Back for 2WEEKS

photos: The village we will be staying in... there's a building we stay in, but this is what the village looks like. :)

the Bible School students, 17 of the 44 particpants in the Discipleship Course in their classroom, which is also the church in the village. The students range in age from 16 to 26, approximately. Some have not finished high school due to lack of funds and accessibility to the school in town.

the school is using the ISOM (International School of Ministry) videos to run their Bible school. The instructor speaks in English and is then translated into Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. the TV is running off of a generator, because there is no eletricity in the village.

Left to right: Nora, a CMU missionary, Adeline, my co-staff (and watcher when i was in the hospital) and I. Nora will be one of the students in the Discipleship course.

fresh ocean fish and rice for lunch, followed by a dessert of fresh bananas (there are more than 70 kinds of bananas here!)

boat trip from the village into town..about 20 minutes...40 minutes if we walk.

the view looking from the village down into the river below...might be where we wash clothes and bathe if we run out of water in the wells...do you see Duane and Lois in the waiting shed?

So. We went for the week and came back safely after an exciting ride in the little 5 seater airplane. (The pilot almost had to turn around because of the turbulence and how low the clouds were...it was a bit like a roller coaster at the end...except this one had no tracks...but praise the LORD we were able to land safely back in Baguio...with slightly greener faces than normal...:))

The time in Palanan was beautiful and we were able to accomplish our objectives. We trained the 3 graduates of CDTS who will be staffing the Course in how to run a small group and what discipleship is all about. An added blessing was that several of the CMU missionaries were able to sit in and were visibly encouraged by the teaching. It's not just something that applies in the YWAM context. It is basic principles in building relationship between mentor and mentee (is that a word:))

We were also able to take a good look at the logistics of being there for 12 weeks and were able to come up with some solutions that will make our time there a bit easier than when we are there for 4 weeks of outreach. For example, we won't be cooking on wood...which can take 2 hours per meal cooking time...we were able to find a little 2-burner stove and will be bringing in propane with us on the airplane, since it's not available there. Also, we are planning, weather permitting, to come out for one week in the middle for a break time together and to get more supplies. The place is so isolated, and since we aren't used to it, it could be way too stressful to be out for that long.

Are there things that don't make sense in what I'm telling you? Because this is somewhat normal for me, it's hard to think how to explain this so you get an understanding. Please ask me whatever questions you have so I can fill you in. Maybe you aren't the only one wondering. :) just click on the word COMMENT at the end of this post follow the directions to leave a comment. (it's pretty easy....:))