Hope For The Island

Month: April 2019

  • Hope for the Island Organic Farm

    Hope for the island Organic Farm has been doing great and on a steady income since January. We are so happy with the progress of the farm. The last quarter of 2018 was difficult because our water supply broke and the repair depleted our finances.

    In March we had a closing program for our partnership with the Grade 11 & 12 High School students Organic Production course. It is a volunteer partnership we do with the local high schools nearby. This year 14 students graduated with the skills they need to apply for jobs or start their own Organic farm set up. This initiative set up by Department of Education is changing Siargao Island and saving the future food supply of our Island.

    Pastor Leo, his wife and six kids currently live full-time at the farm. They pour their heart into their work but lately pastor feels a call to pioneer a church in a town near the farm. He still wants to work at Hope for the Island farm but he and his family will move near the church when we can find another full time family or couple t take over the work at the farm.

    There are now twelve flights a day to our island. With the steady demand for fresh Organic veggies from tourists our need for farm workers is vital.

    Recently the Agri-Youth organization of Siargao asked to tour Hope Organic Farm to see what we do and prepare a collaboration for the future . The interest in farming is definitely rising! We are so excited to be a part of this new direction on the Island.

    Continue to pray for Hope Organic Farm as we seek new workers and for guidance as we move forward.

    Finances do not allow for major repairs at this time and our greenhouse is in desperate need of a new roof. We will not be able to purchase a new plastic roof covering until September. God knows this and we ask you to join us in praying for abundant harvests.

  • Health Restoration Program

    From Leah:
    Irene and I had a great time in the community doing our weekly follow up visits with the children in our Health Restoration Program. Irene gave one of the mothers a new Bible. (New Testament Tagalog dialect)
    Within the first week of having the Bible Aileen has read it a lot and she enjoyed our visit because her and Irene talked about what she read. She asked questions as this was her first time ever to read a Bible in her life! Irene and I appreciated how desperate she was to know more about Christ.
    We thank God for the wisdom He gave us. We really had a good time and Irene shared some verses in Tagalog as well that she could reflect on during the next week till we visit again.

    Sally (the woman sitting on the floor) has two sons. Her desire is to attend a Christian church and grow in her faith.
    She shared how she grew up in a broken family. Normally in Filipino culture it really takes awhile to open up about such painful and personal matters. We’re so happy how she felt comfortable to open up to us.
    Her two sons are in our Health Restoration Program and their health is really improving. Sally wants to dedicate her two sons. Pray for her and her family situation.

    Marcelo has been in our program 1 1/2 years and we have questioned why his weight is so slow to increase.
    His mom told us that he is now energetic and loves to play, but when it comes to eating he refuses most veggies.
    He loves powdered milk in rice. He was not gaining weight and didn’t seem to grow much.
    We encouraged the mom not to give up offering veggies. It is a common favourite snack here in Siargao to put powdered milk on rice or powdered chocolate milk. It is not nutritious but is easy cheap and popular with children.
    Marcelo started at was 11.2 kg
    His goal weight was set at 13.4 kg
    Marcelo is now 13:6 kg!!

    During our many visits over the months he has been in our program, we have really been able to disciple this family spiritually. We know the Word has been rooted in their hearts.

    Wow Praise God in this case we don’t just look to the weight of the child but the condition. Before Marcelo was withdrawn and low energy, now he is a bright, active and thriving child.

    Fe is the mother of twin boys.
    One of the boys, Jobert is new in our Health Restoration Program. He is 5 years old and is very thin. He has a hard time swallowing food. His weight is 14 kg. compared to his brother at 17 kg. People always point out the differences in the boys size. One is active and happy while the other appears sickly.

    The father is a farmer and the mother is a housekeeper. In spite of many trials and challenges in life the mother has hope that God will change their lives. She is always willing to have a Bible study. Please pray for these boys.