Hope For The Island

Author: Andrey Siganur

  • Typhoon Consequences

    Typhoon Consequences

    For many weeks now, our staff have been unable to travel to remote areas because of the weather. This hindered our essential weekly follow up visits to the malnourished children we feed. Thankfully we were able to provide ample food to them before the storms rolled in.

    During our latest visit we were saddened to hear the extent of what many families had endured. Boats used by their community for fishing were destroyed and many areas are still impassable by motorcycle because of landslides.

    We learned that the daily meal we provide for one of the children had to be rationed by all. Most of those we feed did not show any progress in overall health or weight as a result. Under normal circumstances, we are firm that the food is designated strictly for the child in need. This was an exception; we affirmed their decision to share provisions.  Replenishing the daily food supply for these kids was timely.  (more…)

  • Take A Look

    In the summer of 2013 Derek, Jenn, Makana & Brison were in North America to share the vision of Hope for the Island.

    A major focus of the trip was to raise funds for a new Mission House. Our old building needed to be demolished.

    Since returning to the Philippines, construction has begun on the new Mission House. Typhoons have made that a challenge as you will see and hear in these videos.

    We are excited with the progress and are sending you links to a series of short clip/updates.

    Video #1 Construction island style.

    This Old House Is Coming Down

    Video #2   Listen carefully (accents & shyness make communication fun!) as the foreman and our maintenance man share the challenges they face. Also see the new building going up…

    Mission House Update

  • The Van Ryckeghem Family Update

    From Elaine Van Ryckeghem

    So many of you faithfully prayed, called, donated funds and encouraged us as a family and ministry during this time. Thank you!!
    On Sunday our church family anointed and prayed over Brian & I on behalf of Derek, Jenn, Makana & Brison. If we looked at the circumstances as is human to do, it can be very discouraging. Against the backdrop of the finished work of Jesus Christ, we have strength to face what comes at us.
    We believe that before the enemy could finish his plan prayer warriors were in action.
    From Jenn:
    Our family is so blessed to have had such great love and prayer support from you. God has shown Himself faithful through these trying times!
    I have internalized my stress over the last month. The torrential rains of monsoon season are generally hard on me emotionally, but the devastation from recent storms took it to another level for me.
    After years of hard work at the Hope for the Island farm, we were finally making some great progress only to be set back. Seeing the destruction and effect on our farmers, as well as the local rice farmers, really affected me.
    I knew I was stressed and not in a good place mentally, but I was unaware that it was affecting my health. Daily frustrations with no electricity and the resulting lack of communication, limited food, non-stop rain and wind, plus all the destruction piled up on me.
    Homeschooling my kids through this roller coaster time brought my emotional state even further down. Keeping up with projects and research have been challenging with constant Internet interruptions. I developed a pattern of negative thinking that I could not snap out of. I felt I was letting my kids down. Close friends were praying for me, but for the most part I struggled on my own.
    The following devotion couldn’t have been timelier.
    “Satan really takes advantage of homeschoolers. When you jump into something different, such as teaching your own children, you become susceptible to his attacks of doubt and fear. Unsure of your abilities, you second-guess your decisions and desperately look for affirmation and direction. Added to those doubts are questioning remarks and comments from those who don’t homeschool, and soon you begin to think, “I could really mess up my children’s lives if I do this wrong!” The multiple battlefronts of spiritual, emotional, and physical attacks call for reinforcement from the Lord. Only His divine strength, wisdom, and power can counteract.” (more…)

  • Once Again

     

    With over a week of no communication, we here in Canada suspected that yet another storm had hit Hope for the Island. We received this update from Derek.

    Although not getting the international media attention of a super typhoon, we just experienced more than three weeks of very strong winds and non- stop torrential rains. We were unable to communicate because electrical lines and the tower used for cell phones and Internet was down.

    Tropical Depression “Agaton” moved very slow and covered a large area spanning the entire Visayas and Mindanao regions. Winds were steady and directly hit us at 65 km/hr. from the north. Rainy season is generally hard, but nearly a month of that weather felt unbearable at times.

    Absolutely everything was wet! Even the walls inside our buildings looked like we threw buckets of water on them. We had to mop floors in our home every hour to prevent flooding. All trees were stripped of leaves and branches. Roofs and walls of simple structures were damaged.   Before we were able to finish all the repairs at our farm, we were again facing flooding and wind damage estimated to be around $600 USD. Neighboring rice farms have extensive damage with most losing their entire rice crop due to flooding.
     (more…)

  • Youth Ministry

    Hope for the Island celebrated Christmas with 87 youth who faithfully attend our weekly ministry.  They really look forward to having a Christmas party, getting all dressed up, dances and dramas, eating good food and most of all having good fun.  They convinced Kuya (older brother) Derek to play the part of baby Jesus. It was a great evening! Because of your gently used donated clothing and other gifts, the youth each took home a blessing.  Something so simple has such an impact on them.  

     

    The youth are loved and made to feel part of a family at HOPE. It is a safe place where they can come as they are. Our group has been talking about hardships in life – how they affect us and how we can face them – how God desires to be our shelter, helper, comfort, strength and guidance. We discussed how we can come to Him and cry out and even how we can grow as a result of trials.
     (more…)