Mission continues

We are indeed all back to our "routines" in the fine country of East Tennessee now. But wait, there's more.

We went to Cebu with ideas about rescuing kids. We didn't do that in the literal sense. Instead, we followed God's plan for us and what a plan it was! From the relationships formed at youth camp, to the orphanage, to the dumpsite, to the prayer journey down the coast, it seems like a whirlwind week where God kept revealing Himself in what seemed like the least-likely places. Isn't that just like The Big Guy?

We found a wonderful agency in The Lord Who Cares Foundation (our hosts) that is dedicated to educating the teens from the challenging circumstances of poverty so that they have career choices in legitimate service industries. We pray the school year is started well now and that their dreams and direction for a new school facility finds the underwriting it needs.

We found something amiss, however. When a child has been abandoned or orphaned, there are few places that child can go....not enough for the need. Our hearts are guided to help the least of these. We found a vice Mayor who seems prepared to remove all barriers to our continuing to follow God and to begin a foundation that will provide relief, if even for a few children in need. So keep in touch for "The Mission: Continued." Things may change as the official papers are finalized, but for now we are calling the foundation WHY (Wesley Home for Youth) and as you can imagine, the many WHYs of poverty will try to be answered.

Soon to be remodeled:
a possible home for the children

Thanks to all who have followed this Web Log (Blog) and to those who have supported our mission...at least the first part of it. We'll keep you posted on WHY and redirect you to its website when the site is live.

God bless.

Monday

Monday is our last day of work here in Cebu and this is the last post while on project. This morning a team again visited the dumpsite with the intention to meet 12 teenage mothers and their infants and (teach them how to) bathe and care for the babies in a healthy way. We took clothing, soap, shampoo, and first aid supplies.

We served nearly 50 children; essentially until we ran out of clothing and supplies. The need is still so great that we always leave wanting to have done more than we are capable.

This afternoon we have scheduled a Despidida with our hosts as a sort of debriefing and a celebration of our work here. Mitch, Sheryl, and Linda will depart Cebu this evening; Steve, Lynn, Melinda, David, Gini, Chuck, Gail, and Jonathan will depart at dawn on Tuesday. Dustin will remain for a few additional days.

We are all of the heart that this ministry with which we have partnered must continue in our prayers and support and that additional work must be done in cooperation with the local government as they make plans to close this dumpsite and relocate the families and orphans living there.

Sunday

Following worship service this morning, we returned to the dumpsite community of Umapad and distributed food staples to several families, slippers (we call them flip-flops) to children in need of shoes, candy, and some athletic jerseys to a group of young men playing basketball. These acts of kindness are bittersweet indeed. The people are very needy yet we can provide so little. It becomes more and more clear that a sustainable ministry to help break the cycle of poverty continues to be a primary need.

Gail:

Well we went to the dump today.The children were all glad to see us as they were the first day we arrived. It was decided by all of us that what a few families needed most was food,which we brought today. Tomorrow we will be teaching teenage Moms about keeping their children clean and healthy. We will be giving each toddler or infant a set of clothes,shoes,towel and washcloth. Hopefully we can help improve the health of a few of these children. We can only try. It has been difficult knowing where to start because so much is needed. I want to thank everyone so much for all the donations that includes prayers and encouragement. You are a wonderful church;I was drawn to FUMC because of the love and caring I felt at FUMC. I pray that GOD will bless each and every one of you for helping us make a difference.

Melinda:

My experience in the dump today was heartache and joy. My heart ached for these babies because of the filth they live in, because they are so very dirty and they have sores on their bodies and no shoes on their feet. They barely have clothes on and the babies never have on a diaper. They are so neglected. Little tiny kids roam around the dump doing whatever they want. Walking on glass and filth. The smell is horrendous. No child should live this way. It breaks my heart so much. The joy I felt is because, even though these kids live the horrible way they do, they are wonderful to be around. They make me smile and laugh. They inspire me to want to do and be better. It's amazing to see the little kids taking care of the babies. They take care of eachother. Today a little girl who is 10 attached herself to me. She followed me everywhere I went and then she started to hold my hand and didn't want to let it go, and I didnt want her to let it go. She worried about me when we were in the road and a car was coming. She scooted me out of the road. When i bent down and my backpack was touching the ground, she worried about that too. I gave out some food and a few pair of shoes and 6 bracelets today. Its wonderful to give these things and the kids love it, but it's not enough. It's short term. Something more needs to be done to help these beautiful kids. They have so much love to give, if someone would just give them a chance. God wants "us" to take care of his children.

