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

The unreached are often found in places that are inconvenient, uncomfortable, and sometimes even unsafe. We face difficulties, delays, spiritual resistance, exhaustion, and at times real danger. These are not rare experiences—they are common companions on the road of missions.

Our second Missions Exposure Trip in October 2025 began under dark clouds and heavy downpour the night before our visit to one of DMI’s missional communities—MC Third Gate. The rain poured relentlessly, and we knew what that meant: muddy roads, slippery paths, and uncertain travel. But when God says go, weather becomes secondary.