Category: Staff

It was an incredible joy spending time with Cristina who is like a daughter to Jenn and I. We missed her dearly over our first year away In Canada. Before leaving the Philippines Cristina lived with our family for 2 years of her schooling. We are so proud of the way she has placed her life in the Lord’s hands and pursuing her dreams. God is using her life incredibly even as a student. God’s favor found each step of the way as she humbly walks in faith and obedience. Below is a beautiful testimony from Cris revealing again God’s goodness.

Derek

God has been so faithful in my schooling!! Everything that I need from financial, psychological, and spiritual God has graciously provided. God never fails to support me through the people who believe I can achieve what God has planned for me.

This is my third year in social work. With each passing year the excitement and anticipation grows. I am so blessed to be doing what God desires for me. As a third year student our subjects are field based as we learn how to handle clients in different circumstances. Helping the people who cannot fight for their own is my passion. God is always reminding me that I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know. He does this daily!!  God sustains me with the wisdom and strength needed to persevere in God’s purpose for me. I have been in awe of God! He creates opportunities and makes things possible even through my impossible outlooks. Over this year I was appointed as a President over the whole social work program.  Being appointed as leader of the program is a big responsibility.  At first I doubted myself, thinking i couldn’t do it.

God used Hope for the Island to train me and enhance my leadership skills. The many experiences at HOPE helped me believe God and envision transformation especially for those vulnerable. Being the leader of the social work program is stretching me in many ways.  There are lots of reports, planning and supervising different programs in relation to my profession. I find it kind of funny that I did not even run for this position.  My  program dean said she saw my heart and potential. I am thankful to God for allowing me to have this experience while I am still in my schooling journey. He placed me there so I know He has a purpose. The field experience is helping broaden my understanding and giving me a clearer vision as I pray for my future work and ministry in Siargao.

Each break back to Hope for the Island helps me get the rest I need, but also provides many opportunities to apply what I am learning.  This way the staff and ministries can benefit and develop. While back I spent a lot of time with the widows.  They hold a special place in my heart especially since I have known most of them since I was a child.  Many widows / elderly suffer with little dignity.  I spent time with them to help them know their value and rights within the community.  I also spent time helping to refine some of our approaches to serving children in the community. At HOPE we want to connect and share life with all that God places before us.  Immersing ourselves in the lives of those we serve brings a lasting impact.  I also spent time with a child that opened up to me about the years of sexually abuse she endured on behalf of her father.  Abuse is far too common and almost always goes unreported.  HOPE will continue to educate children and be there to protect and counsel the most vulnerable.  Once I graduate and am in a position of authority, I can further help restore and protect children against such injustices.

To those people who support and pray for me thank you so much. I still have one more semester to finish this school year and one final year of field practicum. Please continue to pray that my grades will remain in the high 90’s . Thank you and God bless you.

Cristina Espanto

Firstly, I need to thank my God with all my heart for allowing me to grow in so many ways over the course of my schooling. I’m so blessed to be part of this journey with the Lord. God is so faithful for always providing all the needs that sustain me. I am especially thankful for an answer to prayer. God provided a person in my life who has become a mentor. She loves the Lord and was brought into my life in God’s perfect time.

I am getting more involved with people in the church who share a desire to grow and live out their faith. I believe God has many plans ahead of me. I always trust Him alone because He has been faithful and good.

I’m so excited to apply all that I have learned in my schooling. To help those suffering is my passion.

On my holidays I really enjoyed my retreat home to Siargao Island. During Christmas break I had real connecting time with family and the staff at Hope for the Island.  I was able to encourage and impart to the new staff the heartbeat of our ministry. Having these breaks provides me with a direct place to apply the techniques I learned in school.

I praise God for another victory. I received the highest grade for exams.  I am enrolled and ready to start the 2nd semester. I am praying for the same favour and wisdom to keep up my grades.  It’s hard to believe this coming June will be my 3rd year.  I only have one final year for field practice. Glory and honour belong to God!

From Derek:

Continue to pray for Reshel. Hope for the Island team continue to visit her regularly. Despite her struggles she is gifted with a resilient faith and the joy of the Lord.

Doctors have long recommended she get therapy if there is any hope of her gaining strength and improving. Manila is the only city that has the adequate facilities and trained therapists.

