What a blessing to be able to travel out of town after being cooped up at home for more than a year due to the coronavirus! In a convoy of 5 vehicles, our Home Fellowship group traveled roughly 175 kilometers (approximately 110 miles) in support of the remote Canlaon Calvary Chapel. We joined the church’s Easter Sunrise Service, and celebrated the groundbreaking at their new location.

My husband and I are glad we went with the group although there were a few minor challenges — my husband forgot his wallet with our cash, senior citizen IDs, and of course his driver’s license back at home. Technology helped us with that. Our son sent us photos of the IDs through instant messaging. Thank God that I had also withdrawn some cash, so we had more than enough to cover our trip because most businesses are on a cash basis. Also, the convoy leads were fast drivers! My husband can drive fast, too, but not that fast on unfamiliar two-lane highways assailed by unpredictable pedestrians, pedicabs and scooters, the occasional dirt roads, and the deep open drainage systems on narrow winding roads. We managed to keep up for the most part. I usually fall asleep on long drives, but not this time.

The trip was worth it. The Sunrise Service was set outdoors with a view of rolling hills and the majestic Mt. Canlaon at the rear. There was a very cool morning breeze, and the sound of worship and preaching echoed through the fields. We met the local church members, members from another church plant from the northern side of the island, Bacolod, as well as the owners of the land who donated part of their property to the church. It was good to visit with the young local pastor whom we had not seen for quite some time.

Fitting with an Easter message, our pastor shared the gospel and quite a few people raised their hands to indicate their desire to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Truly, it was a blessed Easter Sunday!