No More War???

I kept wondering where all the military checkpoints and tanks were. When we last traveled towards the Muslim area of Mindanao, the roads looked like this...

Peace talks are making progress and there have been no skirmishes reported in the past 6 months. In 2008, we went to "the field" to deliver relief goods to some of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people. This time, we came to visit old friends. And for that, we are thankful. 

Our first stop was to visit our friend Ustadz Abdulkadir Abubakar- a farmer, a University Arabic Professor, and a fellow peace worker. We met him at the Municipal Hall grounds in Pikit and as I got out of the van, I was shocked to realize that this was the hill where the shelling used to come from! While it's still not the safest place, the fear we once had while driving through this town was no longer there. Here we are with Ustadz...

Our next stop was to visit our dear friends Mei and Elwyn. But first, our faithful driver, Toto (he used to be my bodyguard!) stopped for prayer time. And because it is now Ramadan, Toto didn't join us for meals because Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Instead of eating, he would find a nearby mosque to pray in. 

shoes don't belong in a mosque

We used to work with Mei and Elwyn at Peacebuilders Community and they are now with a different organization helping refugees from the conflict in 2008. It was so wonderful to visit with these lovely friends of ours and see the amazing work they're doing. They are getting married in September and we're so happy for them! Cody enjoyed the goat livelihood project...

It was also wonderful to be able to visit with the Baraguir family in Sultan Kudarat.  Datu Kharis Baraguir is a strategic advisor to Peacebuilders Community and a faithful Muslim and man of peace. We had a Ramadan fast-breaking meal with them after sunset and enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. Again, Cody found playmates:) 

The 5-hour drive was bumpy but at least this time Cody didn't get sick! He didn't cry or whine at all the entire way there and back. And the bumpy road rocked Makai to sleep for most of the trip. Once again, we're so thankful for such great little boys!

We are also extremely thankful for the chance to reconnect with friends here in Mindanao and for the relative peace in a place of historical longstanding conflict- it's good not to see soldiers everywhere and bombing in the distance. We pray that the peace talks will continue and that the parties will chose the road to peace, not war.