KALANGUYA WOMEN'S MINI-CONFERENCE

Last Thursday, the CFMites and the Buagards packed their bags and climbed a dump truck to Nansiakan.  It was tough going up and coming home but it was worth it.

 Ate Medy Bianzon, a former resident of Nansiakan and a very good friend of mine organized a mini-conference for the women in the village and she asked me to provide technical support (i.e. making powerpoint presentations and setting up the LCD projector). I was not very excited about the idea of boarding a dumptruck, squatting on its floor with more or less 50 people.  I think it should not carry more than 20 people!  Well, actually, it should only carry the driver and two passengers plus 100 bags of cement, not 50 breathing human beings packed together like sardines in a small tin can.

At first, 10 people were comfortably sitting on the truck then somebody stopped us and more people boarded, then off we went again, and then again, it stopped and more people climbed up, until I have no more choice but to give my little space to a woman with a baby for her to sit on.

I am not complaining; just that I forgot how it was to be going ‘home.’ I forgot that it is silly to be the first and secure a space for yourself thinking that you will be occupying that space comfortably until you reach the village. Why? Because the road was so …. ‘corrugated’ (rough doesn't even come close)… that all you can think of is to keep yourself from being thrown off the truck and rolling down the mountainside.

Fortunately, someone had the presence of mind to bring a rope so we had something to secure ourselves with, although the nylon can't keep itself from cutting your skin and giving you blisters.

We reached the village at an hour past lunch time and wew, memories of my childhood (of running across rice paddies, skinnydipping at a river nearby flooded my mind like a tsunami!  Memories of freedom and having no cares in the world.

In the evening, the Kalanguya singles/young people had their monthly gathering.  As usual, we had a great time of praising and worshipping God.  Fellowshiping with one another is always one of the best times.  During the sharing time, many older people (married adults) shared their testimonies and it was a blessing to learn how the Lord has been working in the lives of his people.  If the MC did not limit the time, I think we would have been listening to testimonies until morning :) but when it was already past midnight, the MC gave each person who wants to testify a three-minute chance to speak. :)  Of course, most have exceeded their time limit! :)

 

The next day, we woke up to a beautiful morning to fellowship with the women.  There were more or less 80 women who came to attend the gathering.  The speaker talked about family, responsible parenthood and coping with children who are getting educated in the lowlands.  It was not only an interesting topic for them but also a very timely one because most of them are now at a point where they needed to let go of their old assumptions and do a little bit or maybe even make a very big paradigm shift to understand their children.  Needless to say, we had a very nice meeting.  After the presentation, the speaker gave them a chance to ventilate their thoughts and again everybody seem to want to share something.  As a result, we ate lunch at half past 2PM and supper at 11pm.  Check the albums in this site for pictures of this said event.

 

Nansiakan did not change a lot.  The paths still get squishy with mud when it rains and garbage are still strewn everywhere.  (Well, nothing like the garbage dump in Bambang or Manila) but you can still see plastic wrappers and papers thrown about.  Another very noticeable change are the electric posts standing in the most awkward places. They finally got their electricity last year and I was glad for the villagers but this progress came with a considerable disadvantage.  Unfortunately, now that DVD players, televisions, videoke are available to them, attendance during prayer meetings, youth gatherings are now suffering because eyes are glued on TV monitors.  That is why one of the leaders commented that we should visit them often to remind them.  I told him, "Well, that is your job!" hehehe

I'm glad I went. God renewed my commitment to serve Him right here with His/my people.  There's still so much to do to help these dear people to grow in their lives as believers.  I trust the Lord to continue turning things around and reviving the lives of his people in Nansiakan and warm their hearts again to continue worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth, and reaching more of their fellow Kalanguyas.