Grace and Peace to you all in the name of Jesus. I pray this update finds you walking in the assurance and hope of Christ.

Pre Covid 19, our HOPE team was making incredible headway into the homes of kids we minister to each week. We have always gathered the kids on the beach or under a tree / nipa hut finding refuge from sun and rain. The Father Child Celebration organized in lieu of my birthday late January led to our team having an open door to have that ministry time at their homes.

We had just started doing our Kid’s Ministry gatherings at a different families home each week. It was a great way for these families to observe the way we care for their kids and hear the truth of God’s word. Our team prepared and brought in food to serve the kids and share with the family. This is something we look forward to resume as Covid 19 restrictions loosen.

So many families that struggled under the pressures of poverty, now face deeper levels of hardship and despair post Covid 19 lock downs. Thankfully through Christ we have Hope no matter what storm rages around us Link to Derek sharing on Hope Video Our team continues to look for creative ways to serve and meet needs during this difficult pandemic. The extra time has allowed our team to focus energy on planting produce at our farm.

For our Filipino friends watch this video of our staff member Jerry enjoying the fruits of his labor. You do not need to know the dialect to enjoy his expressive ways while eating lunch.

We serve the widows bananas & root crops to help supplement their diet. We are working to be prepared in the days ahead with a harvest to serve 🙂 ………………………………………

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Virus related restrictions have been especially difficult for the widows and elderly Hope for the Island cares for. Although we have been able to drop off food supplies, no personal contact has been allowed. We know full well the escalating despair this crisis has brought them. Slowly restrictions are relaxing providing more outreach freedoms.

I am thankful for the special time God provided me to visit and pray with some of our widows / elders while at Hope for the Island. It was a blessing to reminisce with them about the early days Hope for the Island was starting out. Nanay Elaw and Tatay Cornelio shared how blessed, yet shy they were when I would regularly offer to help carry the fire wood they precariously carried on their heads. Although they never did take me up on that offer we had a good laugh about it. I too am grateful for the sweet and final time visiting with and praying for Tatay Lando and Nanay Wena who have since passed away.

Recently I received an encouraging report from our team about the sacrificial love displayed by one of the mothers in our Health Restoration Program. Derek and James pictured with their mother Sally, are on the road to recovery. I was touched to hear how Sally has taken the love and mercy extended to her and reciprocated that to one of the widows we support. Nanay Louisa is 83 years old and paralyzed. She has no family to care for her. Thank God for Sally’s heart to house and care for Nanay in her need. What a blessing to witness the fruit that comes from loving and following Jesus. I pray this inspires each of us to look for ways to step out loving others as Christ so loved us!