Hope For The Island

Month: July 2015

  • My Name Is Ching

    The following is a testimony that was shared by Ching in her own words at our Hope for the Island Mothers’ Day ministry time.

    Before I was a Christian, I know in my life there is God, but I don’t have faith in Him. I didn’t mind having God in my life. I lived a life that follows and does all that I want to do in my life. I don’t care about other people, and I don’t even care if I hurt other people and even my own family. In short, I used to live without Christ and I followed what my flesh want. With all of these deep in me I don’t have peace. Most of the times I don’t understand my life and anything happened in my life I blame God.

    I thank God that He had given me a chance to know Hope for the Island and had a chance to join their ministry. Since I join Hope, that’s how I started hearing God’s word and learning the truth. They keep reminding me about the Word and letting me know that what God is looking is our heart if we have relationship with Him. By God’s help and having devotion everyday slowly I understand what is the truth and blaming God because of all things that happened to me is totally a mistake. There I found out that God never failed me, it was me who stays away from God. Those time I realized the reason I don’t have peace is because I don’t have a relationship with God. Having a relationship with God is the best thing that ever happened to my life.

    One day I decided to be baptized knowing that my life is now own by God, no one pushed me to be
    Now, I could say I’m a change person and now I am always on guard and being sensitive if I’ve done wrong or not. I could now sense the works of the Holy Spirit in me. And I am careful not to entertain the works and lies of satan.

    I thank God for His love and forgiveness that I experienced. Now, I am experiencing the real joy and I have peace within me.
    Picture cooking
    I could say, there is no impossible with God, before I was a sinner now I am a renewed person. I am grateful for everything that God has done in my life and also with what He is doing now with me and with my family. I am happy serving God.

  • Philippines Facts

    National Bird- Philippine Eagle                                                         National Fish – Bangus

    Caribao Cooling Off
    Caribao Cooling Off

    National Animal – Caribao

     


    National Flag Consists of an 8 rayed sun- three golden stars- a red stripe & blue stripe- a white triangle
    The white color represents peace & purity
    The red stripe represents courage and bravery
    The blue stripe is for noble ideals
    The sun represents the beginning of a new era of self-determination
    The 8 rays stand for the 8 provinces that rose in revolt against Spanish rule in the late 19th century.
    The 3 stars stand for 3 principal geographic areas Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao
    In wartime the red stripe will be on the top. In peacetime the blue stripe will be on top.

  • Salamat – Thank You

    We ship a variety of items from Canada to Hope for the Island as donations are given. Our giveaways in the western world are a treasure and blessing for others.


    Precious seniors do the backbreaking work of hammering large rocks into golf ball sized stones that are used for construction projects. They earn 18 pesos (50 cents) per sack. Glasses such as those donated provide protection for their eyes from flying rock shards

    The word got out quickly that reading glasses had arrived at Hope for the Island. Swarms of people came to Hope. They keep trying on glasses until they found a pair that worked for them.


    Many can now read and expressed thanks to God! One woman was so thankful because she normally strains to read her Bible each day and can now read clearly.


    As part of our Mercy Ministry, rice and dehydrated veggies provisions are also distributed weekly to the elderly, widows or those who are ill in the community surrounding Hope for the Island. These basic provisions are sometimes the only food they have to eat.

  • Bakbak – Welcome to the Island

    We have had over 100 people minister alongside us this past year. Mission teams and individuals enjoy ministering to the kids and youth who come to Hope for the Island from surrounding communities.

    Teaching new games and activities is always fun and a great way to connect with the locals. A visiting YWAM Mazatlan team decided to do things a little different. Instead of them teaching us games, we taught them a local game called Bakbak. The finale was a competition of kids versus the team. The only item needed to play is a pair of chinelas or flip-flops and an open area.

     

    People here are amazingly resourceful. Kids will take what is available and develop a toy or game that can entertain for hours. Bakbak is one of many games passed on from one generation to the next. With the use of balance, technique, accuracy and strength, the team challenge is to be the first to work their way through twenty challenges.

    Teamwork is essential and the Bakbak competition was a great way to introduce and celebrate local ingenuity. Kids generally have great balance and are very flexible. There was a lot of laughter as the team struggled and contorted to compete. The day ended with great worship and teaching sessions.