Hope For The Island

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  • 2019 Scholars Testimonial

    2019 Scholars Testimonial

    Princess Tulisana testimony; 

    I am blessed to be a part of Hope for the Island. Slowly my life has been transformed and my character has been shaped. Because of Hope I came to know the Lord. Knowing God and knowing who am I in Him causes me to have more self confidence but also to be humble. Another thing that made me so blessed is I do have the Hope female staff that I can trust and I can pour out my heart and be honest to them. They are always ready to advice, encourage and pray for me. They care for me and they are ready to guide me and walk alongside me. Since my childhood, Hope has been there for me. I am forever grateful that God used Hope for the Island to bless my family and I. My brother can also be a scholar if he works hard. 

    Cielo Sarino testimony;

    Hope for the island means a lot to me. The very first time I was connected at Hope was when I was in preschool at Hope for the Island. That was the very first time that my heart was planted with the Word of God. I also remember Hope for the island being used by God to bless people on our island.  I remember they also helped my father in the past when he was in a dangerous situation. 

    I grew up in Kid’s ministry and was blessed to have Hope female staff who were there to help and listen. Through them, I came to know more of who God is. Because of Hope, many have been blessed and many lives have been transformed. I am one of them! It is true this is the hope of this Island. Through them people got to know God and get closer to God. I learned a lot and so I can say I’m beyond blessed to be part of Hope. 

    Chaira Dolor Testimony:

    I am blessed to come to know Hope for the Island. Since the age of 7 I’ve been attending activities at Hope for the Island. I am now 16. Thank God for the lives of all the staff who gives their lives to God for us to know and experience God’s love. I felt God’s love through them. 

    In the past I experienced the feeling of worthlessness, but God used Hope staff for me to know and be aware that I am important. In so many ways God used Hope and the staff in my growth with God. I am totally a different person compared to the past. I am so thankful for all the help, advice, love and teaching at Hope. Being a scholar is one way how God blesses me. It is a big help for my family especially since both of my parents don’t have regular jobs. Hope is one of the reasons I am now in grade 11. In the past because of finances I wanted to stop my schooling and yet God had a purpose for my life. When I do have some concerns and problem the staff listen, give advice, pray for me and guide me in my walk with God.  I am more confident now to share with others what I learned at Hope for the Island.

    Elvie Espineli Testimony;

    I consider Hope for the Island as a shelter. I am comfortable there and it is the best place to hang out and just spend time with God, especially when I am facing problems. At Hope I can feel the presence of God, meet new friends and wonderful people from different places. 

    Jannashen Salvacion testimony;

    Hope is a very important part of my life. I did my preschool here and was also active in Kid’s ministry. I learned to do good things like respect one another.

    The best part is that I know about the Bible now. I found out that it is only the Bible that can change me and other people. 

    My parents wanted me to be at Hope so I could learn good things and have a good attitude. Hope offers more than that. Now I am in high school and I learned more, and my life has been changed. I can tell I am not the same person as I was in the past. God used Hope for me to know who I really am in God’s eyes and to help me get closer to Christ. 


    Jubilyn Escobido testimony;

    Hope for the Island is one of the places that helps lot of young people. I believe so many of us have been changed. I am one of them. I would rather come to Hope for the Island fellowship rather than going out with friends to just have fun. I know it’s my chance to hear and learn more of God’s Word. In the past months of joining and coming to Hope I noticed that I now dislike and am disgusted when someone swears and backbites in front of me. What I do now is I just leave and not entertain them. My prayer to God for myself is that one day I will have the strength to stop them and not just leave. I am also grateful for all the staff that they are here to walk alongside with us. I pray one day I will have a chance to minister with them. 

    Jerrylyn Selisana testimony;

    Hope means a lot to me. Hope has been a part of me since I was a kid. I spend half of my life here at Hope?.

    Now, that I am a youth I am even learning more. I am learning what is right and wrong, learning to respect and to love others. 

    I am grateful also for the lives of the staff, they are ready to give advice and they are not judgmental. They are people I can trust. Hope is a huge blessing to me.

    Christian Mae Selisana testimony;

    One of the things I am grateful to God for is Hope for the Island staff who never stop serving God. They give their lives to God and are used by God to help us know God. Through them I learned who am I in Christ. I like when they are very strict, strict when it comes to the word of God. They don’t want us to go home missing out on all we can learn.

  • Investing In Young Ones

    Investing In Young Ones

    From Jenn;

    This story really encouraged me. Leah was once in Kids Ministry herself. She has been serving with Hope for the Island many years and had already done a Discipleship Training School with YWAM.  Her heart for discipleship is what encouraged me when I read this story. Spending time with kids and guiding them on a road to leadership takes time and patience, yet our team on the ground realizes the importance of long-term investment in these kids’ lives- I am truly blessed with an awesome team.  Read Leah’s story below:

    From Leah:

    These youth were some of my active kids when they were in elementary. They loved being part of Kid’s Ministry. Now they are starting high school. They opened up to me that they have a heart to lead and volunteer in Kid’s Ministry. I decided to disciple them first before giving them an opportunity to lead. 

