They are an animistic people with a Roman Catholic facade. They readily admit that there is one God, and they respect the Bible as His Word, but lesser spirits continue to be feared. Practicing witch doctors reside in each barangay, and they, as well as priests, are sought after when conflict arises. Superstition affects many aspects of life in the barangay, one of the most evident being a talisman worn around the neck. Despite the spiritual barriers that result from these practices, this belief system allows for much work to be done on our part.
We openly travel to each barangay to teach the Bible. Our skin color opens doors and draws crowds. Much of our time consists of showing up at someone's home, sharing our stories, and preaching the gospel, and the people are largely receptive.
We've also found other ways to connect with the people. We use Plaza Presentations to introduce ourselves to each barangay as a whole, we play games and tell Bible stories to the kids, with hopes that their enthusiasm will spread to their parents, and we play basketball with some of the men in order to gain their respect.
We have traveled an incredible distance to reach this place. God's plan is greater than we can understand, but we know His love and He has given us a beautiful opportunity to share it with a people who haven't heard.