Category: Mercy Ministry

This 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

Reflection from Michele:
On my third journey to Siargao and second to Hope for the Island, I rode with my big traveling back pack and balikbayan box on a motorbike, stopping on the side of the road filling up with gasoline measured out per liter via a glass Coca-cola bottle. It was nice to breathe the fresh air and see palm tree forests on my way to the Hope Organic farm, the beginning of a month-long stay with the Hope for the Island family. I was looking forward to a change from working in San Diego, California, in the medical field as a physician assistant and was excited to learn more about the area medical needs, surf some warm water waves with the locals and share the stoke of knowing Jesus Christ.
Earlier this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Derek, Jenn, Ate Let and all those at Hope for the Island as a return trip to Siargao to check out the Cloud 9 surf break. As part of the Christian Surfers family, our desire to serve comes along with our search for good surf.

Prior to flying out to Siargao, I had connected with the Van Ryckeghem family and they welcomed my mother, brother and me for a 3-day stay. We brought them some medicine and medical supplies. It was great seeing a glimpse of what Hope for the Island was doing for Burgos and the other areas in Siargao. After my short time there, I knew I would return and God definitely opened doors for me to do so and for one month!

Medically, I had the opportunity to help with the Hope for the Island’s Mercy Ministry and work alongside one of the local doctors at the town’s Rural Health Unit (RHU). I went out with Ate Let and a few of the other girls to visit some of the malnourished kids in Burgos and Del Carmen, We brought much needed food and hygiene supplies as well as some fun items. We also checked in with the local social workers to follow up on the progress of the children from when the Mercy Ministry began supplementing the child’s diet to the present. With the RHU, I worked with Doctora Rose, seeing the patients in town, treating common ailments and chronic medical conditions. I learned the country protocol for tuberculosis screening, work up and treatment and how to care for infections endemic to the area.
Surfing was a big plus to serving at Hope for the Island. Since there are no islands east of Siargao, it receives swell from the grand Pacific Ocean. Surfboards were available to use at Hope, allowing me to experience the local warm water swells. Just like any other surf spot, there were some big days and other not so big days. Derek was fond of the larger 4-5 foot swells, which I dared to venture out in, and on the smaller days I surfed with a few girls that work at Hope and from town. I would say that I absorbed a bit of the Burgos surf vibe, mellow and non-crowded, especially at Harpic, which I liked to call the “Hope surf spot”.

In the midst of the different ways that Hope for the Island is impacting Siargao is the desire to spread God’s love and teaching others how to do as Jesus did. Living with the girls at the newly built mission house provided me a unique experience of spending time with them between the many activities they did throughout the day. I enjoyed joining in on the daily group devotionals they had, worshiping and sharing where and how God was leading us. One of the recurrent themes expressed by different individuals was paninkamute (which means to pursue in Siaragaonon), pursuing God and His will for you.

Through all that Derek, Jenn and the staff were doing at Hope for the Island, God was in the center of it all, and in order to keep Him central it is important to always seek and grow in your relationship with the Lord. I was so blessed to have this time with the Hope for the Island family and look forward to my next adventure with the crew.

Anita and Josepito Ravelo is a couple with six children, two of which are grown and live elsewhere. They live in the village of Rizal, fifteen minutes north of Hope for the Island. Although Josepito is a farmer, he built his small nipa hut on stilts within the ocean along with many others who did not have land of their own.

See Typhoon Ruby Gallery           See Typhoon Ruby Blog Post

When storms come, these families are most at risk from high winds and ocean surges. As typhoon Ruby threatened to make landfall on Dec 6/14 their family packed a few bags and headed for the elementary school that is on high ground. They, like many, returned to their home to safeguard their only belongings in life. They tried to hold out as long as they could. The weather continued to worsen and the tide rose extremely high, so they left in the dark of night for higher ground, as did their neighbors.

The cost of one home is $500.00, please click this link and build a home

Sadly, countless people die in situations like this. They try to preserve the little they have at the expense of their own lives. This family was definitely thankful they made the decision to leave. Thirty minutes later the first wave came thundering in and wiped out their home! Three more waves hit and washed away a total of forty-four homes. The ocean surge travelled up to the national road leaving a path of destruction scattering boats and debris throughout the rice fields. We thank God that no one in the village lost their life.

We, at Hope for the Island, spent our Christmas reaching out to families affected by Typhoon Ruby. We knew we did not have the necessary funds to help them rebuild. We served food, distributed clothing and supplies from our Bags of Hope. For many months now, families have been sleeping on benches in churches and in neighbors’ homes.

The Revelos are the first family we have had the privilege of helping rebuild their home. A relative of theirs donated a small piece of land for them to build on. On average the cost is $500 to buy the basic materials needed to rebuild a small home. Labor is not paid for, as family and friends supply the labor.

Thus far we have received donations to cover the cost to rebuild three homes. Please pray how you can help to meet this critical need! Pray also for direction as we coordinate with the local government to find land that is safe for these people to relocate to. As of now, only twelve out of the forty-four families have secured a place to rebuild.

Will you help us restore these families?

We have funds to build 3 homes and we need funds to build 39 more.

The cost of one home is $500.00, please click this link and build a home

Derek

Understandably we often hear prayer requests that focus on asking God to help with health and to supply food for each day. Situations intensify when one or both parents are not in the picture. This is a daily reality for the children we minister to. Imagine praying with a child who asks for prayer that they would be able to finish their daily assignments. The dropout rates are high as families struggle just to put food on the table.

Young people dream of being able to finish school so that one day they are able to support their family. Hardships look very different on this side of the world and we ask that you join our kids in prayer!

Picture Princess testified last week after our lesson on the lost sheep that she is so thankful that Jesus loves and cares so much to save her. She said even though I have no parents to love or care for me, I have Jesus who loves me and takes care of me always. He is my good shepherd!

Princess is 11 years old and faithfully attends Kids Ministry. Each week she soaks up the love and attentively listens to the Word of God. She has shed many tears with Nermilyn and Makana. Her father left before she could remember and her distraught mother turned to other men rather than loving and protecting her daughter. Her mother had children with other men and then left one day never to return. A distant relative has been taking care of Princess. Her wounds run deep especially when other kids tease her. She longs to see her mom again one day. Pray for healing and protection over her life. She is one of many that God allows us to minister to facing similar circumstances. As one child said last week “For me the Bible is like His love letter to me”. God is so faithful and ministers love and compassion to all who turn to Him.

Mercy Ministry is ever changing. On a daily basis we encounter those who are very poor and their situation is compounded by dysfunction within their extended family. Seniors are often thrust into situations of providing for young grandchildren, while they themselves struggle to survive daily. As always a smile erupts as we talk to each person God brings out way. Wisdom is needed as we pray with them and decide how best to help them with their immediate needs. Our goal is to help them help empower them as they come into relationship with Jesus Christ and walk that out in their community.

 ROMMEL

Rommel is 11 months old. His mother Analyn is a housewife who does laundry for others and his father Roel is a skilled mason worker without consistent work. Rommel now has a beautiful smile. May he grow to honour the Lord for His goodness! (more…)