Celebrating our ONE YEAR Anniversary in the Philippines! 
It's hard to believe that March 31st was our 1 year anniversary on the Mission Field.

On March 28th, our home church (Glad Tidings Fellowship) had a missions luncheon fundraiser for our ministry. We prepared a short video message, which also shows some clips of Tribal Culture from the Kaamulan Festival, Evangelism and Tribal Pastors Horsemanship Training that took place in March. 

If you have a slow connection, select PLAY and then PAUSE - wait until the loading bar is half way before selecting play again.


We had the wonderful opportunity to represent Cross Culture Ministries at the Kaamulin Festival.
Kaamulan" is from the Binukid word "amul" which means "to gather". It is a gathering of Bukidnon tribes people for a purpose of showcasing the unique indigenous culture of the Bukidnon, the Kaamulin was held in the province of Malaybalay City, the provincial capital.
 
The Kaamulan Festival celebrates the customs and traditions of the seven tribal groups that originally inhabited the Bukidnon region, namely, the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon. Many tribal folks represented the seven hill tribes of Bukidnon as they gathered in unity with the local dwellers in town. Wearing their intricately woven and beautifully colored costumes studded with trinkets, anklets, earrings, necklaces, leglets, headdresses and amulets. We were able to video and photograph the street dancing and floats, and discovered more about these beautiful people and their culture. Being amongst the tribal people as they participated in their tribal games was a real highlight for Shannon. There is still so much we are learning regarding Tribal culture and tribal laws and we now realize that it is going to take more then two years to fullfil the vision which God has called us.
 
At the Kaamulin Festival, we had the opportunity for people to become aware of our ministry by the means of having a booth set up for people to inquire about the Tribal Horse Evangelism along with showcasing the bio water filter and educating people on how their families can obtain healthy drinking water.

During the festival Darrell took every opportunity to witness buy using the illusion tracks, they were such a hit amongst the young people. Gathering some of largest crowds that we have ever seen. What a wonderful opportunity for us to share the Lord and to present the gospel in such an easy and effective way.

April 2nd and 3rd we held two evangelism training courses back to back in the bukidnon, one in Valencia and one in Malaybalay. Around 150 people attended and were fired up for evangelism!  We are excited about what is God is going through this training, and are believing God to put a deeper compassion for the lost in the hearts of His people.

Evangelism Mini-Boot Camp in Malaybalay, Mindanao - April 2, 2010

This coming Sunday April 11th we will be taking a Sunday service to introduce the Evangelism Course to a local church between Davao and Panabo.  We will be planning at least 1 (hopefully two) mini-boot camps in May :)
 
In June we will be travelling to Singapore for one week, as we are required to leave the country after a 16 month stay. Please keep us in your prayers as we are believing that we will be able stay at a missionaries home, as they return back home to the U.S. for their summer furlough. We are still waiting for a reply on this. This will help with our cost considerably as we are trusting the Lord will provide for our basic needs during our stay there.
 
When we return from Singapore, the first week of July we will be travelling to Baculad Negros, for another Evangelism Training with WIM and Pastor Edmund. We believe God is going to do an amazing revival here in the Philippines, and we are excited to be a part of what God is doing through the lives of those who desire to evangelize.
 
This past March CCM was able to put Pastor Blas on as a staff. Over the past few years Pastor Blas has volunteered in numerous ways in helping build the horse ministry. His experience and years as a livestock broker has been a definite asset, along with his commitment to God and a love to share the word. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to trust God to provide for this integral part of the ministry.

Pastor Blas Arpilleda getting a tribal pastors information who wants to apply for a bio-water filter.
 
During our time in the bukidnon CCM facilitated a Tribal Pastors Horsemanship Training week, on the last day of training we were blessed with a special visit from Pastor Romel & Jean Sangkit from Malitbog. They were so excited about what God has being doing through their ministry since they received a horse and how the Lord is opening doors for them in the horse community where they live. It is so rewarding to hear these testimonies.

Pastor Romel & Jean Sangkit from Malitbog, Mindanao.  Their horse is "Pedro" - Thank you Peter!

 
HORSES NEEDED!
CCM sponsors horses cross denominationally.  We currently have no horses available to assign to tribal pastors. Please consider sponsoring a horse for a tribal pastor to help spread the gospel into the mountains of Mindanao.

Click here to sponsor a horse!

HORSE TACK - We are in need need of halters, bridles, saddles, grooming and hoof care items...  surprisingly there is NO horse tack available in the Philippines.
Please contact Ron Nelson at 604-792-7487 or email  info@crosscultureministries.com for more information.

Thank You!
We would like say thank you to everyone who has helped CCM over the past year, through your prayers, love and support, CCM has been able to accomplish the sponsoring of horses; fascilitate Tribal Pastors horsemanship training weeks;  provide for the daily needs of horse care, feeding and training; the development of the ministry centre, ie: nipa cottage, nipa housing, renovations, outdoor kitchen, bunkbeds for the tribal pastors; horse quadra (stables); and the sponsorship of bio-sand water filters which are greatly needed in the Philippines, providing pure drinking water which opens many doors for ministry as it brings good-will to the communities.

We stand in awe of how much has been accomplished this past year and are very excited in this new year of serving the Lord with Joy in the Philippines!  We couldn't have done this without God's direction and calling and the help of so many back home and here in the Philippines. All the Glory goes to Jesus!!! 

Blessings in Jesus Name!

Darrell & Shannon Nelson