous giving. Thank you.
Despite the age of some of the expat workers (two of them are in their 80’s), they had sufficient strength to do the masonry job. Even the two workers with special physical needs did not need anything special. However one who did not have any special need needed a special care on their last night in the village. He had fever and chills just before supper on Thursday, March 29. Flying him out of the village was not an option due to severe weather. After we prayed, I gave him medicines. He got well enough to walk down the mountain to the river where we had to take the boat the following day. His legs were wobbly, but he was steadied by strong Isnag arms. He made it all the way to Manila with increasing strength. Praise the Great Physician!
Thank you to all who came and helped in the Church renovation in Dibagat. You were an encouragement to the Isnag believers. Thank you to all of you who sent them. They represented you well. Thank you all who gave generously. God used your resources for His glory. Thank you to all of you who prayed! Rejoice! God answered your prayers!
A week after the expat work team left, we had our annual Holy Week celebration, which started on Thursday evening and concluded on Easter. On Good Friday, the most sacred day to Filipino Christians, the Dibagat Church was full. After speaking on God’s love, an invitation was extended to the congregation for decisions to surrender their lives to the Lord. About twenty people came to the front and prayed the prayer of commitment.
On Easter Sunday, another invitation to the congregation was extended. They were separated this time. The first time believers stood on the right and the ‘returnees’ on the left. There were twenty one first time believers and eighteen returnees who came forward.
A week after the Holy Week, we had a three day, four night Youth Camp. Fifty young people, ages twelve to twenty one from seven villages, registered. Unfazed by the intense heat at the river bank where we camped, the young people gladly studied the Bible in their personal devotions, group Bible studies, and in the evening Bible hour. Before the camp ended thirty- one of them accepted the Lord for the first time. Praise the Lord!
Those who accepted the Lord gave their testimonies during our Sunday morning worship service. Some of them could not hold back their tears of joy. One young man said, “I cannot express in words what I am feeling today, now that the Lord Jesus is in my heart.” One young girl said, “Even if I were to die tomorrow, I know for sure that I am going to heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.” The others expressed the same assurance that “those who have the Son of God in them have eternal life.”
It is weeding time now in the Isnag country. It’s good to know that the people will go to their fields assured of God’s presence in the lives. Next month is also the beginning of our school year. Many of the young people are going back to school where they will continue to face the challenges in the life of a teenager. It’s encouraging to know that many of them have their hope in Jesus Christ, their new found Lord and Savior.
Please continue praying for:
-> The young people who just became believers; that the Lord will give them strength in faith as they face the world with a new perspective.
-> Those who gave their lives during our Holy Week retreat; that they will read the Word of God so that they may grow, and that they will remain faithful to the Lord Jesus.
->The Church workers; that they will be zealous in nurturing the new believers through Bible Studies, personal disciplining, and Sunday morning fellowship service.
-> The Church workers as they travel to villages conducting DVBS and showing the Jesus Film. Please pray for health, strength, wisdom, and safety as they travel on foot through the mountains, and as they negotiate the rapids in the river.
-> Mark Pugyao as he continues drafting Old Testament books. He is now on Proverbs 15. He and three other Isnag men will be checking Joshua for comprehension and naturalness next month.
-> Me as I continue to mentor translation consultants, and help in workshops. Please pray for my health. I have just been diagnosed with pre-diabetic blood sugar level, and my energy level has not been good.
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective,” (James 5:17), and we are righteous in Christ Jesus.
Assured of your prayers, I continue to joyfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Always at His Service in Partnership with you,
Rudy Barlaan
 |
| Those that came forward to give their heart to Christ. Rudy talked about these in his report |
 |
| Notice the new walls. Lights, fans, and sound system all run by solar power or generator. |
 |
| Dibagat Bible Church Youth group - next generation of leaders to reach the yet unborn! |
 |
| Youth camp upriver from Dibagat |
 |
| Young girls and young boys doing Bible studies separately |
 |
| Young people growing through Bible studies |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Personal Bible study |
 |
| Sharing their testimonies at church - impact of the Word in the heart language! |
 |
| The joy of the Lord brings life --- and strength! - and smiles?? |
Pray for the young people in Dibagat. Pray for God to protect them and feed them in the faith.
