Destination Dalipey: Not an Option
Mission: Philippines 2012 (Destination Dalipey)
By Ace Concordia
C4C Philippines coordinator
Climbing For Christ Philippines became the first mountaineering team to reach the village of Dalipey in the mountains of Kibungan in Benguet province in February 2011. We made the day-long climb to Dalipey to fulfill a promise made to Teacher Leah, who we met in Poblacion in September 2010.
Despite the rigorous climb we were rewarded with the smiles and hospitality of the Kankanaey people. School classes were suspended for a whole day to accommodate our program and so that we could play and have fun and fellowship with the school children and the people of Dalipey.
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Above the clouds and over the mountains to Dalipey. (Photo by Kolbel Acquiapat, Destination Dalipey 2011)
When it came time to trek home, the locals made us promise to return. In their voices one could sense their hope for our return. But also in their eyes they wondered if we would choose to return.
The trek to Dalipey is not an easy one, it is a full day up and down mountain trails that will challenge even the most avid climber.
In reality we could make the choice not to go back. I say this simply because the truth is there are always two sides to any choice. We could consider the difficulty of the climb and say to ourselves that we don’t need to go through that again. We already have accomplished something by just getting there. We could just stay right where we are, living our daily lives and the comforts to which we are accustomed. Who wants to be tired, thirsty and sweating under the heat of the sun? Maybe it’s someone else’s turn to go. The truth is we have that option: to not go.
As a Christian we pray that the Lord reveals to us the purpose of our lives. But when the Lord answers us and reveals to us what we are to do for Him, we come up with a million reasons why we can’t do it. I say this because I personally experienced this in 2010. This was the least productive year of C4C Philippines with only one mission climb for the whole year. All because I thought that there were other more pressing matters that I should attend to, matters that were valid and reasonable to my mind.
But in retrospect I now realize that I may have just assumed at that time that there were more important matters than the mission. That year now feels like a lost year that I will never get back. Because I chose the option not to go.
The reason we were sent to Dalipey is beyond just giving out school supplies, medicines and Bibles. We were there to share the love of Jesus Christ. We all know that one day is not enough to do that. There should be nothing more important in our lives as Christians than to accomplish the Great Commission that God set before us. There should be no other choice to consider than this. Nothing should take precedence in our lives more than this!
When we left Dalipey we knew in our hearts there were no other options. The bridge has been burned down, we are now on the other side, we are now committed. We will keep returning to Dalipey until the Lord's mission is done!
When you know how much God loves you, and how much He loves those who are lost and in need of His love, there is no option.
Dalipey has now become one of the three major mission destinations of C4C in the mountains of Kibungan. The work of the Lord there has just begun. Climbing for Christ Philippines, is preparing to return to Dalipey on March 2-6 to continue the ministry that has been started there. We invite you to become part of this pioneering ministry work!
Helping Hands
How you can be a part of this event:
PRAY
C4C Philippines would like to ask you include us in your prayers! Please pray...
- That we will be able to gather the school materials, medicines, Bibles, and other essentials to bring to Dalipey.
- For the good health of C4C volunteers.
- For good weather on our mission climb.
- For our friends in the local government of Kibungan, who provide invaluable assistance and support on all of our mission climbs.
- That we are able to share the great love that Jesus has for the people of Kibungan.
GIVE
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School children waiting to receive materials from Destination Dalipey 2011 team. (Photo by Kolbel Acquiapat)
You can also be part of the mission by sharing what you have with the people of Dalipey! The following are a list of items that we will be gathering in February 2012 for the mission climb:
- Bibles (English or Ilocano).
- School materials (notebooks, pencils, Cartolina, pad paper, erasers, rulers, etc.).
- Medicines and health supplements.
- Sports and recreational equipment for the school (basketballs, volleyballs, chessboard, board games, etc.).
- Bags of salt.
You can also be a blessing by financially donating to buy these and other much needed items specially Bibles and medicines to be brought to Kibungan. For those who want to share their blessings please contact us at the information provided below.
GO!
CLIMB WITH US! The Bible says that there is no greater love than for a man to give his life for a friend. We would like to invite those who would like to give a few days of their lives to serve and love the people of Dalipey. If you are a mountaineer or an outdoor enthusiast who would like to share his or her abilities and skills to climb and care for those in need then we invite you to join us on a mission to touch the lives of Kankanaey people with the love of Jesus Christ!
Doctors and nurses are needed. If you are a medical personnel whether you are a doctor or a nurse with good climbing experience we would like to invite you to join us for a medical mission on our climbs. There are many cases of malnutrition among children and iodine deficiency leading to cases of goiter among the people of Kibungan. Your medical skills would be a huge blessing to their community.
CONTACT INFORMATION
In the Philippines, contact:
Outside of the Philippines, e-mail info@ClimbingForChrist.org. Mission applications are available and you can give financially to Mission: Philippines 2012 by sending contributions to Climbing For Christ, c/o Mission: Philippines, P.O. Box 16290, Rochester, NY 14616-0290 USA.
The Word
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'” — Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
Posted Feb. 6, 2012
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