Hope For The Island

Category: Seniors

  • April and May at Hope

    April and May at Hope

    April and May have been fruitful months at Hope for the Island. With the monsoon wind and rains behind us, our team has taken advantage of opportunities to gather people and serve outdoors. It was a blessings hosting a large 3 day Youth Camp with local leaders. It was great to see these young people break free of covid and typhoon fatigue. There was much joy and encouragement as they set their hearts afresh on the Lord!

    There is an extra measure of urgency felt amongst our team as well as our Pastor friends to seize opportunities to share the gospel whenever and wherever possible. This has been happening regularly with individuals and with large crowds on the streets. This has been our focus with islanders waiting in travel terminals and with passengers on boats. It has been exciting!

    John the Baptist was faithful to his calling preparing the way for Jesus. He preached repentance and baptized all who responded. We too are called to be like John preparing the way for Jesus’ soon return. We have a responsibility like the watchman in Ezekiel 33. The watchman trumpets warning of approaching danger. Those heeding the warning prepare, find refuge and live.

    There is no greater joy than choosing to boldly and unashamedly proclaim the Way, the Truth and the Life drawing souls to God and Salvation. 

    Please continue to pray for the elderly and widows we serve weekly. Many of them are very weak and sick. With no care facilities to support the aging so many are afflicted with health concerns. It’s a blessing to pray, serve and ease burdens for those God loves dearly.

     

  • Covid Style Local Celebration

    Covid Style Local Celebration

    In Siargao Island our ministry team has made the most of every opportunity to visit and encourage people in the communities we serve. The continual lockdown orders hinder these important visits. Currently our team is on lockdown and only allowed to go out on visitation under a color-coded schedule. We are called to operate as God calls His body to, and this makes it very difficult.

    Many people rely on the goods we deliver and the heart to heart discipleship ministry we provide. During the last lifting of restrictions, our Hope team was busy delivering relief goods and doing follow ups.  In a time of uncertainty and fear God calls us to trust in Him. We encourage those struggling to always look to the life-giving truth of God’s Word. Hope and peace will only be found in Jesus, especially so as the day of His return draws nearer. 

    These are a few of the bags we bring on a weekly basis to the widows in our community. Rice is a staple that keeps many alive and just as important as water to many Siaragaonon locals. The best rice comes fresh from the farm. 


    It’s amazing what a simple act of love can do to lift burdens and bring light to someone’s day. Our team blessed and celebrated with one of our dear widows on her birthday. The birthday snack is best enjoyed by putting noodles on a slice of bread along with freshly squeezed Kalamansi (a small local lime). They fold it up and enjoy with a glass of Coca-Cola like a local. It is important to enjoy with them what we agree may not be seen as a healthy choice. Happy Birthday Nanay! 


    We cherish each moment when restrictions lift in Siargao Island. We continually look for creative ways to serve and minister in the face of ever-changing policies. Being open to the Spirit’s leading will be critical in the months ahead should things continue down the same trajectory.

    Thank you to each of you who partner faithfully with us. Let us continue to stand together in prayer and obedience as we fix our eyes on Jesus – the author and finisher of our faith! Let us run with endurance the race set out for those who call on His name.

  • Ouch!

    Please pray for Nanay (mother) Etan, who is one of the many widows we have the privilege of serving. She cut off her thumb opening a coconut with a machete! She came to us asking for help because she has no money to buy the medicine to fight off infection.  Pray for quick healing!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Answer To Prayer

    We love spending time with the elderly widows. We always receive a warm welcome when we visit.

    They feel forgotten and hopeless, often neglected and left to tend for themselves. We remind them that God loves them and so do we. Time is spent praying for them, listening to their struggles and concerns and reading aloud God’s Word. Many can’t read because they are uneducated or have failing eyesight.

    Lola (Grandmother) Alber came to our Bible study this week!  She is a widow that is known as a local faith healer. One of the other widows asked her why she was attending because she looks to other spirits not God. She replied, “Its ok, I want to listen to the Bible because I know it is a message from God.”

    She stayed till the end and joined in during prayer. This is a big answer to prayer. She is responsive and wants to be part of the widows group, even requesting we visit her!

    Please pray she will confess and turn to God rather than to other spirits so that God can bless her life.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Widows Christmas Party

    Our much-anticipated annual Hope for the Island widows Christmas party was a huge success. They all loaded into our truck to come for a party! Everyone looks forward to this gathering because they feel loved and special.  They put on their best clothes and let loose with singing and dancing!

    It is a time to leave their struggles behind for a little while and have fun.  The widows enjoy time with each other as well as with our staff. We worship and celebrate our Savior Jesus together.

    Donated items were used to send them all home with practical gifts.