We rejoiced when some friends of Hope for the Island responded with a desire to support the needed travel and therapy. Plans were set in motion and travel was scheduled for Reshel and her mother to go to Manila. Unfortunately at the mid way point of travel, Reshel’s mother felt uncomfortable and nervous about going so far.

Many people from the island are not used to travel and it can be scary. Our staff that accompanied her tried to help calm her nerves and encourage her to continue on. Unfortunately, the mother gave in to her fears and decided to go back to the island. We cannot force her even though we do not agree with her decision. That was a little over a month ago and sadly Reshel’s health has deteriorated. At this point she is unable to walk anymore even with the walker we provided. She is dearly loved and needs prayer as she endures each day.

Hope for the Island staff has been going through intensive community health education (CHE) training over the last few months.  This training came at the perfect time as we sought the Lord and prayed how we can be more effective at overcoming the many obstacles that come from serving in an impoverished island.  The in depth training has taken us through many areas that stretch us, yet we are gaining confidence as we learn more and apply the proven holistic CHE principles in our community.

We thank God for the opportunity to be better equipped to serve the communities God has entrusted us with.  When Jesus sent out His disciples He did so with clear instruction to give attention to and minister to the day-to-day needs and struggles people encountered.  Jesus took a holistic approach to ministry and calls us to the same.  Through this training we are learning valuable techniques and strategies for community transformation. We are in the process of integrating the initial CHE principles in the community of Bayud Sitio that is near to Hope for the Island.

God has burdened our heart to first apply the CHE program in this area that has long held the name MIA.  This name was given due to the number of people previously involved in witchcraft.  Many people still refer to this place as MIA (Manila International Airport)  This is a name that comes with insult and shame.  The name was given and long held because of the demonic ayok and wak wak spirits that supposedly landed and reside there.

The true and accepted name of the area in past generations was “Bayud Sitio”.  The name came from a bird that frequents the area.  We prayed over the area before going in and declared God’s blessing and redemption over what the enemy has stolen for so many years.  We are believing God for restoration of His blessing and purposes over the people who reside in Bayud Sitio!!

The CHE program takes a unique approach that moves away from the standard short-term missions approach that often nurtures dependence. A spirit of inferiority is fostered especially when handouts are the norm.  Hope for the Island will continue to act as facilitators helping the people recognize the critical needs they see affecting their community and come alongside them as they consider solutions that they can work towards. We come in a support role and facilitate the steps at the peoples’ pace, rather than being the one who comes in with our preplanned and pushed agendas.  The plans we adapt often fall short of being adopted by the people thus lacking long-term sustainable fruit.

The steps we are taking with CHE will bring us closer to two aspects of the vision we have at Hope for the Island…

• We dream of authentic community of people living and loving as servants within their culture, intentionally engaging their peers, families and communities.
• We dream of upcoming generations equipped to rise above adversity and empowered to walk out the purposes they were created for.

We made the customary courtesy call meeting with local officials sharing the purpose of CHE and our focus in Bayud Sitio.

Second day community actiity in Bayud “road to development” was where the people identify the critical needs faced and the resources readily available in their area.   These activities help them come together as a team.  The activities are aimed to awaken their minds and hearts to the realities faced in the community.  It helps them take ownership of need and some steps towards reaching their goals. In this activity a line is created in front of them to represent the road to development and what problems they identify along the way that is preventing them from development.  Contaminated water, lack of work and disease are the 3 areas they identify as top problems with water concerns being number 1.

On the fourth day they create a detailed sketch map of the whole community.  This vicinity map helps them map out the place they call home and to give a visual creating a sense where they all fit into being part of the community and solution.  This was fun because many struggle to draw and it connected everyone through laughter.

The fifth day was a calendar activity. This activity purposes to involve everyone in determining the seasons and the challenges / possibilities that come with each. Again this is an interactive time that brings greater understanding and creates open doors for solutions to the needs expressed. Throughout the course of our time with the community HOPE do a number of activities to help them connect with each other and invoke creative discussions. Biblical truths are interwoven throughout each lesson and activity.

Pray for the community of Bayud Sitio as they continue to take these faith steps towards redemption by God’s grace and lead. We thank God for the joy and opportunity we have to minister and serve alongside God’s people.

Hope for the island has some new faces!

Our family spent some time with them at the farm before we left for Canada.

We recently accepted to the team some new passionate people with a heart to serve. We are excited for what the Lord has in store!!!