Early this morning we departed Tacloban for Davao City on the island of Mindanao, via Manila. We arrived in Davao City at 15:00 and were met at the airport by Ed Macaraeg, the pastor on the island.

We checked into our hotel near the airport and enjoyed lunch with Ed, who updated us on the work in Mindanao. I learned some details of the Abu Sayyaf bombing, less than a year earlier, of the airport where we had just arrived. Twenty one people were killed in the blast. Abu Sayyaf has its base down in Zamboanga in the southwest tip of Mindanao. Zamboanga is a strong center of traditional banditry now masquarading as fashionalbe jihadist Islam. We won't go there....

After lunch we traveled to the Macaraegs' house and toured the Church office which is in their home. We enjoyed a unique rooftop dinner and fellowship with the Macaraegs in the evening.

We were some durian for desert. The size of a watermellon but brownish and prickly on the outside, durian is said to be heaven in your mouth, but hell in your nose. It must be the most foul smelling fruit imaginable, and it can make actually one nauseous. Once past the nose and in the mouth it has a creamy texture like a very ripe mango, and a rich complex flavor.

Many people here absolutely love the fruit. I don't enjoy the taste enough to be willing to put up with the smell, so I passed this time.