What makes me think it's worth it...

Before leaving on this trip I was having some buyer's remorse.  After teaching my first seminar in the Philippines I'm convinced the trip is worth the pain of being away from family, friends and comfort of home.  What makes me think it's worth it:

- there were a number of pastors for whom this was the first conference that they had EVER been to...I wish you could have seen how grateful they were to learn
- about 30% of the pastors who came in the Philippines were "tribal" - men and women serving the poorest of the poor, and just to get out to transportation was an 8 hour walk
- most of the participants travelled a great distance and slept in one of the area CTK worship centers on the floor - then they rode bicycles or motorcycles home...in the pouring rain (humbling)
- the participants pretty much sat spellbound and wrote down everything I said - I was told this is very unusual in the Philippine culture, as they tend to talk amongst themselves, get up and walk around, etc.
- the attendance grew from the first day to the next;  first day 100, second day 130 - many went out after the first day and recruited others to come
- there was a lot of unity - many pastors coming together for the first time, worshipping together, praying together, eating together - it was awesome to be a part of that
- there were several networks of churches represented - one of 16 churches, one of 21 churches - and the leaders of these networks are going to be taking the training back to their groups
- at the end of the seminar they "sat me down" and several people come up to express how grateful they were for me coming and teaching them - very affirming and encouraging to me
- there were some very specific takeaways that leaders told me they were going to implement immediately - focusing on 5-7 key leaders, moving from bible studies to bible discussions, starting small groups in neighboring towns, having weekly leader meetings, etc.

At the end of the trip I received Memos of Understanding from 13 CTK pastors.  There are three Worship Centers in Sarallah, three in the tribal regions in the mountains, the rest in area towns.  They are planning on rapidly expanding, however, and there are ten additional pastors who want to get involved now after my visit.