Hope For The Island

Month: September 2013

  • Learning Centre

    From Jing:

    As head teacher, I am very much grateful to God. He has always been our strength and our teacher and knows what is best for this ministry. He is always at work and we want to be sensitive in our response so as to see fruit and growth.

    God reveals Himself in simple ways to children and they have grown to understand Him as a good Father that loves them. Parents testify how happy they are with our school. Students learn academics but also about Jesus, the name above all names.  Students are applying what they have learned at school in their homes. They are taking the lead giving thanks before even a simple meal at their house. They remind their parents what God’s Word says during trials. Their parents are proud of them and God is using them mightily! Some students live in an environment that is not Christ centred. One or both parents may not be Christians or may be new in their faith. Parents testify that when their children hear someone cursing or they witness their father drunk, their response now is to pray and repeat what they have learned from their teacher and God’s Word.

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  • A Faithful Servant

    It is hard to know where to start and how to put words to the mix of emotions I have for God’s faithful hand of guidance and provision. Serving Him is amazing! It is really an honour to have been with Hope for the Island for 10 years and 3 months. The ways I have encountered God in this ministry I will treasure in my heart forever.

    Back 10 years ago, before the day I graduated from Bible School, I prayed that God would send and use me in a simple and peaceful place. God answered that prayer when Derek and Jenn invited me to help pioneer Hope for the Island.  The beginning days were filled with struggle. The ministry was birthed by faith. Each day we trusted God to meet our needs and lead us. Although it was a beautiful place it was also dark spiritually. The area God provided for Hope for the Island was known as a place of bad spirits and many people were afraid.

    Many of the stories people shared discouraged me and caused me to consider leaving and not turn back. By God’s grace and strength, we persevered and it became my training ground. It was training for ministry and for all areas of my life.

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  • Joy Joy Update

    We apologize for the quality of these pictures sent from the hospital. The family is still in Cagayan de Oro where they travelled to seek medical care and a diagnosis. Our desire is to help you get a visual, as poor as it may be, of this precious young lady as she faces the fight of her life.

    After speaking by telephone to JoyJoy’s mother and the doctor, we have some new information.  The MRI shows that the tumor is approximately 6cm on the right side of her brain.  To complicate matters, she has hydrocephalus, which is a build up of fluid deep within the brain. This is the cause of her blindness and impairs her ability to walk and function. (more…)

  • JoyJoy and Lino Update

    The day we arrived home we quickly made our way to visit JoyJoy. She was so excited when she heard our motorcycle pull up. She was loudly calling for Makana and Brison to come quickly.

    We were all amazed how joy radiated from her face despite the fact that she is now blind and unable to walk.  She praised God that she has no pain even though doctors told her the pain would increase as the tumor grows.   It was incredible to witness the presence of God in JoyJoy as she expressed the increase of love and faith she has in God. Each day she worships, prays and listens to the Word of God.

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  • Bottles For Board Shorts

    I have been passionate about Hope for the Island since my first visit in 2003. After marrying my husband, Shawn, in 2008 I talked about it enough to convince him to take a look for himself. In 2009 the two of us traveled to the Philippines for 3 weeks. Shawn is passionate about surfing and was delighted to surf with the local guys and even with Derek. I believe he was in the water so often that his neck needed some serious chiropractic work when we got home! His passion for Hope for the Island was ignited and we were now stronger together.

    When we returned home we had a group of friends and family over to talk about our trip and some needs of the ministry there. A generous friend was able to buy a new truck for Hope for the Island and others have become very committed to helping us ship boxes of supplies. My husband was never very excited about shipping food, school supplies or other necessities. His heart was still with the surfers and he wanted to find a way to pour into them.

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