Since the home church of Bro Leo (a senior student at EBI) owns a vehicle, it was nice they let Bro Leo pick us up from Legazpi airport and drive us a couple other days as well. After getting picked up at the airport, we stopped at a mall to buy a guitar, saw Cagsawa Ruins, and hiked to the top of the Lignon Hill overlook.

There was a vendor at Cagsawa Ruins that sold us a photo of a past eruption of Mayon Volcano in the background. As a bonus, she made Sister Ofel and Sister Pam look like giants. She also made Brother Mike look like superman by holding a rock in front of the camera to make it look like he was lifting a boulder (see previous post).

Cagsawa Ruins consists of a bell tower left from an old Spanish church that got covered by mud and fall out from an eruption of Mayon Volcano in the early 1800s.

From on top of Lignon Hill you get a good view of the seaside city of Legazpi. You also get a good view of Mayon Volcano and rice fields (see previous post).

Brother Ben is using his iPad in Castilla Church to show how people drill holes in the ice of Minnesota lakes to catch fish in the winter.  Then he and Pam go on to ask how Filipinos fish differently than Minnesotans (i.e. with a net), and then tell the Bible story from the last chapter in John of The Big Catch and becoming fishers of people.

Had about 70 attend the first Kids Time, which was done on March 7th at Castilla Church.

Ben and Pam’s first time in a banka (canoe with outriggers), to get to the beach on the other side of the channel from downtown Castilla.

Pastor Redgie, Sister Aireen, and their daughter Aira Lois in front of their living quarters in Castilla (this is property donated by Mrs. Luz Ortega, used as the church until construction of the new church building about 1 km away a couple years ago funded by Korean Christians).

One of Pastor Redgie’s home Bible studies in Castilla

Pastor Redgie and Aireen Bonifacio, with daughter Aira Lois and baby David Chito (born last July 1, which was Pastor Chito Mendizabal’s birthday).

The travelors coming back to EBI on Friday afternoon, March 8.

Pam and Ben sharing with Padaba (well loved) kids sponsored by Compassion International. Compassion kids come to EBI every Saturday from 8 am – 2 pm.

After Compassion, we went to Sirangan, a low income area near the market of downtown Sorsogon. Children and adult outreaches are conducted there every Saturday afternoon in the building of a daycare center. Funds for feedings, school supplies, and Christmas toys for kids in this location are supplied by a business woman in Manila named Sister Carol who originally came from this neighborhood. Ben and Pam conducted a Kids Time this Saturday.

After the Sirangan Kids Time, we walked around the pier of Sorsogon City, which is sort of a public plaza.

Statue of Pili Nuts on Sorsogon Pier.  Sorsogon Province is noted for their pili nuts, which are often made into a candy with a carmelized coating.

Walking on the rock wall that connects the Sorsogon Pier to shoreline.

Paying respects to at the grave of Pastor Chito after visiting the Sorsogon Pier

Emmaus Sunday school kids getting ready for singing a special number.

Sunday service at Emmaus Christian Fellowship, which is a campus church that also serves the local community.

Singing praises as Brother Leo drives us to an outreach in Capuy on Sunday afternoon.

One gets to the Capuy outreach by walking along a pathway next to a stream/inlet that connects to Sorsogon Bay. Most people that live here are fishermen.  We finished walking to the bay after the Kids Time (see picture in previous post of children standing in water).

The Capuy outreach includes an adult Bible study in the veranda of this house, while the children meet in an open air cottage a block away.

Kids Time in Capuy.  Note how Pam is trying to expain ice fishing with a white box with a hole in it to catch the pipe cleaner fish held by Ben below.

Ben making shredded coconut

Fancy dish cooked at EBI with Ben’s shredded coconut

Kids in Donsol playing with tops

Kids in Donsul Church

Kids of Donsul Church giving a special number with Pastor Abner

Kids Time in Donsul Church

Preparing for feeding in Pastor Abner’s kitchen. Can also see some bakery equipment in the kitchen (e.g. plates of food on top of oven in foreground, and cooling racks in right rear)

Feeding time in Donsol Church

Pastor Abner Cornelio family in their rented Donsol house/church