The education objective was originally to have been met by starting our own school. But after residing and working here for several months, we came to the conclusion that we could offer more help by sponsoring existing schools. By providing school supplies, hot lunch and free transportation for students, we can get more kids into school, than if we had our own school, at less cost.

The health objective was to have come later in our work here, and the larger thrust of it will. However, even today, we are filling prescriptions for ill T'bolis when them come to us for help.

The spiritual objective is the biggest surprise, as we anticipated a very low profile focus for that. Neither of us are pastors or trained missionaries. But, we have discovered that more than 70 years of combined lay ministry experience have equipped us to fulfill a number of spiritual leadership roles in this community; roles we did not expect. Dan has preached in most of the churches here, and regularly preaches at least one Sunday a month. Aurea has taught Sunday school and spoken at various events. We are considered by the local ministerial association to have insights and experience that can be leveraged to encourage and train local pastors. Dan is currently training several local worship leaders. We are sponsoring a free Community Praise and Worship Concert in the town gym on Oct. 27, 2007. Dan is asked to speak at many public and government events we attend.

There are yet other opportunities to influence life in this community we did not expect, including counseling, professional advice for government workers, assistance to the provincial government, and more.

There is very little resistance to what we are doing, and even that is of a silly nature. For instance, when we transport children to school at no cost some local motorbike owners who offer illegal, unlicensed rides, take offense. They see us as taking away potential business from them even though the children we transport could not otherwise afford their rates. If we don't take them to school, they either have to walk up to 8 kilometers each way, or forego an education.  

One of our farming delays was due to land disputes among Aurea's brothers and sisters. One family told us our land was in a certain place, so we had the community well drilled there, a bridge built and other improvements made. After those projects were completed, they told us it was their land. We hired surveyors to establish the correct boundaries and now our land is correctly identified and our projects safe. However, their  greed and dishonesty affected and delayed us. That is an isolated case, as most people here are quite trustworthy and honest.

We face challenges every day, just as you do. However, we feel blessed to be given this opportunity to serve God in a very unique place and manner. In some mission fields, missionaries from numerous denominations pursue similar goals, sometimes in outright competition with one another. We are the only outsiders serving this community, this people group, and meeting very unique needs. I should not, however, labels us "outsiders," as we have been welcomed into this community as if we truly belong here. We tell people this our home; we are not returning to America; we will serve and die here. That means a lot to our constituency. It builds trust, confidence, and sets expectations traditional missionaries would find difficult to achieve. A common question when we meet someone new, is "how long will you be here - when will you go back to America?" They are usually shocked when we explain we are here as long as we live.

Many of you have contributed financially and in prayer to this ministry, and we trust you will continue doing so. Our family is self-supporting. We built our home here, purchased our pickup, truck, tractor, farm equipment, shop equipment and more with our personal retirement savings. So every cent we receive from our partners goes directly to ministry (food for the school lunch program, school supplies, fuel, seed, fertilizer, medicine, food for the elderly, community well, etc.). As you are able and led of God to help, we are grateful. The Datu Wali Mission Foundation is approved by the IRS as a non-profit organization and we acknowledge gifts with receipts certifying them as tax-deductible. If you are interested in giving, please see the Contact DWM page on this Web site for the U.S. address for donations and make your checks out to "Datu Wali Mission Foundation."

I have been working with our hosting service for weeks to try and resolve the problem. It is difficult doing so across different time zones. They have not been able to duplicate the problem, but of course they are not here in the jungles of the Philippines trying to duplicate it. I'm putting the pressure on them and praying it will be resolved soon. In the meantime, I hope enough of our friends and family check this Web site and see this note.

Our status here is positive. We are in good health. We are very busy. I have been preaching in our church more often, as our pastor was in Korea for awhile. I will preach again on Sept. 23, on the subject of hell -- what it is, and what it is not.

