Mercy Ministry doesn’t always look the same at Hope for the Island. We recently had the awesome privilege of witnessing twenty-one couples get married. They were living together and had never been joined in holy matrimony.
Please take the time to read Hope staff member Let’s account of how this came about. Two pastors from opposite parts of the world, Pastor Mozo from our island and Pastor Duane Siemens from Winnipeg, Canada, who was here with a team, got to be a part of God’s plan for these men and women.
I have grown up believing that every child deserves a happy home. Being with Hope for the Island for 8 years now, and involved with our Hope for the Island Learning Centre for 5 years, I have encountered many different kids in a variety of difficult situations.
A seed was being planted in my heart every time I heard stories about kids being left alone by mothers who have to work. Some children are born out of wedlock or may not have proper documentations because they don’t have fathers present at birth. Years passed and I still felt nudges in my heart every time I heard of unwed couples with kids.
Last year I met new friends who are now part of our Hope for the Island family. They were Christians but they were not yet married. I did some inquiring and learned that there are so many cases like them. I started praying for them and others in the same situation.
Derek and I discussed my desire to include a Mass wedding as part of our December ministry program. Plans started coming together but 
typhoons hit and Christmas break came and went. It would be a very expensive event and funds were tight with the Staff Mission House construction. We kept praying and trusting God.
In February I utilized Facebook to send out a request to friends for prayer on this desire I could not deny. The next day I was overwhelmed as I received one response after the other. A Christian lawyer friend volunteered his services to handle all legal papers. Most of the funding was also provided by a group in Manila who do mass wedding yearly but were unable this year because of conflicted schedules. They committed that support to help us! Paper work was endless and exhausting. Fulfilling the requirements was difficult because there were many with incomplete personal ID’s and some were illiterate. All of the documentation 
needed to be done in the city. I admit that I became discouraged and tired at times, yet I had God’s peace and His grace was sufficient!
While in Surigao City, one week before the actual date of the mass wedding, I met with a friend. Her passion and expertise is events coordination and preparation. As I shared with her the heart behind this event, she volunteered and committed her team to go to the island to help. Answered prayer!
The Lord blessed the couples with a professional coordinator, a very nice set up, a reception with food, plus counseling for the newly weds from seasoned pastors both here and from abroad.
Twenty-two couples were united before God on March 21! Their relationships were made right before the Lord and became legal and legitimate. Children of these couples were excited because their parents were finally married.
As the procession began and the couple filled our multi-purpose building, I was moved to tears. My dream had become a reality and the name of Jesus was honored!
