Each team we receive at Hope For The Island is unique.
The recent School of Biblical Foundations and Mission (SBFM) team we had for two months were an incredible blessing!
They took initiative in every aspect of local life and ministry. They were fully engaged with those we serve and with our team.
Thank you for making yourself available by working, volunteering wholeheartedly, as well as being culturally sensitive.
One member of this sbfm team did not leave with the others at the end of February. Kale wanted to stay on to complete the welding work needing done for our team housing construction. We are on pace to finish in time for next arriving team.
We are gearing up for our summer plans to spend more concentrated time ministering to the kids and youth. We are planning for fun activities / events for them with discipleship as our goal.
We will be hosting another team arriving in April to assist us with our summer plans. April 3 we have a surfers for missions team (this was the type of team I first landed in Philippines with 🙂 They will be serving with us for 2 months. From that same base we have two young adults coming in to serve under our Mission Equip (ME) program. Truce and Noa are excited to come learn and grow in a cross cultural context and apply what they have been learning in their missions training.
We will have a full house over April. Good friends from our church family in kelowna, Canada will also be coming in for a few weeks. Richard will be assisting with much needed electrical repairs and upgrades post typhoon. Carrie will serve with our ministry team. So thankful to God for providing much needed laborers to come alongside our team because we don’t have the capacity to do it all alone 🙂
In previous update I shared how we are now a few steps further along towards our aim of establishing Kalinga house for vulnerable kids. We have been trusting the Lord to lead and provide for what we know He has put before us. We have just signed a deed of donation for the entire amount needed to construct the home!!! It all stemmed from a breakfast meeting while in Canada with friends of friends. These new friends were desiring to connect with an organization like ours that is registered and accredited in Philippines. They loved the vision for Kalinga house. Their company (Booth and Partners) is a business member with One percent for the planet. With their recommendation, Hope for the island was approved as a partner organization of 1% for three approved projects. We have a long-time contractor friend who will be helping us with the build starting mid April. We are thrilled and thankful to God for making way for us to have this home. It will be a place hope is restored and children’s hearts healed ❤️
Thanks for your faithful prayer and support.
Derek & Jenn
