In 1947, in the northern part of the country, brothers floated down the Abra River on two rafts to attend a circuit assembly in Vigan, on the coast. At the mouth of the river, they broke up the rafts and sold the lumber in order to buy tickets for the bus that would take them back home to the mountains after the assembly. They brought with them big bags of rice, bundles of wood, sleeping mats, many children, and warm smiles that grew bigger as the assembly progressed. With rice, firewood, an old-fashioned burner, and a sleeping mat, they cared for all their material needs.

In 1989 one family with two children, ages two and four, walked about 40 miles [70 km] from the town of El Nido in Palawan to attend a circuit assembly. It took them two days to walk through jungle where there are few marked trails. As they walked, they had to pluck leeches from their bodies. To make matters worse, it rained continuously for the two days. There were many creeks and rivers that had to be crossed, but there were no bridges. Despite these difficulties, the family arrived safely. How they enjoyed their association with the brothers there!