The lunch program at Kipalkuda school received a flurry of media attention lately. The largest television news network in the Philippines sent a reporter and crew to the school about 3 weeks ago. They interviewed myself, the principal, and the mayor, but the focus of the coverage turned out to be on me and our work here. The network pieced together at least 4 different feature stories on it and broadcast it on different programs on different days. A radio station also did interviews and a story, plus a newspaper (Daily Inquirer) did a long story on Sept. 9. I am now recognized everywhere we go in General Santos City, as the American on TV who is helping children in Maitum. So, although unexpected, the coverage has been positive and good. And, more people are offering to help in small ways.

Our big truck is tarped and ready for bench seats. A local government unit offered to provide us with the lumber for seats and we are waiting to receive it. We will begin transporting children to school as soon as it's ready.

We had to have our land surveyed to settle some boundary disputes. The findings are favorable to us, so we are pleased. We will now mark the boundaries with permanent concrete pylons and string fence wire. The dispute has delayed start of our farming operation. Others were mistakenly (and intentionally) using our land, and I did not want to risk tilling someone else's land.

We built an equipment shed a couple of weeks ago to protect the farm equipment, and we installed our diesel fuel tank yesterday. We will now arrange for fuel to be delivered to the farm. We will have to purchase 1000 liters at a time, which is nearly $800 worth. That will be a painful purchase, but it will give us a secure fuel supply, which will be needed when the big truck is operating on the school route twice a day, and the tractor is busy in the fields.

We continue to assist children and elderly T'bolis right here on the farm. Several of the elderly come to us for rice. We had a tribal lady cross the river early this morning to ask for cash for medications for her children, one of which will die without it. We keep a supply of rice here just for these needs, plus we dole out cash from our own pockets as we are able.  Most people come to us in shame, but we treat them kindly and warmly and try to put ourselves in their position (I can't say shoes, because they don't wear them).

Jennifer is doing well in school. Aurea is well, but continues to suffer from Migraines. I try to keep her out of the sun, but she is stubborn. I am well. We would like to take a day off and do nothing but rest and relax, but it seems so difficult. We work 7 days a week, from before dawn to early evening. But, we know we are doing the Lord's work and that makes all the difference.

I mentioned months ago our plan to conduct a community praise and worship event for Maitum. There were many delays in getting that organized, but it is now on the calendar for Oct. 27 at 3:00 PM. We are rehearsing the musicians and looking forward to a first-of-its-kind event here. It will be in the town gymnasium and it could attract 1,000 or more people. You can pray for this event. I have earned the respect of people in this region, and I'm well known. Now is our opportunity to share spiritually with them.

To those of you who have stood by us through prayer and financial assistance faithfully through this long period of silence: THANK YOU for your faithfulness. The lunch program costs are approaching $700 monthly. We can't do it alone and we appreciate your help.

Please write to us. We continue to receive e-mail, despite our challenges in transmitting.

U.S. departure delayed
November, 2006

Dan's recovery from back surgery, plus the enormity of things that must be done to complete our relocation, has delayed our final departure from the U.S. for one month. The shipping company is now scheduled to load us up on Jan. 2. We intend to fly to the Philippines on or about Jan. 4.

Summer of preparation
Summer-Fall, 2006

The process to relocate to the Philippines continued, with many of the legal and logistical steps taken to make it possible. Contracts were signed with a shipping company, the DWM farm equipment was acquired and the house prepared to sell. During this period, the RV and truck will be sold along with possessions that are not practical in the Philippines. Dan and Aurea continue to present DWM to U.S. friends and churches. 

In September, Dan had back surgery that corrected two cervical herniated disks and fused those vertebrae. He continues to recover from that. 

A specific date for the Evans’ U.S. departure was set. The shipping company will load up on Dec. 1. We need to hire someone to drive us to Los Angeles on or about Dec. 3. We will fly to the Philippines from there. If you are in our area and interested in helping to get us from Phoenix to L.A., please contact us. We are taking with us the maximum allowable luggage. The feeder airlines do not allow as much as the international carriers, plus Dan will still be unable to lift much following his surgery. We need someone (probably two capable men) with a substantial vehicle (i.e. van) to drive us to the curb at the international terminal and help transfer our luggage and large boxes to the check-in desk. Upon arrival in General Santos City, we can hire porters and a driver to assist us. 

