Three years, what can happen in three years. Well in the case of our family a lot. Three years ago today we had just left the US to move and start our mission in the Philippines. That ministry has become what God wanted it to be and he has proved that it is his ministry and we are just the vessels he is using. We started out saying we wanted to cater specifically to true orphans. and the first sibling group of three that came that was true. Those three ultimately decided to move with other family and made there choices. The sibling group we have currently are not true orphans but needed the help and God chose us to help. These children are pictured below. You all know their story I think. I will give a brief summary if you don't. We where told about a sibling group by some church friends that where extremely malnourished and may benefit from the ministry. On January 2, 2016 we went to see the mom to see what help we could provide. We did not have any plans to bring them home that day but just to see the situation. When we arrived Andrew and Mark where at the house alone and Mark was crying because he had a poop diaper. it took ten minutes after we arrived for the older sister to arrive and then she went to find mom. At some point in that time Mickaela arrived also. The kids where so sick and needed immediate care that it was decided by us and the mom that we would take them with us that day. This was late afternoon. Next day we took the long trip to Tagbilaran to find a good pediatrician that could help get us on the right road to get them all healthy. Mickaela was 5 years old and weighed 8 kilos or 17 pounds. Andrew was 2 years old and weighed 10 kilos or a little over 22 pounds. No the numbers are not backwards they are correct. Most of his weight was from worms. Mark was 7 months old and weighed 5 kilos or 11 pounds. They all had worms and where so weak and sick they could barely stay standing. We spent the next two months going back and forth to tagbilaran to the doctor to adjust meds and diets and so forth to find what was needed. Here we are two years later with all of the kids healthy and doing well. Mickaela is now 18.9 kilos or 41.6 pounds. She is still short and we are sure that her growth has been stunted but she is healthy and learning well at school. Andrew is 15.5 kilos or 34.1 pounds. Mark is now 12.2 kilos or 26.8 pounds. It is with all of the support we receive from you that makes this possible. Amazing transformations. It was not an easy road but one full of blessings, learning and struggles. God directed this ministry and still does.
Andrew Two years ago
Mickaela two years ago
Mark two years ago
Mark Today
L to R Mickaela, Andrew and Marah today
We have expanded our ministry to involve youth outreaches and other training seminars. These happen here at our local church and also on others islands. We have a small mission team at our church made up of our family the pastors and some of the young adults. We have done a three day leadership training in Mindanao and we have done youth camps and worship trainings in Negros. We try to do at least two or three youth camps in a neighboring island when invited by the local churches. we also do a two day youth camp at our home church every three to four months.
Our family has changed also. We are in process of adding to our family with the adoption of our son Mark. Our girls have grown and learned so much. They both have learned the language and speak it fluently. Precious sometimes speaks it better than English. Precious has also made the change from homeschool to public school. She is doing very well there and makes great grades. She is 4th in her class of almost 30 students. Faith is completing what she says is her last year of homeschool and is planning to go to the public school next year. She is also doing great in school. She made it her goal at the beginning of the school year to be classmates with Mickaela next year. In order to accomplish that goal she needed to advance through two years this year and she is a month away from completing her goal and she is a month ahead of when the rest of the schools finish class. I speak a few words but not enough to have conversation. I have tried and keep trying but does not come easy for me. We have also started a water refilling business to supplement our income and mostly to support the orphanage when we God calls us to leave here and do something different. We also raise pigs for meat and we have layer chickens. the chickens are coming to the end of their laying years though so will not do those again. A lot of work and not really worth the payout. We will keep raising the pigs for meat. It does not necessarily save a lot of money but we know where they come from and we know what they are being feed and that the meat is fresh.
What's next? That is a question we have to keep asking ourselves and we rely on God to provide the answers. The first thing is we would like to grow our orphanage family. We have room for two to three more kids and are asking God to provide the children but first we have to ask God to provide the support. If we can get more people to support the ministry and get $300 in monthly commitments then we would be able to provide for those additional kids. We would like to continue our youth outreach and training ministry as God provides the opportunity.
Prayer points
- Pray for the licensing we are in process with for DSWD
- Pray for health for all of us. We have all been fighting colds with the rainy season they linger for a long time.
- Pray for more support so we can rescue more kids and love them.
- Pray for the right opportunities for outreach.
- Pray for the adoption process to speed up a little bit.
Thank God with us
- For a successful school year coming to a close in a couple months
- Thank God for a blessed Christmas season.
- Thank God for the blessings in the ministry.
