My return to Maitum in February 2006, was for the purpose of presenting our mission project (Datu Wali Mission) to authorities. Since Jennifer was in school, she and Aurea remained home in Glendale.

The trip was immensely successful. The provincial governor, Miguel Dominguez came to the home of George and Elsie Perrett just to meet with me. I spent the evening with the governor, two local mayors, a barangay captain and the Perretts, discussing our project over dinner. Throughout my week in the Philippines, I met with many elected officials and received 100% support and encouragement for our project.

During this trip, I also was able to visit a B'laan village north of General Santos City, and two T'boli villages, one headed up by uncle Adad. Adad has three wives, several children and grandchildren, as well as other T'bolis living in his village. They are dedicated to working his Abaca nursery. Abaca is an important tree to the natives, as they use its fibers to make their cloth. Adad is growing seedlings that will be planted elsewhere to improve Abaca stock and cropland.

I also surveyed our new home site, which sits at the rear of Aurea's land on the Pangi River.