Thank you very much for supporting our mission work here in Lagro, Quezon City, Philippines. Thank you for your prayers and  financial support that without it, it would be very hard for me to reach my goals in preaching the Gospel in Lagro and have my out reached mission work at the Lily of the Valley Bible Camp located at Bugallon, Pangasinan about 123 miles away from Manila.  I stopped teaching at Manila School of Evangelism after teaching 20 fruitful years of my life in this Bible School.  We teachers in MSE do not have monthly salary but given monthly allowance for transportation.  We are called volunteer workers Bible Teachers.  Most of my students before are now teaching at MSE like Rajih Buo, Bryan Pajo who is the nephew of Minda and Joel Montano, our son-in-law who is the Young Minister of Cubao Church of Christ and others. They are young, enthusiastic and they need experiences and so I gave way.  I am devoting my preaching, teaching and other Christian activities in Lagro,

Sapang Palay and Laguit-Padilla in Bugallon, Pangasinan.  Minda and I are giving our much time in helping and supervising in development of the Lily of the Valley Bible Camp. So, the support you are giving is being used in all these Christian work and activities. Thank you very much brethren and we hope you continue to support me so that I can also move on of course with the help of Minda.  We are catching the time because I am going 63 years of age this coming July 20 and Minda was 62 years old last June 26.  We praise God for our good health physically and mentally as well as your support.  

We usually hold our Metrowide Youth Bible Camp at Lily of the Valley Bible Camp every summer since 2004 and we had camping last March 19-22, 2008. It was sponsored by congregations in Metro Manila and attended by about 300 youth. Some came from the provinces, Pampanga, Zambales, Cavite and Batangas. We had Bible lessons, Gospel Meeting during evening, Bible Contest, Singing Praises and Hymns and Game.  There were 2 souls obeyed the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ after the Bible Camp.  

We are very unfortunate because the 7 cottages that were built since 2004 including kitchen, and bathrooms were all damaged by typhoon “Cosme” May 17 during the night. There were lots of mango trees that were uprooted by a very strong wind (hurricane) some of the trunk were cut down and branches of trees were blown away. The roof of the 7cottages were blown away, 3 cottages collapsed including the Nipa House of brother Mapalo.  According to the barrio folks, that was the strongest typhoon and wind after so many years.  Well, there are many towns in Pangasinan that was affected by this typhoon.  But God is still very good to us our 3 Mission Workers were saved from these horrible typhoon.  They left the place before the typhoon hits the area.  We praise God for this! 

I went to the campsite on June 24 to help our mission worker plant more trees at the campsite to replace those that were cut down, and uprooted mango trees .We don’t have enough shade now and so we have to double time because it’s hard to grow big trees.  We need 5 to 10 years to grow big trees.  Only one cottages had been repaired already.  We temporarily stopped because of lack of funds   We are praying to God for His mercy and guidance in restoring the cottages and for more improvements. We have a small amount left after our Metrowide Bible Camp last March, 2008 and maybe I will suggest that we will use it for cottages repair during our Preachers Meeting. Hopefully they will agree with my request.  We thought we could use the money left for water tank and showers rooms for girls but sad to say may be  we will use it for repairs. We thank God we are blessed to have this small amount to be used if the leaders will approve.   

I returned home from the campsite Jun 27 so I can attend the graduation at Manila School of Evangelism.  I was so happy to see my former students who are now teachers.  I must praise the Lord for He had blessed me with good Bible students who are willing to sacrifice their time and effort for Christ’s sake.  The same old story, they volunteer to teach Bible with no pay but are given allowance for their transportation only. I am glad I have contributed something and many of my students if not all became good preachers. You brethren are part of our spiritual success.  Thank you God!          

This coming Friday, July 5, 2008 the Board of Directors of the Douglass Gunselman Children Mission Foundation, Inc. will meet at 31 Samar, where the Metro Manila Church of Christ is located. We will discuss how the mission works of DGCMF, Inc could help the Lily of the Valley Bible Camp and others.  At present I am the President of the Foundation and this is additional work on my part as well as Minda because she is the Treasurer.  

At present we are renovating our church building in Lagro, Quezon City that we bought in 1997 through your help brethren. It’s about 90% done after 2 months of working. The old house roof is leaking and  the ceiling is already damaged. If there are heavy rains, rain waters would pass through the walls so we decided to have repair even if our building funds for repair is not enough. But we know that God will always help us finish what we have started.  We had been  worshipping every Sunday  at Lagro Elemtary School  for more than 2 months already.  Lord willing, this coming Sunday, July 5, 2008 we will return to  the chapel although there are still some finishing touches that should be made. Engineer Cris Dumol who is also a member said: that we still need about P32,000 to finish the project after spending P510,000 pesos. So, in the announcement, I told the brethren to share and the response was positive. Some give P1,000, P2,000, P3,000, and P5,000 to solve the problem. Maybe with God’s love and help of the brethren we can finish our project. 

Minda and I. had our 37^th Wedding anniversary last June 20. It seems that we were only married yesterday and now we are grandparents  Sherise is our grandchild and she is 17 months old.  She can walk now and can say very few words.  It’s great to be grandparents!  This is all for today and May God bless and continue to love us always.  We love and care for you brethren at Plymouth Church of Christ. 

Willie and Minda Franco

Our family picture taken inside our house last year (Father’s Day) and a picture at campsite taken while we are pushing up the culvert back to the campsite for it carried by flood when it rained hard.
My picture last year when I was picking a fruit of a pineapple at campsite	Sign board of the campsite
Baptism at creek at campsite	With me is Eugene Pajo and a new baptized member
Chapel at Lagro under renovation	Chapel at Lagro under renovation