Hope For The Island

Author: Andrey Siganur

  • The $100 Reno!!

    Leaning HouseThis story is about a fiercely independent 76 yr. old widow who lives alone. Her humble home was leaning precariously on the side of a hill in the village of Burgos. Each typhoon that hit our area only made it worse.

    When we approached Nanay Tanysa about tearing it down, she was concerned that she would have nowhere to go.

    Under the umbrella of our Mercy Ministry, we supplied new and used materials to help make her home more stable. Family and neighbors tore it down and rebuilt on the other side of the road.

    It may not look the way we would imagine, but we are learning that sometimes we have to put our western agendas aside and let locals lead the way.

    We featured Nanay Tanysa in one of our recent blogs sporting her new donated sunglasses. These protect her eyes during long days of breaking large rocks into little pebbles with a hammer. It takes her two days to fill a bag that earns her 18 pesos or 50 cents =$7.50 month!

    Our Mercy Ministry regularly calls on her to spend time praying and developing relationship. We supply her with dried veggies and rice to provide her the energy she needs for rock breaking.

    Your donations help us have the resources in place to make decisions such as this. We are able to provide funding as God leads for a variety of needs. What a joy to see her smile and thank God. This simple blessing gave a sweet elderly lady the dignity and love that she deserves. We give God the glory for His provision.

    The cost to bless this dear senior was about $100! THANK YOU!!!

    Please take the time to click this link and view the 34 seconds of video. It begins with moving day for this independent lady, moves to the view inside her NEW home and finally she poses in the door of her NEW home.

    My New House

  • A Family Challenge

    Thank you for how you have embraced Bags of Hope. Thanksgiving is upon us soon.

    Read how Jesse from Winnipeg has challenged her family for the second year in a row in the following email:

    Hi To all My Family,
    I’m inviting you for our Thanksgiving Celebration. Let’s make it more meaningful.

    WHAT IS THE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION?
    Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks to our LORD for everything that He has done for us and all the trials He carried us though during this year.
    Let’s not forget the true meaning of “Thanksgiving Day”

    REFLECTION:
    Over the years, we have gotten caught up in Holiday tradition and have completely forgotten what brought about the holiday celebration to begin with.
    From time to time we all need to be reminded of the struggles for survival that we experienced.
    But as a Christian let us not forget that there are people all over the world who are facing the same struggle, some people living in a hostile environment; starvation, death by disease, etc.
    But, even through the worst of the worst, God is with us… We as an individual person need to reach out to the people today who are facing these struggles and show them that they too have much to give thanks for no matter what situation they are in.
    We don’t have much, but let the small things make a wonderful experience. It would not only enlighten our kids about the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It would also remind all of us that this special celebration is more than just preparation of a large family meal.Last year during Thanks Giving Day we gave about 18 Bags of Hope instead of having a fancy dinner at the restaurant. (more…)

  • 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.