Lets all do a little something to help and our world will be a better place.

Saturday & Sunday morning

Saturday began in a beautiful setting beachside at Boljoon (pronounced something like "bowl hoe on"). A few snorkeled and swam and just enjoyed God's beautiful architecture and breeze.

In the afternoon we split in 3 groups, some going shopping for Sunday's outreach and several folks meeting with the Vice Mayor of Mandaue City.

The meeting with Vice Mayor Carlos Fortuna went very well! God moved in a might way during Our time together. Lynn, Dustin and Mitch, listened as the Government official shared the struggles and hopes of the Filipino People. We offered our help; to partner with him in reaching, nurturing and rescuing the street children. It was agreed that we would form a working relationship that would involve concentration on three fronts: nurture, education and healthcare. A facility is being located and offered to house (in the beginning) 12 street kids / orphans. This will provide long term success instead of short term "bandaid". We will seek local employees to cook and care for the children. The Government will provide free public school and community health care for each child. All of the government "red tape" will be bypassed and our efforts will be streamlined to the front. We will meet again for a field survey with the street kids and the available facilities. We should know by the end of the week the names of the children which can be rescued and have a better idea of the operational side. We figure that our monthly financial costs for EVERYTHING will be about $1,800.00 in American dollars. We are seeking the support and strength from the United Methodist Church here in Cebu. We must think of what to call this ministry: Lynn suggested - WHO - Wesley House Orphanage or WHY - Wesley home for Youth. How exciting. The obivious answer to who is US. Please begin to pray for God's provision through us. God is moving in a mighty way here in the Philippines and in the hearts of his believers. May the American Christians and the church, rise to pray for and seek God's Will in this process. This is the most amazing movement of God that any of us have ever seen - we can't wait to see what the Lord will do!

It is Sunday morning here in Cebu and we are rejoicing with the small steps we have made and the things God is doing through our hands. One final note -- several of our "guys" decided to purchase a Filipino dress shirt called a barong. Here is a picture of them in it doing the "gangsta" poses they learned from the children at the dumpsite. Oh Happy Day.

Friday

It has been a long day in the car. We drove to Boljoon and along the way stopped to worship at Evangel Circle of Friends church in Carcar; mostly to meet with the area pastors and provide them with encouragement. We are so appreciative of the brave souls who introduce people to Christ in an environment that is not friendly to Christians. Chuck, Jonathan, and David were asked, unexpectedly, to lead a few worship songs and they rose to the challenge with gusto. The place was rockin'.

Here, the pastor of the church explains their challenges to worship in a community of non-believers.

We drove a bit further to Argao, which is a lovely, historic town, and met with several more area pastors and toured a church and daycare. These pioneers all welcome our prayers for their ministries.

Friday evening was spent in a prayer meeting with locals in Boljoon. We are housed in a lovely resort and will enjoy Friday night and part of Saturday kicking back at this beach area. As a preview to Saturday, it will be a partial "day off" for most, with Dustin, Mitch, and Lynn heading to meet the Vice Mayor of Mandaue City to ask for support for orphans and street kids in his town. God has blessed us with beauty and peace to surround this brief period of rest.

Mitch

What an incredible day. I've never felt more like a disciple in the New Testament Church - this "missionary Journey" is incredible. The opportunity to travel from church to church and from town to town has been a real blessing. We met with Pastors and encouraged them in their ministry; We also led Worship and held Prayer meetings for individual churches and their fellowships. We have given financially and encouraged the believers. Sounds a lot like what a church should be. We have enjoyed the gifts of each of our team members as they continue to contribute in different ways. God has assembled the "perfect team" for this moment in time. Tonight is a real "sabbath". We are being treated to very comfortable fellowship with our pastor friends from the south. As I post this message, I am staring out over the ocean. We are staying at a resort on the coastal region of this South Pacific island known a Cebu. It is much different than the city, but in all - God is good.

