Abra is a landlocked province located on the western side of the Cordillera in Northern Luzon, the Philippines biggest Island. It is approximately 400 kilometers north of Manila. Abra has 27 towns and 303 barangays (each barangay has 1-3 villages). The province is populated by the Ilocanos from a neighboring province, ten tribal groups often called the Tingguians, and also some Muslim entrepreneurs from the south. Most of the people in Abra are animists or practice a mix of animism and nominal Christianity.

Our staff member Jun and Pastor Lorenzo, who is married to Ana, with their two boys, 8 and 4 year old, traveled 5 hours from Baguio City by Jeep to Bengued Abra. On arrival they then began a two hour hike into one of the remote villages. Not only did the team have to carry the children some of the way into the village but they also carried an overhead projector and enough food for the week long camp! Their food consisted of canned sardines, rice, mongo beans, coffee, sugar  and milk powder. That was their diet for the whole week…

The next day after arrival they ran seminars in the daytime and held open air evangelistic meetings in the evenings. All the village people were able to attend these meetings unlike in the past when the seminar has been done in the town only the young and fit have been able to attend. Topics like parenting, communication and conflict resolution were discussed.  The feedback from the villagers was that one week was far too short and they hoped that the team would stay longer next time. The local people truly valued this week given for them exclusively.

Always fully dressed in their uniforms a group of army soldiers stayed in the house next door to the team. These soldiers also attended the teams meetings to be sure that those giving the teachings were not sharing communist ideology. Instead these soldiers heard the word of God and were blessed.

Part of the time spent in the village was to help the local people to erect a church building, alongside a team from YWAM Antipolo. Together  they helped to carry sacks of cement and hollow concrete blocks to help with the construction of the building. Even the children joined in. Mosquitoes and diarrhea did not deter the teams enthusiasm.

On the final night to show the villagers appreciation to the team for providing the week long camp, the 'Village Chief' provided a roasted pig for the team. Together the team and the village community celebrated, thanked God and danced to the beat of the tribal gongs.