Hope For The Island

Author: Andrey Siganur

  • Scholarship

    These five scholars are moving up another grade. Qualified Hope for the Island scholars are required to be an active part of Hope programs. They are also taught how to give back by serving whether it is raking leaves, planting or pulling weeds at Hope for the Island property.

    The scholars gather at Hope on a Saturday for a few hours to serve. This an opportunity for our Hope team to connect with them.  

    These girls have been active at Hope For The Island since they were very little. A few of them also volunteer in our Kids Ministry on Saturdays after or before their community work. We are so proud of these girls and we are honoured to partner with them in their education process. 

    Congratrulations Jiezel-ann (Diwa)  a graduate of Grade 12 and one of our Scholars. She graduated from grade 10 a few years ago and decided to go back and finish grade 11 and 12 to get more skills and open up more opportunities for her future.  We are so proud!

    Diwa and her sister used to show up at Hope in the early years. They needed food and soon became part of our Hope family.

    We are so proud of these girls as they rose out of their circumstances and made education their priority. These 4 girls graduated from Grade 10! It’s a privilege to be involved in their lives since they were in Elementary. Currently, they are an active part of our weekly Youth and Scholarship programs. Now that they have graduated, they will take grade 11 and 12.  In the final grades of high School in Siargao Island, students have an opportunity to gain skills they can help them in the work force one day. I am so happy that because they are also so active at hope for the Island, wonders hip scholars like these are also being trained in the word of God and also through discipleship.  Thanks for your prayers for the scholars, they are now on summer holidays till June. 

    The two girls above are proud to displays their  “Graduated with HONOURS Certificate”

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  • Cristina Shares

    When I responded to the call of God to be more equipped and be able to help destitute people by His glory, God did not disappoint me by using people to support my schooling in social work field. Indeed I am thankful that God is so faithful in giving me His grace and favor by passing the entire major subjects with a general average of 1.25 a total of 95% I am humbled that it was God who has given me the knowledge and strength to overcome all the required major subjects in social work profession. I know I am on the right track.

    I have learned that if God will call you to do something for His glory He will not leave you alone. He will be by your side at all times. He will provide everything that you need. That was my experience with all the sleepless nights studying to be more enhanced and effective in the field of social work. I became more in love with being a registered social worker and doing the best that God wants me to be. I am dreaming that finally I am in my last year of schooling; indeed nothing is impossible with my God whom I serve. 

    My knowledge in social work field will be what helps those destitute people. My heart really is for the welfare of the voiceless people such as children, who are abused in any way, young people who are in crisis situations and older people who need our help, but how can we help them if our heart is closed and our eyes are blind? God is so good. He wants me to reach out to them, to help them be independent and self-sufficient so they can stand on their own.

    This year will be my final year in my schooling, I will be assigned to a mental health facility, although it will not be easy to handle clients with mental health problem but I know for sure God has a purpose. For sure challenges will arise upon my way but I do believe God is my strength. I will take it as my training ground to enhance my capabilities and at the same time minister to the family and even to the clients, who are in a mental health situation.

    I am humbly asking for your prayers and support that God will give me the strength to do and obey His will.

    Blessing:

    Cristina Espanto

  • Children Challenged

    It is summer on Siargao Island. It can reach 33+ Celsius everyday. We look for shady areas to do all ministries.

    Hope Kid’s Ministry leaders have been very creative getting the kids to read God’s Word by having a Memory Verse Contest. The teachers gave the kids in seven different villages a page of memory verses.

    These verses are directly related to their identity in Christ as well as key verses about God’s love for them. The children worked on memorizing these verses for three weeks. They then presented the verses and were awarded books from our Hope Community Library. 

    We have also had a book exchange program. Up to six books were given to each child. A week later, during Kid’s Ministry they exchanged books with each other. It was a huge success!

    We decided to give books to the kids for memorizing scripture as well.  One of the moms admitted, “I don’t know as many Bible verses as the kids do.” These children can have a positive influence in their home and community.

    Continue to pray for the children in our ministries to the seven villages near Hope For The Island. There are so many distractions in their little lives that can pull them down a sinful path. The Word of God is the one truth that leads them down the road to future glory with Christ!

  • 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.