The truth is since we returned with 2 babies I have have found it difficult to find the time to sit down and write a "proper newsletter"!We have just been doing quick updates on Facebook and emails here and there! As for my busy hubby, well he is gifted writing songs- not newsletters :)
So I thought I would take advantage while our 2 boys are napping to write something. I went to find the newsletter template to remember that it was on my lap top which recently crashed and nothing could be retrieved. So I figured from now on we will just use the blog for quickness sake. Thank you so much for every individual who continues to partner with us and the ministry in prayer, giving and volunteering.
Our New Home
So many of the Churches we visited were praying about us finding the right home so will just quickly tell how God answered they prayers....
When we returned in June kind friends let us stay in their home for one month. In that month it felt like we looked at every apartment and house in Manila. We had 3 days to go and still had no place to live. We just had no peace about the ones we saw. They were either too far from Tondo or too expensive. That day we looked at an apartment and decided that if we couldn't find anywhere else then we would take the one bedroom apartment, with good space and in a safe area. It had a little play area near by and was about one hour drive from Tondo. It was nice but we had specifically been praying for somewhere to meet other mum friends and some kind of outdoor for the boys to get let loose in. The next day a friend of Ron's text and offered to show us around an area just at the border of Manila. When we got there the first thing I noticed was a swing park- an actual swing park! In living here 6 years I have only ever seen one proper swing park in Manila! Our friend took us to a house which had been for sale but that had just been put up for rent. A 3 bedroom house in a good area with a mini garden and... the swing park at the end of the street!! The owner brought down the price to within our budget so easily and the next day we moved in!!
It's just a house, somewhere to live but I got so blessed thinking about how our Father God even cares about the small things. I feel so thankful every time I see Josiah playing out in the street with other children. God even answered our prayer to get connected with other mums in the area. We had no clue that when we moved here that there are lots of other missionary couples who live close by. We have even had a few play dates :)
Thank you Visitors
Since we returned we have had lots of great overseas volunteers:
4 guys from "the Broch" Fraserburgh who came with the mission to elevate our main hall above the flood waters giving the Tondo community one flood free space. ANSWERED PRAYER. This is the first year we have not had to cancel one single thing due to toxic waters covering feet. The water still penetrates through the floor and in the door BUT we are all ABOVE it! What a gift to all the team who for the last 6 years have continued to minister with stagnant human waste filled water squelching though our feet.
6 young women from Kilmarnock got involved in everything from murals, wound care, hospital trips, outings with toddler, community concerts, teaching English...... and you get the picture- pretty much all rounders :)
We were so thankful and encouraged by friends from Peterhead. The Philppines is their second home and they understand the culture and the heart of mission so well. The Strachans came at the right time to pray with us and spend time with us.God really used them to minister strength and encouragement to us. It always amazes us how God makes paths cross. Friendship is a precious thing
New Things
- Food For School/Packed Lunch Program
Daily feeding for 100 extra children a day in Tondo and Navotas. This feeding is specifically for children and young people struggling to stay in school because the family cannot afford to buy them lunch.It is answered prayer for us to be able to daily provide 100 packed lunches to help them get through school.
- Daily Wound care
EVERY DAY around the dump site area there are children who get wounds on their feet from walking on glass and other sharp objects hidden in the garbage. Wounds on their hands from working on or playing in it. Wounds on their heads from cuts or insect bites that get infected from the dirt and intense heat. This week we are starting to offer wound care 2 hours every day in the community instead of just on the weekends. We pray to extend it even more, but we feel God asking us to start what we can do....
Young Leaders
Every Thursday we have started more intensive training with young leaders. One of our main challenges just now is needing more full time workers. A Thursday session is specifically for young people who are not in school but who we see leadership potential in. The aim is simply to equip them more to lead in various areas of the work. We have been so encouraged by the way they have responded.
These leaders along with our other volunteers have re-launched our kids clubs. We got feed back from them that it was becoming to difficult to deliver high quality activities because of the problem of "too many children". Often between 300- 400 children. So a few weeks ago we made a decision to put an age limit on the clubs as we use to back in the early days! 5-7s and 8-12s (just the Saturday session) It has been working well so far. Less children but the team have been able to deliver more focused activities and more importantly build relationships.
This year we came to a point that in ourselves we really didn't want to start anything new as we wanted to concentrate on sustaining what was already going on. But as always our Abba knows the needs in the community much more than us and sometimes we find just a deep urgency to meet a particular need. This has happened on a few occasions over the last couple of months. Who are we to say " its not a great time Lord" or "we are all already so busy"?!! We are truly thankful and blessed at how God directs us often through the members of the community leaders. The reality is we can never fully understand what life is like there. Our staff and volunteers live it and when we leave at the end of the day, they stay. Its is not only their work, mission or community. It is their home. It is there life. There are many days when we weep when they weep and laugh when they laugh, but only God fully sees what each one faces. We are just to proud not only to call them team, but family. They are the heros. We want to shout and boast about how God is using them in their communities.
Our prayer is that he continues to lead all of us to show his love to the Ones who need it most.
Fires and floods
Within a month of each other both Tondo and Navotas suffered fires and floods. We focused more on Navotas this time since there were many other organizations and government help for the Tondo fire victims. We were the only ones assisting in the Navotas Community. 53 families ran from there homes as a raging fire tore through their homes. Most of them lost everything.
We responded by doing daily feeding at the evacuation centre, relief bags of clothes, shoes and toiletries, grocery giving. As of now there are still 17 families living at the evacuation area. They have just been informed that they have to leave there by the end of October. Our plan is to help build their houses. If you feel led to give into this project or want information on how you could help sponsor a house build please email us kalayaancommunityminsitries@hotmail.com
Because we felt these needs were immediate we decided to postpone our annual October youth camp until December. The youth graciously agreed!
In spite of the loss we met some amongst the fire victims who mentioned nothing of their lack, but instead praised and thanked Jesus for everything they had in Him. Mind blowing and challenging!
At the first evacuation site for the families from Navotas we met a lady who had a huge stomach. We thought she was 9 months pregnant.After Ron spent time with her we found it was a tumor. The doctors told her she needed an operation that would cost P40,000- almost 600 pounds. Ron and Ptr Dodong prayed by faith that in the name of Jesus she would be healed. Her belly began to shrink 2 weeks later and she returned to the doctors who gave her the all clear and told her "there is nothing wrong with you" God still heals!
Prayer Points:
-The Kalayaan team of staff and volunteers
-Raising up of more leaders
-Provision for the sustainability of all our programs
-Continued recovery for Ate Vivean one of our volunteers who was hit by a truck and left for dead. She is now out of hospital but still unable to move her arm and in a lot of pain
-Wisdom while we plan an extension of our feeding program to the most malnourished in the Tondo Community
Recently we have met some families where they have need greater than we have ever seen. More than the physical needs, which we must respond to, we have been struck by the hopelessness in their words and even body language. We KNOW that Jesus is the answer.
We are desperate to see Gods love and light just explode in that place.
This is a kind of all over the place update, but please feel free to email us anytime for updates on any particular area of the ministry. We can't always respond as fast as we would like but we really love hearing from you!
"Then the Children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out, and their cry came up to God because of bondage, so God heard their groaning and God remembered" Exodus 2:2-3
Praying for you all, your work, your family and your team. May God continue to bless all you do and you see his signs and wonders all around you.
ReplyDeleteWith our love and prayers
Sue and Stan
May God continue to bless your work, your family and your team. We pray that you will continue to see signs and wonders from Him and we ask for His protection on you all.
ReplyDeleteWith our love and prayers
Sue and Stan x