The Journey to the outback of The Apo Kayan

From The parish to The Station 

Hello, Dear friends

I am Paul. I am a priest of Saint Luke parish of Apo Kayan. My friends and I visit people in the stations of my parish at the outback of the hills every week.

Our journeys are always enjoyable ones as we can view the nicest and most picturesque scenery around us. Forests, rivers, insects, birds, flowers are some of them. Walking through muddy roads, crossing rivers among the big trees deep in the jungle are what we undergo every time. We are grateful to God as He gives this dramatically perfect beauty right here in the nature.

Forests and rivers are our friends. We feel alive since they have been giving the fresh air we breathe.Of course, we sleep outdoors: being embraced by nature, which provides everything we need…for free!.          

 Oftentimes, leeches suck the blood right out of our feet and legs. Somehow leeches can never obstruct us to visit people in stations. They are an unending variation to our journey. 

Friends,After escaping the forests, another challenge is waiting. Now it’s the time for crossing rivers.

 

They are capricious ladies: keep on changing the tides, floods and ebbs. This can be dangerous. When it’s flooding, we may find ourselves surrounded by woods that are ready to overthrow our raft. When it ebbs absolutely, the rivers become so shallow that our raft can never cross since its bottom reaches that of the rivers.

 

One more thing, when rivers are shallow, we are surrounded by rocks, lingering to break our raft into pieces.Praise the Lord, anytime we find the rapids capturing us, You bless us and let us pass through them.You are our strength to achieve prudence of life.    

Long journey may make us tired. But, the love of God supports us, giving extraordinarily perfect health. He prepares our meals.

 

Absolutely perfect endowments! Having caught some fish, we have good lunch with the music created by the river to refresh our mind and body.  

God always gives you a gift even before you celebrate your birthday.