The Coastal Road

They call it the Coastal Road. The view was too picturesque and I had to stop. Just a few feet away, the ocean stretched some 50 miles to the next island where Mt. Kanlaon rose to nearly 10,000 feet. An active volcano, its last eruption was in the 1920’s, but the majestic mountain still occasionally belches steam. Calm waters were reflecting its massive form with morning clouds hugging nearby peaks.

To my right, just a couple of miles away, was Guimaras Island, with its rugged, forested coast stretching to a point, then disappearing beneath the sea. To my left, palm trees lined the beach where several nepa huts stood guard over the bay. These were the homes of fishermen, who were already out in their small boats with their nets, hoping for another day’s catch.

Behind me was our island, Panay. Some 50 miles inland, a long mountain range defined the horizon. Closer in, freshly planted rice patties carpeted the lowlands with green. A soothing breeze nudged the leaves of nearby coconut trees. Time to move on.

My destination was the town of Anilaw, the home of one of our pastors who has joined our small team of “CPM (Church Planting Movement) frontliners”. Another entry will have to explain CPM, but for now, please pray for this team of pastors: Eliu, Danny, Lito, and Leonin. Pray that they will have the courage to do away with many of our traditions in order to practice a simple, reproducible, and more Biblical way of worship that is resulting in hundreds of thousands of small house churches around the world.

Already I am revising and simplifying our CPM materials with the goal of helping these pastors be successful in their church planting efforts. While I still relate to our established churches (we have about 30 in our region), my primary focus will be starting house churches in rural areas. I hope to stay healthy long enough to see the task initiated.

Speaking of health, I’m feeling fine. The tropical climate is refreshing to me. Jonathan seems to be doing better in his adjustment of being away from his friends. He’s read 28 books during the past month. Martha is doing much better focusing on her schoolwork. She is glad to be here, although she also misses her friends. Hannah has been a big help with both Martha and Jonathan as she continues her two college distance-learning courses and prepares for an English AP exam in Manila next month.

So, your prayers are working. Through them, the Lord has been freed up to bless us with a place to live, a people to love, and a purpose to fulfill. We miss all of you very much (especially you, Sara and David). But the Lord is at work in big ways here; we are honored to be a part of it. And the scenery is nice, too.