Highlights and an Incredible Experience

This month at IT Tender Ministry (the drop-in center that I help out with) they are holding a sports fest that happens every Thursday for the month of February. I went to the first one but had to miss the second week because of the trip I was on. They call it a sports fest but really it's just a small basket ball tournament. They have 4 teams entered, JKK (the church I'm with), 2 partner Churches of IT Tender, and a team made of of the youth/young men who attend the drop-in center. It's a great opportunity for fellowship for all who are involved. One thing I found out is how much I hate b-ball (sorry Dad). Why can't they like soccer here, is that asking too much? I didn't play in the game because we are getting the youth of our Church involved but we played around a little after and I am absolutely terrible at b-ball and don't enjoy it in the least.

Our last youth event was quite the turnout. We rented a near by gym (a cement b-ball court) and let the word out to the area that we are ministering to and about 50 kids showed up. Mostly youth but some young kids showed up too and everyone seemed to have a good time. We had 2 b-ball games (half court) going on and some soccer/volley ball/dodge ball going on in the middle of the court. The older boys were playing b-ball because it is a mens sport here and volley ball is the girls sport. It was a little chaotic but I felt it went well and about 75% of them stayed for the small bible lesson that I shared at the end which is encouraging.

This past week I got a great opportunity to go way up north (12 hour bus ride) into the mountains, in the province of Kalinga. John's mentor, Hart, came here for a visit because he spent 20 years in the Philippines with a Bible translating organization (SIL) and spent most of his time in a small village up in the north. The first day we spent in Banaue looking at their famous rice terraces (you can see them on google) which was amazing. Then we spent a night at SIL compound which was very encouraging. We spent some time talking with Hart's old co-workers about their heart and desire to translate the Bible so others can read the word of God. This is the place where a lot of the translating happened for the northern part of the country. The Philippines has about 70 different languages/dialects so their were many people who stayed at this compound working on translating.
Then we moved on from there to a village type community, Tabuk, it has about 50 thousand people but is nothing like the metropolis that is Manila. We spent 2 days there at Hart's friends place and they were incredibly hospitable. We were very lucky to be in Tabuk this past weekend because there was a cultural festival going on and we got to see many different tribal dances and rituals. It definitely sparked a new found interest in the native communities in Canada for me.
Then came the most interesting part of the trip. We went on a 5 hour jeepney ride to the remote village of Asabunglan. It was the worst road that I have every traveled on. It's just dug out from the side of the mountains and parts of it is unusable in the rainy season. Also the whole ride we had a live pig on the roof that I watched get butchered once we got there for the feast they prepared for us. This place has no electricity and they take showers by taking water from the mountain spring using bamboo as a pipe. I feel as if I should have grown up here because almost every has a foot long knife on their hip at all times and they always have a fire going. My 2 favourite things in the world! Fire and Knives! They prepared a whole evening of festivities for us the night we arrived because they are so thankful to Hart for bringing the gospel to them and were very honoured that John and I came to visit. They brought out their gong like drums that only get brought out when blood has been shed, that is why we brought the pig up. So from about 7 pm till 1 am they were playing their gongs, dancing, singing and sharing. Of course they got us to dance which was quite entertaining. It was such an incredible night. The next day the moment I woke up I was asked if I wanted to go get coconuts and of course I did. So we went on a short walk and 10 year old boy climbed up the tree and started throwing coconuts down and we cut them up and drank the milk, so sweet. Then later that day we went on a 2 hour hike through the mountains and it was so awesome. They also caught a bat for us to eat, it was good but far too much work for so little meat.

I read a book while I was gone and I have to encourage everyone to read it. The Heavenly Man is the title and it is a must read. I would love to go in to much detail about it but I don't have the time, it would be a very long sermon about how we need to get serious about our faith. PLEASE READ THE BOOK.

As always thank you so much for your continued support and prayers, they are always appriated. May God Bless you richly and reveal himself to you in a new way.

Jared