Another Adventure

While we loved living in the province for so many years, and the adjustment to the crowded city of Manila has been difficult at times, one of the real blessings has been getting to know other families with whom we can enjoy fellowship in our heart language. One of the families that we have enjoyed connecting with this past semester is the Maxwell family.  Jen actually knew Roberta in high school at Faith Academy, and we have found that our two families share a lot of interests - water sports and crazy adventures are two of them.  So who better to invite on another adventure?   

 We have always done ministry as a family, so now that the kids are in school in Manila, we use their school breaks for ministry travel.  Over Christmas break, we invited the Maxwells to join us on a trip up into the Sierra Madre mountains to visit some Bugkalot villages.

 Our little tribal house (not so little!) has been such a blessing when we visit the Bugkalot.

 We spent a lot of time bundling up (it gets chilly in the mountains..at least for the tropics!) and playing games or reading on the porch.

 The Maxwells have 3 daughters, and they are just as crazy as our kids, so we decided to venture out for an all-day hike to visit a village where Steve recently led a storying training.

 We started out hiking along the river...

 ...and crossing it many times.

 The trail led up into the mountains... 

,...and when I say "up", I mean UP!

We met a sweet group of Bugkalot on the trail. 

 We also passed through a couple little villages where Steve has previously led trainings.

 The trail was very steep and muddy in some places. 

 Then we arrived at a gorgeous waterfall!

 But sitting at the base of the waterfall isn't good enough for these two crazy families!

They scaled up beside the waterfall (using ropes)...

 ...then walked BEHIND the waterfall!

(Look carefully to see them behind the falls about halfway up.)

 They then made their way over to a cave. 

 They crawled through the cave...

 ...held some bats...

 ...then enjoyed the spectacular view out the cave opening on the other side of the mountain!

 Then we started the long trek back to our tribal house.

 It was incredibly slippery going back down the mountain - more like skiing than hiking!

 By the time we made it back, we had hiked more than 8 hours in one day, not including the rock climbing and spelunking in the cave!

 It was an exhausting day, but it was an amazing adventure, and we enjoyed some breath-taking views along the way!

While we were up in the mountains, we spent a lot of time in hammocks, and Mikayla and Z even slept out on the porch in hammocks one night.

 

We also had a great hot dog roast on the rocks where the two rivers meet.

On Sunday, we attended church in the village of Abaca.  Steve shared a report about the ministry of those whom they have sent out to church plant amongst the Agta tribe in Bicol.

Trevor Maxwell also shared a word of testimony while Steve translated, and it was a real encouragement to the people.

Then, as is normal with visitors, we were asked to sing a special number.  I dodged the bullet this time so I could take pictures of the group. :)

They had a delicious lunch prepared for us after church.

The kids had an absolute blast together on our trip.  One afternoon, they gathered pine branches and created a Christmas tree since it was just a couple days before Christmas.

The end result put Charlie Brown's Christmas tree to shame. :)

We are so thankful for families like the Maxwells, with whom we can share crazy adventures like this one!

Merry Christmas!

So we just got back from an adventure in the mountains, but since we only have a 48 hr turn-around time before our next trip (and only 40 hr turn-around before the NEXT trip after that), the blog post with pics will have to wait until January.

But I did want to get on and tell you all Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Our partners

I noticed that a few of our tribal partners recently got FaceBook, and they had some great pics on their accounts, so I thought you might enjoy seeing a few shots of their everyday life.  Since only a few of them have FB, these pics don't include all our tribal partners, but it still gives you a glimpse of their world...

In one of the areas, we have been able to work it out for them to have some land where they can plant a garden.  Everyone works together to grow the crops they have, and the vegetables lessen their food expenses.  This pic is the youngest daughter of one of our partners working in their garden.

 Lots of coconut trees in Bicol!  And some gorgeous views as you hike through the mountains.

 Love this one taken of one of the couples leading a Bible study.

 Great smiles!

 Bible studies are held wherever you can find a place.  The tribal huts down in this area are usually too small, so gatherings are often held outside or in a little open hut.

 Our tribal partners do a LOT of walking/hiking to get to the villages to do Bible studies.  Since they are targeting a fairly large geographically area (the tribal people down in Bicol are very spread out, so you have to travel quite a ways if you are going to reach very many people), they are on the go a lot.

 The one with the guitar is one of our single guy partners.  He is amazing with a guitar, and he has been instrumental (no pun intended! :) ) in writing and translating many songs into the heart language of the tribal people here. 

 It's a beautiful area!

 And so many people who so desperately need to hear the Truth.

We absolutely love our tribal partners and are so privileged to work with such great men and women of God who make such huge sacrifice to bring His message of salvation to those who have never heard!