Andrew's Views

The first three days we spent in Davao City have been some of the most amazing days of my life. Not only did I get to go on one of the most beautiful hikes of my life, I got a crazy motorcycle ride beforehand!

Visiting the people in the villages was amazing. I was so blessed by their amazing hospitality. In the third village we visited, we were given young coconuts. They probably could have been sold in the city for money for necessary items for the village, but they gave them to us instead. I must say the water inside a coconut is very refreshing, as well as nutritious and delicious. The people were so excited to see us when we entered each village. I later found out that we were the only white people besides the two medics from Mercy in Action that had been to these villages. It was cool because none of the kids had really ever seen a white person before.

I had actually lost my camera in the fourth village. The pastor was very worried that I would think that they had stolen, so he had the whole village looking for it, even in places I hadn’t been. When we found upon our return to the second village, I wanted to go back and tell him, but time would not allow. But we sent word with the pastor of the third village, along with my thanks for his concern.

I saw so much of God’s creation on this journey. God’s creation has always brought me great joy, but for some reason, it was unspeakable here. When we returned to the second village, a rainstorm quickly followed us. God showed up with his creation again presenting us with a rainbow that grew and grew and spread across the whole sky. Then it proceeded to become a double rainbow. We pitched our tents on top of a hill overlooking the valley as well. It was beautiful to wake up to an amazing view.

I have just been so blessed on this trip. It has been peaceful for me and I still feel like we have accomplished a lot with the people. I have been tired yet have been able to do all I was required to. I am looking forward to the rest of the trip and hope that I will keep experiencing what I am.