The month of July is one month that we can’t forget so easily—particularly this year. July began when my wife and I were still in Sabah, Malaysia for our second visit there this year. We went to Semporna, Sabah on the last week of June.

We spent two weeks with the brethren. We had Sabbath services and Bible studies with both adults and teens, and we spent much time in fellowship as well. The brethren asked if they could just keep the Feast in Sabah since it would be difficult for them to keep it in the Philippines. Therefore, we also spent some time looking for a suitable Feast site there.

We arrived home, Bacolod City, on July 7. On July 16, we took a flight to Davao together with Mr. and Mrs. Norman Julag-ay and Mr. and Mrs. Raul Villacote, whom we met in Cebu. The purpose of our trip to Davao is to attend the ministerial meeting and the first Asia Leadership Conference which was held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, one of the best in Davao.

We had been blessed during our three-day conference with the presence of Mr. Richard Pinelli and Mr. Joel Meeker, both members of the UCG Council of Elders as well as Mr. Lyle Welty, and Mr. Jeff Caudle who is in charge of the Work in New Zealand and other parts of Asia. The coordinator of the conference was Mr. David Baker, the Senior Pastor for Asia. There were 39 people who attended with some international guests coming from Indonesia and Singapore. Looking at the success and the positive results of the conference, especially the workshops, we can say that it was one of the highlights of the conference. That said, we are looking forward to the next workshop and conference that will take place in the early months of 2008.

In Bacolod, the brethren welcomed the arrival of baby boy Carl who was born to the proud parents Ariel and Grace Siopan on July 1, 2006. Carl is the second son of Ariel and Grace and the eight grandchild of the excited grandparents of the family.

We are also happy to announce the baptism of Aida Amores of Lawan, Talisay City, Cebu when she committed to follow God and live His way. Aida has been attending UCG for almost a year now. A number of brethren witnessed her baptism in one of the beaches in Tacloban in the afternoon of August 26, 2006.

The preparations for the Feast of Tabernacles in the Visayas is still ongoing (it started in the third week of July) though sometimes hampered by the rains due to the latest series of storms that have occurred. Nevertheless, the brethren and participants are in high spirits even in the absence of adequate space in practicing the dance numbers for the variety presentation. This year in Iloilo, we will have no opening night service, but will have whole day services on the first day.

Also, one of the coming events to be held during the Feast is the wedding of Ketchel Betoy of Sabah and Anthony Reisdorff of the USA. The wedding ceremony will be held Sunday, October 8 at 5 p.m. All the brethren that are at Punta Villa [the Feast site venue in Iloilo] are invited by the groom and the bride to share their happiness and joy.

—Reported by Florante Siopan, Visayas Area Pastor