Our Hope for the Island friends often take the time to write us an encouraging note or email along with their donation.
We always appreciate the time you take to send us your thoughts on your journey of faith. Here is a sample of how we get blessed when you communicate with us.
Elaine Van Ryckeghem
Director
Hope for the Island Canada
My name is Makana and this is my testimony. When I was in my mother’s womb, my mom and dad moved to the Philippines. My parents were building the mission house and this flu was going around. My dad was working really hard and his body got too tired. He got a bad disease called M.R.S.A, which is the worst form of staff infection. My dad had boils all over and he was really skinny. My mom and dad felt they should go back to Canada for my delivery and also to get better care for my dad.
Hi my name is Kenneth. I’m a local surfer from the town of Burgos. I have a broken family. My mother and father both left me when I was young. I grew up with my grandma. Being abandoned made me angry and confused. When I turned 15 years old I got into alcohol and drugs as a way to forget what my parents did to me. It helped for a while to push away my pain and have fun but I still felt empty inside and longed for more. I never knew what love was because it was never taught or shown to me. Whenever I see a child who has parents and a good family I feel jealous and makes me hurt. When I was 20 years old I attended the youth ministry at Hope for the Island just for fun. I listen to what they are sharing but not get too close to anyone. I just attend to have fun and joke around. Then Hope for the Island had visitors from Hawaii. All the youth were invited to attend for a camp and games. There is one guy on the team that spend time with us. He asked me if I knew that Jesus loved me. I just looked at him but didn’t answer because I didn’t know what to say or what that means.
I am Jennifer David but everyone calls me “Jing”. I’ve been working at Hope for the Island for over nine years already. I was part of pioneering the ministry of HOPE. Back then life was very hard and not really enjoyable. Being the very first worker was challenging physically, emotionally and spiritually. Learning to work with foreigners (Derek and Jenn) was a new experience for me. Also there were so many attacks as we tried to open the Word of God in a place with many spiritual strongholds. In those days I thought I would not make it.
As a child I attended the Kid’s Ministry at Hope for the Island. I won’t forget the time when Kuya Derek and Ate Jenn came here in my town of Burgos. I would always watch them from a far and follow them. Slowly I have more courage to approach them. It is not an accident that God allowed me to meet them. God has a plan in it all. Even when I am 14 years old I attend Kids Ministry. I am not shy to attend even though I am the oldest. I started to assist with the other kids before there was an assistant program.