Down on the farm... part 2

The Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation Incorporated is based in the southern part of the Philippines. It is a Christian approach to countryside development. It is a non-profit private volunteer organization supported by Christian churches in the Philippines and other parts of the world. One practical way of helping develop the countryside is through training courses on simple yet practical farming technologies and health strategies.

Home for NT365 Gap Year students since the end of August has been the MBRLC. Living & learning in one of the houses on the facility has become "home." The week of Oct 10-14 was spent learning more about the training that takes place at MBRLC. Getting an understanding of how these training methods can be applied to ministry in local communities was the focus of the week. Mornings were spent in lectures & afternoons were "hands on", participating in the work they'd learned about throughout the morning sessions.

I learned just how important it is to meet people's physical needs as well as their spiritual needs... and how to do that productively.

-Hayden

I learned so much of a new form of ministry... how to help people in a practical survival way through farming & sharing the Gospel. I loved getting to make a little plant from the soil & a banana leaf!

-Darla Ray

I enjoyed learning about different kinds of agricultural technology that will help get willing Christians into areas to reach & teach the lost.

-Morgan

Community Development is not only helping & building people but also giving them the tools to improve their lives. It takes love to reach out & touch lives.

-Acey

My favorite thing about "farm week" was the SALT technology. I was amazed at how it is possible to create a sustainable organic farm as inexpensively as possible. I loved the enthusiasm of the trainers & how they always had interactive & practical activities for us to do after each lesson.

-Samuel