Public Transportation: many travel in brightly colored multi-cabs or motorellas (basically a motorcycle with a giant metal cab attached…and painted brightly to blend in.)
Landscape: The mountainous landscape and ocean within a few hours drive offers a wide range of adventure activities as well as awe-inspiring scenery. Lush waterfalls, and natural springs offer a refreshing mid-week activity, or an alternative for showers when you have no water!
plantations scattered throughout this fertile island of the southern
Philippines.
Ministry: This month we are working with K.I.M (Kids International Ministries) at Mt. Moriah Camp. This site situated on the island of Mindanao, nestled a few hours drive from the airport in Cagayan de Oro, up in the mountains partnered with K.I.M ministries over the last several years and established a Children’s Home on site. Here they care for the everyday physical, spiritual, mental and emotional needs of 26+ children between the ages of (nearly 1 – 13).
The core focus of our ministry this month is investing in the children here at Mt. Moriah, while other opportunities to partner with the local college B.S.U Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship group, the local prison, and a community basketball league three nights a week have presented themselves as well. In addition to this, we recently participated in a “True Love Waits” seminar for 800+ high school seniors about to graduate this coming march, and mentor close to 300 children from the local area every Saturday at the AWANA gathering hosted at our site.
In addition to this, we are assisting with the building of a church here on site. The opening service will take place on February 27th, our final Sunday here. The roof is on, and walls are going up. We worked all day through the pouring rain to cut grass with machetes, and dig a trench around the perimeter as well as a giant hole for plumbing.
Seasonal events: The end of February through Mid-March marks the annual Kaamulan festival in Malaybalay city. Mountainous people and villagers travel from their tribes and dwellings far and wide to sell/display crafts, music, various skills, and entertainment. It’s a month of fun, a month of adventure, a month of community. Bamboo huts have sprung up all over the city – especially in the celebration center…
1) Ube bread (it’s 2 -3 pesos at most bakeries and has a purple color to it.)
2) Pineapple (it’s fresh, it’s juicy, it’s downright delicious!!)
3) Lampina (spelling?? – this is a fried roll with meat and vegetable shavings inside.)
4) Chicken on a stick (they make it SO good here!)
5) Cookies n’ cream shake (the BBC cafe is the best place we’ve found)
6) Mango + Banana shakes (most world racers here would recommend these in a heartbeat)
7) German fries (Isabella’s cafe serves these hot n’ tasty)
8) Belut (if you’re really adventurous and can stomach the challenge)
9) Bananas (they’re delicious and FRESH! Don’t pass these up!)
