Here is a blog my teammates, David, wrote about the ministries here. To see their page click here

When we got off the plane here we felt the hot air hit our faces and knew this country was going to be a different experience. The airport terminal had vending machines selling SIM cards for cell phones and security was nearly nonexistent. I half expected us to ride in some kind of broken down van or decades old bus to get to our next destination. Instead we were met by Jeff Long, a new air-conditioned bus and three coolers full of sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Jeff is the founder of Kid's International Ministries (KIM) and he and his wife Colene, along with their kids, have been in the Philippines for the last 20 years working in Cainta, a small community just outside of Manilla.

The only way to describe KIM is as a ministry hub. Jeff and his staff started children's home across the street where they house almost 50 kids, including teenagers and infants. They started a feeding program to go into the more impoverished areas and feed and minister to people twice every day at 10am and 4pm.

They have also done a census of the surrounding area, covering about 800 homes and families. The census was an opportunity to give people food and share the gospel, as well as a chance to gather medical needs. As part of the census, each family was given a white cross with a house number and their family name on it so that they can be located with provisions they've requested or follow-up contact.

Every morning at 7am the staff of KIM give out free children's vitamins on the corner of the street. The ministry center is also stocked with an entire medical room of prescriptions, pills and medical supplies for people in the community. Jeff has also started a clean water initiative where they are placing water stations around different areas of the city for people to get free and clean water.

Jeff and the ministry staff have also started a school that meets in two locations and trains the local kids in Christian values, as well as a standard education from 1^st grade through high school. The school is part of a partnership Jeff started with a church that is next door to the ministry center.

Jeff's daughter, Josie was trained as a massage therapist in Kansas so she hastrained another 7 Filipino women who will eventually be opening a salon and spa under Josie's leadership. The women come to the ministry center three days a week to offer massages, pedicures, and manicures as practice. They charge 100 pisos, which is the equivalent of $2.50. The money they earn is actually a very good income for people living in this community and it all goes toward feeding their families and meeting their financial needs. After many sleepless nights and long days in the heat of Australia, Catherine and I have been more than happy to help take care of these women and their families by availing of their services once or twice.

All of these things are done by a ministry center that has a staff of about 8 people, but it's made possible by donations of medicine and financial support.

So far we've been working on the census, painting rooms in the orphanage, painting a widow's home, tutoring children so they can pass their classes and many other side projects. Lots more to do and some amazing stories to tell. We'll give some more details on these in the next blog.

                                     
As I am walking in and out of the squatter communities near me, I am drawn to the water. This is not like any water you may be thinking of. This water is BLACK, thick, full of sewage, dirt, laundry run off, trash and so much more. This is water that the cats, dogs, children and adults drink when they are desperate.

 

Due to this, most families need to have their water shipped in to them. The water companies know they are dependent on this commodity and adjust their prices accordingly. Approximately 3 gallons of drinking water costs a third of a day's wage and is meant to provide for a family of 5+ for a week. It breaks my heart. When they run out of water, they can use the other water that is used for cooking, cleaning clothes and bathing. But this water is contaminated and is open to any insect or bug flying by.

I have done a little research on the water issues in the Philippines and this is what I have found:

Even though the water resources have become scarce, the Philippines as a whole have more than enough surface and groundwater to meet its demands. Yet, the neglect of a consistent environmental policy has made some good go to waste. 58% of the groundwater is contaminated ^[source] due to the pollution of untreated domestic and industrial wastewater.^[source] Only one third of the Filipino river systems are believed suitable for public water consumption.^[source] It is predicted that in 2025, water availability will be minimal in most main cities and in 42% major river basins.^[source] Besides the severe health concerns, the water pollution also affects the fishing and tourism industries, which for most families is their only source of income. ^[source]

The current water quality doesn't meet the standards set by the Filipino government, especially in the urban areas. Because of this, waterborne diseases have damaged the health of the people. Approximately, 4,200 people die every year due to contaminated drinking water. ^[source]

Another cause of the drinking water being polluted is from the treatment (or lack thereof) of the wastewater (i.e. toilet water). Only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer system. Because the treatment and disposal of this waste is uncommon, most of the waste is discarded without any treatment. ^[source]

We finally get to the market, and before we go and barter for some great deals, we go to the ATM. I already had my money out, so I was able to stand back and see the people and the vendors around me. The first thing that I saw was a DVD and CD rack. And an entire side was ALL PORN. Hundreds of videos and soundtracks were there for purchase. It was right in front of me and everyone around me. It was right in front of the movie theater for children to walk by and for everyone to see.

