Mindoro Island is the 7th. Largest in the Philippines located 15kms. off the Southwestern coast of Luzon. It requires 45 minutes flying time to San Jose , Mindoro Occidental from Manila. It is divided into two provinces; Occidental and Oriental.

In late August to early September 2007, Hernani and I(Mila) travelled to San Jose, Occidental to meet up with the Pastors. It was not an easy trip since there was a successive storms passing through this region.To reach San Jose,the southern part of Mindoro,we need to fly from Davao City to Manila and then from Manila to San Jose ,Mindoro. Many of the Pastors who came to attend the meeting were coming from small Islands using motorboats as their transport  in which at that time there was storm signals but they bravely face the big waves and strong winds,nothing hindered them in their desire to attend the pastoral Seminar.Some of the Pastors are working in remote places ministering to the tribal people. One Layman pastor who belong to a tribe came with a bolo in his waist which according to him is just natural and always a necessity in their daily living. 
Most of the income of the people are by fishing so when    there is storms they have no livelihood.

Pastoral Care in Caminawit, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. 
This group is only a part of the majority of the Pastors in Mindoro that are still waiting for us to hold a Pastoral seminar. Due to distance we were only able to invite the nearest workers in the Southern part of Occidental Mindoro. 




We have Table Fellowhsip Time with the Pastors and after the seminar they went home with gifts of groceries.

God's workers in this area were very happy and encouraged. If it was not stormy time, We thought of visiting the islands where some of them are Pastoring to see first hand how they travel on boat and how they live in small Islands of the Philippines. Our hearts were really greatly touched of their dedication to the Lord's work. 
While we were in Mindoro we also spent time conducting Bible studies with the fishermen working in a fishing business of one of the church member in the church.

Our host( the house the let us stay) owns the fishing business. I helped with the preparation for the fish bags where they are going to put the fishes that their fishing boats catches. We open 300 hundred bags.The fish will be sold in Manila.
Most of their workers are church members so they help a lot in giving job to the men and youth from the church.


We are hoping to visit the Oriental province for another seminar with the Pastors that are in the beneficiary list of the Strength in the Valley Foundation. The travel would be in a different route mostly by boats .In fact, they are calling us to go. We look forward at the end of this year to have a Pastoral care at Mindoro Oriental.

Please partner with us with the ministry of encouragement for the Pastors. You can personally come and encouraged them through seminars, retreat or a Conference or you can send your money to help us reach them or you can send clothings, theological books that will help them in their personal studies and pastoral work.