Completion of construction on our village home is anticipated for December or later. Meanwhile, we will live in interim housing in Maitum.

Evans U.S. farewell tour
July-August, 2006

We spent July traveling through the western U.S. saying goodbye to family and friends. 

This was emotionally difficult, as many of these friendships have spanned decades or even Dan’s lifetime. Some of our friends are elderly or not well, making it likely that the goodbyes exchanged in July, are our final goodbyes.  

We are hopeful that some friends or family members might one day find themselves in our village home for a visit. However the ever-shifting peace and security conditions in the Philippines, and Mindanao in particular, will determine that possibility. 

Finally, the steps we are taking to transform our lives from a very comfortable and well-financed American lifestyle, to serving in full-time, self-supported ministry, make it unlikely that we can return to the states except for emergency or legally-required purposes. Once we depart the U.S., it will also be very difficult for Aurea and Jennifer to return, due to immigration laws. The permanent residency visas (green cards) they earned last year require them to spend a significant part of each year in the U.S.. Our mission work and our finances will not make that feasible. We will investigate the possibility and pray that the U.S. will grant them multiple-entrance visitor’s visas, but others in similar circumstances have been refused. 

If we were unable to see you during our farewell tour, please know that you are loved and appreciated. It was simply impossible to see everyone in one month. To those who graciously hosted our visit, allowed us to park our RV in front of your house or otherwise spent time with us, thank you.

Home construction arranged
June, 2006

We returned as a family to the village in June to arrange construction of our home and do other legwork related to our relocation and mission project. Contractors were secured and plans finalized. Our relocation from the U.S. to the Philippines was tentatively set for mid-November.

DWM presented to Philippine officials
February, 2006

A February trip to the Philippines by Dan and a friend from Phoenix, Martin Garman, had been planned in December, before Dan learned of his lay-off from Bank of America. The purpose was two-fold: make a more formal presentation of the DWM vision to Aurea’s extended family, and introduce Martin to the Philippines. Upon learning of Dan’s layoff in January and realizing that the DWM ministry would begin within the year, the trip became even more important.  

A family friend in the Philippines pre-arranged for Dan to meet the provincial governor for 15 minutes in his capitol office. Upon learning the purpose of Dan’s visit and hearing a brief overview of DWM, Sarangani Province Governor Miguel Dominquez decided instead to travel to Maitum to spend an evening with Dan. 

Dan and Martin left for the Philippines two days before Dan’s official last day of active employment. Dan took with him his laptop computer and a presentation on DWM. On his first day on the ground, he was taken to the provincial capitol and introduced to numerous government officials and elected representatives, including the head of the Dept. of Agriculture. In the week that followed, Dan spent time with numerous regional mayors and other officials. His meeting with the governor earned him and DWM recognition as the province’s NGO (non-government organization) partner in Maitum targeting the nutritional, educational and health-care needs of the village and T’boli tribe. Pledges of support and technical assistance were made by a number of agencies and individuals. Many friendships and partnerships were developed in those meetings.

Finally, satisfying the original purpose of the trip, Dan was able to present the DWM vision to Aurea’s family, winning their enthusiastic support and cooperation in the establishment and operation of the mission. 

During this visit, Dan was briefed on a problem at a predominately T’boli elementary school. Kipulkuda Elementary is part of the public school system and is located at the foot of a mountain range in which many groups of the T’boli tribe live. Dan was asked his advice in solving some of the problems operating the school. Exciting details can be found on this Web site under Current Projects.

Career change
February 15, 2006

Unexpected developments with Dan’s job at Bank of America result in his lay-off from the company effective February 15. 

When we said “yes” to God’s call on our lives to eventually serve as the founders and directors of the Datu Wali Mission, we presumed it would occur after Dan’s retirement, which wasn’t expected for another 5-10 years. Upon learning of the lay-off, we immediately recognized an open door and God’s intention to commence our DWM ministry. Dan’s 33+ year career with Bank of America ended and a new life of full-time ministry began. 2006 has been dedicated to preparing to transition from life in the U.S., to life in the Philippines.