I was so disgusted by this. Are people not looking? Do they care? How do these women feel? What has happened for this to occur? Why can't they find satisfaction in what they have? Why does it have to involve destroying a woman and her dreams and destiny?

I am currently reading A Voice for the Voiceless. It is a devotional that addresses global issues of gender-based injustices. Here is one of the stories:

 "Stop dreaming, girl!" Victoria's mother barked. "You have to do the laundry, wash the dishes, change your brother's diapers..." Victoria's mind drifted off, "I've gotta get out of this place!" "Ok, mom", she responded. Her thoughts drift off again...teenagers in America have nice lives. She had seen it on cable TV. Maybe one day she could be a receptionist, a graphic designer or even a flight attendant. She had always loved the thought of travel. "I've gotta get out of Moldova," she resolved.

 "You look like you're dreaming." Victoria looked up from her park bench, "My name is Tanja." "Hi", Victoria extended her hand to a well-dressed woman, "Yeah, I'm always dreaming about getting out of this hole. I want to go to America. I want to travel, I hate this place!" "Well today is your lucky day. I work for an American company in Turkey; we have an opening for a young woman. If you work hard enough, maybe you could get transferred to America! Corporate is always looking for new talent."

 What a dream! As the fields sped by, Victoria dreamed of her new flat in Istanbul, even a new boyfriend."Get out of the car!" Her dream was rudely interrupted. "Why?" "Get out now and follow me". "But where are we?" "Now!" Victoria followed Tanja into a forested area. Men were waiting. A passport was thrust into her hands. The photo was familiar but the name was not hers. "You are coming with us now." After walking across the border into Serbia, Victoria was thrown to the ground. If you resist we will kill you, and nobody will know! Victoria was raped once, twice, by the third day she had lost count, lost her dignity and her will.

 The dream was now a nightmare. Her captors sold her from brothel to brothel to satisfy the lust of desperate men. In two years she had been sold ten times, each time around $1,500 USD. Eventually she was sold into Albania. A client beats her in a urine smelling hotel. The neighbors complain. The police arrest Victoria for disturbing the peace. In her cell they rape her until they are finished. Then sell her on.

 The nightmare now becomes a destiny. A child grows in her womb. Victoria clings to the dream that maybe her daughter will have a destiny in America...

 

Click here to  see 10 Things You Can Do To Fight Human Trafficiking

After coming back from a morning of working on the census for the community. I come back to the YMC and see a child-a young boy. He is busy coloring with Emily in her journal with a highlighter. I go inside, then come back out within a minute to see him sitting next to Lindsey as she is skyping her family. I then I see him rush into my arms to be held and then on the lap of another world racer. All of this happened in such a short amount of time that it really stood out to me.

Why is this child so desperate? What does his normal lifestyle look like? Is he starved of any affection? Is he beaten? Ignored? Forgotten?

The more I am here in the Philippines, the more I am discovering the HUGE need. If my role here is to simply love the forgotten, then that is what I will do. It is so amazing to me how much love and affection is not present here. Please be in prayer for this child and for the many other children who are starving for some loving affection in their life.

·         There are 34 orphans that are looking for loving parents. Pray that the 4 siblings in the orphanage will find loving parents that wish to adopt all 4 of them.

·         Pray for the world racers here to show and be love of Christ to the children.

·         My Support: I need $1,300 more by the end of the month

·         My Sleep: I have been struggling to sleep for the last week

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27

Within minutes of arriving to the Philippines, I fell in love. I fell in love with the people, culture, language, food and children. When we arrived, we spent the first few days just relaxing and getting re-energized for the ministries ahead of us. One of the ways that I am re-energized is through children. So I would find myself going outside to play, giggle, and hold (many of them being orphans).

 Once Debrief was over, the first task was painting a widow's home (‘ba hai'). We painted an old shack that was orange and her home that was tan colored. We spent the first 2 days peeling off the existing paint, and then sanding it to prepare it for paint. While all of this was happening, I would find myself talking to Julie (the widow we called ‘Lola'=grandma). She quickly discovered I wanted to learn her language of Tagalong, and would teach me about 50 words at a time. I learned:

                                                                  And Many Many Many More!

As I was painting and preparing her home, I could not stop thinking about the verse in James 1. That the ministries we were involved with so far in the Philippines was "pure and genuine" and that this IS what the church is supposed to look like.