The Amazing Race – Filipino Style

“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’” Luke 14:23, NKJV.

In fifty-two days, Nehemiah built a wall, and in fifty-two days this summer Filipino and American students will take the gospel to unreached people groups in some of the most remote areas of the Philippines.

Recently, the first five member Filipino Nehemiah Team arrived in Southern Luzon. Together with missionary Peter Pham, the group boarded a boat for a sixteen hour ride to the town of Masbate. From there, the group piled on a “tricycle” (a motorcycle with a side car) for a short ride to the bus terminal where they boarded a bus for another two and a half hour ride to Catamingan. When the team reached Catamingan, three of the team members, together with their luggage, boarded one motorcycle while the other three boarded a second motorcycle. After a rough and dusty ride, the team arrived in the village of Estambar. They were greeted by the pastor and a deacon. The village has no electricity and one community well that is used for drinking water and for bathing. Still, church members had prepared a wonderful Filipino meal to welcome their guests.

After lunch and a short rest, the team hiked a little over six miles over a mountain to a village with no electricity and one small well for three hundred families. As the team approached the village children ran to greet them, and followed them everywhere they went. Visitors are very rare in this remote village.

The team will remain in this village for ten days, sharing the gospel. Then they will move on to another equally remote village for another ten days before heading back to the comforts of home.

Pray that:

God will use this team to bring Living Water and the Light of the World to these villages.

Villagers will be receptive to the gospel and that churches will be started in these areas.

God will protect the health and safety of this team and that they will see Him at work in their lives.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.