    There is one who led the songs and I will assign them each a certain task. One of them will teach the kids after reviewing the topic and the others will help me to oversee the kids. They are really a big help. Currently I don’t have anyone assisting me with Kid’s Ministry.

    I am really proud seeing them grow in the Lord. Please always continue to pray for these kids that they will rise up and become  leaders one day..?

    From Janece:

    I thank God for this another opportunity to be able to teach the kids here in our area. This is the high light for my week. Most active kids are in Grade 5 and 6 now, with most of them graduating next year. I thank God for the keen desire the children have to come and commitment the parents make for the kids to attend.

  • Health Restoration Program

    Health Restoration Program

    In our health restoration visits, we are
    happy to see this mom walking out in joy and she presents us with her son who
    is gaining weight and doing well. The weekly visits to the home are such an
    important part of this ministry. Being able to visit and listen to things going
    on in their lives, sharing Bible verses and praying is the core part of this
    ministry. We are so thankful for the amazing responses we have from families in
    this health restoration program, a partnership between our ministry and the daily
    love and care of the single mom or dedicated parents is key for success. We
    thank God for the opportunity we have as missionaries in our communities and to
    be welcomed into peoples home for weekly visits is only because of God’s favour
    on this ministry. 

    The next couple of months are very hot,
    but it’s also a time where everybody is planting nutritious food. It is easier
    for kids to gain weight when everybody has some extra vegetables from what they
    planted. Generally speaking, the hardest time of year for the kids in our
    health restoration program is during the rainy season- That is
    December-March. 

    We
    try to visit Rachel as often as we can, since she lives close to the market.
    Rachel tries her best to keep reading the Bible for truth in her life. Her
    situation is difficult but she admits that God gives her strength. Please
    continue to pray for complete healing in her body, and also for continued
    strength and provision for her mom who actively serves her daughter
    everyday. 

  • Kid’s Ministry

    Kid’s Ministry

    We look forward to summer because we can have longer times with the kids during our Kids Ministry on Saturday. We gathered the kids that live near to Hope for the Island, the middle of town, and the far end of town. In Burgos, we have three different areas of Kids Ministry every Saturday, plus we drive to 4 others villages with the staff and the assistants. 

    We are so thankful to the amazing group of woman in Winnipeg, who made hand knitted dolls for the kids.  To be honest, most of the kids were in shock they received a doll and a book because it’s not Christmas! We wanted them to know God loves them so much, so we planned a fun day for them and gave them a gift for summer. I can’t possibly put into words the effect that the Kids Ministry is having in our community. We value the kids in our community and what we have seen over the years is that the seeds planted in the hearts of these kids now is not lost, but can be seen growing in their hearts for years to come. 

    Some of these kids will be full time missionaries at Hope for the Island or on another mission field one day. 

    Please continue to pray Jeremiah 29:11-13 over these kids.

    “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart

    We pray these kids learn about God in such a way that they can walk out in the meaning of this verse. 

  • Prison Ministry

    Prison Ministry

    From Jennifer Villarde (Jing),

    This is our team that goes to the jail every second Monday of the month. This is a ministry that started over Christmas when God burdened our hearts to love and bless the prisoners.  It was a moving experience that led to regular prison visits. We worship with the prisoners and are allowed to share the word of God and pray over them. The prisoners have a lot of fun after when we do activities to see what they received from the word of God. Those who answer get vouchers to buy needed toiletries.  

    Most of the prisoners have never had a visit from their family.  They are lonely and suffering health problems because the jail does not provide hygiene products.  We so look forward to our visits unlike the beginning days where fear would creep in.  The inmates are happy to see us each time.  They are responding to God’s love and compassion. They feel encouraged and special to know we care enough to keep coming back.  They especially anticipate hearing the Word and being prayed for. 

    One prisoner had been suffering for months with horrible bed sores.  We used donated Polysporin antibacterial ointment to treat wounds and almost all of his open wounds are healing!

    Recently 2 prisoners finished their sentence and were released.  They sent us an update on how they are doing.  One of them sought out the Christian church in his village. It was a place he once avoided in search of trouble. The other got home and found his wife had left him. He returned to his home place and instead of reacting in anger he too chose to plug into a local church to stay on the right path. It is encouraging seeing lives being changed and freedom coming to those once enslaved in darkness!! 

    Over the month of March and April, Eli and Anna (American couple in back row) served as interns with Hope for the Island.  They joined in on our prison outreach and other ministries.

    Note: Picture cannot be taken inside of jail or with the prisoners.