Sheryl:

As we drive and the car is quiet with sleeping boys I am processing. The sadness, the joy, the hunger, the filling, the healthy, the sick - it is Cebu. I feel such a strong tugging from God for these people, but unworthy of the joy and celebration of the call. My life so often doesn't honor the God who loves me. In this place I feel completely free to be myself.....God is in the tiniest of details of our everyday living. Yesterday I heard myself say "He is just the coolest ever!"
For me there is no fear in this place - peace only. No worry of germs, sickness, culture, not being in control....No explanation other than God's presence. I am "wow-ed" by His immeasurable blessings.

Why do we reprimand our visitors when they don't speak our language, culture, etc. We even criticize based on color skin. I truly believe we have forgotten 1st John 4. We need to put this into practice, even beginning with our families and communities. Maybe we aren't called to the ends of the Earth, but we are called to love, show love and preach His love. God, let us be a generation that seeks your face, oh God of Jacob.

Gini

I watch out the window on our journeys and watch the children walking home from school. I wonder where they are going, if they have a home and food to eat before going to bed. If they even have a bed. I pray to God for these children that they may be safe. I pray that they forever feel the arms of the Lord around them.

Thursday

Today is Melinda's birthday. The worship team at Mercy came to “the girl's room” as we were waking and serenaded her with beautiful song to honor God and her special day. It was about a 20 minute concert and really got our day started nicely.

Our workday day began with a morning visit to the preschool at the dumpsite (the same community we visited on Sunday. About 50 children under age 5 are registered and were there to greet us. You see Melinda (it's her day, after all!) with some children above. Note the soulful eyes of the little girl to her side.

We gave the children some treats we had packed earlier and some toy cars for each registered child and a number who came to the center just because there was something going on. Our 3 college guys led the children in singing “Father Abraham” and “O Happy Day.” Three older girls whom we had met last Sunday and had been at camp came to see us and presented several with little gifts and a beautifully written letter.

The conditions at the preschool had us all tearful. Such a crammed space, with filth all around. Above you see pictures of the children and their play equipment. So many of the children had open sores and untended cuts. Many had been unbathed for quite some time and we were told they had no water for bathing. We are planning a return trip to provide some much needed baths and medical aid for some of the wounds. It was obvious after our little "party," that many of the youngest were clothed (without undergarments) only for our visit as we saw them naked in the street as we were driving out.

After a phenomenal meal prepared from fresh seafood, we drove to a mountain village and saw some street vendors and passed out some Bibles to these folks. Above you see a vendor in a road-side stand built from aluminum cans and sand. Pretty good reuse of waste!

For dinner, the chairwoman of Mercy's board of directors entertained us at her mountain home; and we ended the day on a peaceful note.

Pictures from Tuesday & Wednesday

A simple story in pictures of the events during our 2-day camp:

The favorite song for the campers was "O Happy Day." The worship team taught the song, including the movements, early in the camp and the kids requested it be sung at every session. As we walked around on the second day, we'd hear kids singing it almost everywhere!

Each person on the Tennessee team had a role in the various sessions. Above, Mitch has 2 campers in a role-play about kindness.

The songs led by the worship team always got the kids involved. Above, David leading a praise song.

Recreation was also a big part of camp. Here several campers run free in some games with balls and on the bars. It was wonderful to have them enjoy fresh air out of doors in a beautiful setting; much different from their homes in the city.

Another part of the ministry was feeding the kids 3 nourishing meals each day. Here is a group of campers enjoying lunch.

Playing was fun, and sometimes an aggressive move to the basket would bring the rim down. No problem, the kids knew what to do to repair it and let the games continue.




Last picture: A group of campers accepting Christ publicly in front of their friends and community. A heart-warming experience.