Bugkalot to Bicol

Last month, Steve was blessed to accompany a group of 8 Bugkalot tribal church leaders down to Bicol to visit the ones whom their churches have sent out.  They met first at the training center in Bicol that the volunteer team this past summer helped to build.

 They had a wonderful time of fellowship together for a couple days.  Their time included some business-type meetings, ministry reports, and a time of training as well.  Just a few weeks previously, Steve had helped the Bugkalot church leadership to think through their vision statement and strategy for how they want to function so he was especially encouraged when the chairman of the Bugkalot church leadership shared their vision and passion for the Bugkalot churches.  We are so excited to partner with these churches and the ones they are sending out!

 Spending time in prayer together is a priority every time we gather as a group.

 In addition to time spent at the training center, the guys headed out to the local Agta tribal villages to see exactly where our Bugkalot partners are working and to meet the people to whom they are ministering.

 Even though both the Bugkalot and Agta are tribal people, their cultures are VERY different, and this difference is even evident in the kinds of homes in which they live.  It is so good for the Bugkalot to see the Agta situation for themselves so that they better understand the situation in Bicol and know how to pray more specifically for the ones they have sent out.

 We are so thankful for these partners!

 The guys saw several different sights as they traveled around several different areas.

 Towards the end of the trip, the guys climbed up to the top of a mountain that overlooks several different Agta areas.

 There at the top of the mountain, overlooking the vast area where some of the 100,000 Agta live, they stopped to pray for the Agta tribe and for the workers who are ministering here in this place.

Some of the Bugkalot church leaders were in tears several times during this trip as they realized the magnitude of the work in Bicol and how much we need GOD to work.  They said that this trip helped them understand the situation down here so much better; now they know how to pray more specifically for the ones they have sent out, and they are excited to share that passion with their churches back home.  

(*Photo cred: Many of the pictures were taken by the pastors themselves.*)