In Collaboration with League of Filipino Mission Climber (LFMC)

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“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

The Widow's Offering. Mark 12:41-44.

I was blessed to have the opportunity to be an instrument to share the blessings and love to our beneficiary community in Dalipey, Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet. It is where one can find the "Mighty Beautiful Walls of Kibungan" and it is also known as the home of the "Crying Mountains."

This is one of the few photos taken by my fellow volunteers, who all went through an ordeal of ascending challenging trails to reach the small community of not more than sixty families in Dalipey, Tacadang. It is where the sole public high school is located, with less than 80 students in their junior high.

Witnessing the smiles of everyone in the community through my camera's viewfinder, what I noticed that made me happier, more than the sight of the people residing in the community, are the iridescent glow of happy faces of the individuals within our team.

Our entire delegation was divided into three teams: Lead, Mid, and Sweeper, with 10 to 14-man team. Starting to ascend after having our lunch, passing through a trail, Alma-si, which is seldom used by the locals, probably few climbers before us. To reach Dalipey from Tanap jump-off one has to climb over four direct ascending trail within an 80 degrees angle, of more or less 300 meters, where a dangerous slippery cliff like a hungry predator waiting for its prey.

It was not an easy hike. After climbing for more than 10 hours with three teams separated from each other, each team had to setup emergency camp to prepare for the next day and rest after the toil of the climb.

The sweeper team with the lead doctor of the mission had to accompany one of the participants who had her leg and knee injured. The mid-team had to settle camping on the first sign of flat terrain, after the two ascending walls, where they can set their tarps and tents. The lead logistic team, our team, had to settle on the nearest water source, two to three hours far before reaching Dalipey.

Each one climbs with a purpose. We all climb a mountain with a purpose. The purpose of the the climb was aimed to bring smiles and a little help to the people of Dalipey, but what strikes me most is to feel that kindling happiness sets aflame in everyone in our team.

Thank you Jhoe Cordero, my friend, who had been climbing Kibungan for a decade, doing this mission climb to several communities already. His take on Mission climb still marks in my head and heart.

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"How far can you go to serve?"

Mission climbing has never been that easy. You have to temporarily leave everything behind; including your family and job. You have to endure long days of trekking and passing through dangerous paths. You have to spend time and render service to the people that you don't even know. You have to be prepared to sleep everywhere, eat anything and fight extreme weather conditions. You have to spend resources of your own. You have to forget about your own interest and start to look for others.

Mission climbing is not about the free medical and dental services nor the supplies that we bring because eventually people will get sick and the supplies will not last.

Mission climbing is about having the compassion to share and planting a seed of hope with love as its source and foundation.

We served because we are loved and blessed.

There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. - John 15:13"

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Join us on our next climb!

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- Alex "Choi" Fante