Our next destination was Purok Nanon. For me, this was more than another stop on the itinerary. It was the community I had longed to visit for years. Several times in the past, I came so close to visiting Purok Nanon, yet every opportunity somehow slipped away. There was always another responsibility, another assignment, or another reason the trip could not happen. So as Kuya Sal, Bibom, and I climbed back onto our motorcycles, my heart quietly thanked the Lord.

Datal Salvan holds a special place in the story of these missional communities. It was the first missional community established in the area—a place where leaders have been discipled, equipped, and sent to strengthen other communities. Men like Bibom and Kuya Sal were shaped there before being entrusted with leadership in other villages.

Before there were missional communities hidden among the mountains of Mindanao, there were prayers. Before there were worship gatherings echoing through the hills of Third Gate, Purok Lahak, Datal Salvan, and Purok Nanon, there were two missionaries carrying a burden from the Lord. Years ago, I remember listening to Ptr. Jeffrey Dapanas and his wife, Malen, shared what God had been stirring in their hearts. Heart Message from an Immersion Trip to the Missional Communities

On June 8, 2026, a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao. In less than a minute, buildings collapsed, lives were lost, families were displaced, and entire communities were forever changed. Among the hardest-hit areas were General Santos City, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province, and Davao Occidental—places where many of our missionaries, ministry partners, and missional communities faithfully serve. As we watched the devastation unfold, we knew we could not s