Farewell Talisay!

Farewell MiA Philippines! We will miss you all!

We've had a fantastic trip together, God has really gone before us in all that we've done and even in our weakness He has shown His amazing strength!

As most of the team head back to the UK, Helen is going on to Penang for a Father Heart school so please continue to keep her in your thoughts/prayers.

Thanks for all your love and support throughout the trip, see you soon!

The team

Our 6am serenade from the White house family!!

 

Last day of projects, boo hoo!

We had a rather busy but very fun final day in the Philippines yesterday.

Another morning was spent with the Source mum's (see the previous blog on what it is!). As a treat, this week, we took them to a local resort. We spent more time getting to know them and sharing our lives and also hearing more of thier stories. We listened to some of them share about their new found faith, and how this is bringing about huge changes to thier lifestyles. With two of them having recently given up drug dealing, amazing! There is a real desire and hunger within the group for more revelation of God's love for them.

After a yummy lunch they all had a swim or threw themselves into making friendship bracelets!

In the afternoon, some of the team headed into central Talisay to buy a few gifts for the MiA family, while others headed up the mountains for a house dedication.

Almost finished...

Finished!

The family who the house had been built for was a mother and 2 teenage children. They had been living with her mother after the estranged husband had destroyed their house 10 years ago. The neighbours were invited and of course some delicious cake was ordered. It was a real priviledge for the team to be able to celebrate with this lovely family. We prayed for them and dedicated the house, it was a great opportunity to share more of God's love with them. Jong Jong helped by finishing off the cake!!     

After the busy day the whole MiA family went out for a delicious meal at Casa Verde, a popular family run restaurant in central Cebu. We all had a great time hanging out and saying our goodbyes.

The team on our last night

The whole MiA family together!

A relaxed and rested team do the mountains!

We had a great time at a beach resort on Mactan Island about an hour away from Em & Tim's house, here are a few pics to prove it!

Getting ready for some fun at the resort!

A bit of rummikub by the pool!

After Monday's relaxation we felt it was time to exert ourselves again, this time for a trip up the mountains to visit some MiA projects.

Treking up to the school

Tapul is an area in the mountains that surrounds Talisay city; MiA run a environmental schoolling program here. 50 of the poorest children at Tapul elementary school are on the program, which for £15 per month per child gives them a school uniform, shoes, pays exam and school fees. In Tapul, on top of this, each child is given 5 cooked meals per week. In return each child looks after 5 fruit trees (based in an area in Tapul which has been illegally logged and was at risk of land slide), the parents run a self governed co-operative and once the trees bare fruit the harvest will be shared between the parents, as well as new trees being planted.

We arrived in Tapul then undertook the 300m climb to the school! It was long, steep and hot so by the time we got there we needed another day off!!

Almost at the top!

We met the kids on the program, as well are some of the other lovely kids from the school. Sue and Helen served lunch to those on the schooling program.  Debs loved meeting her sponsored girl, Sherlyn, for the first time, and Claire saw her family's kids again too.

Sue & Helen serving the kids lunch

Debs and Sherlyn meeting for the first time

This pic is for you Carol - love Rach x

Once we'd finished at the school, we popped along to check out the most recent MiA house that was being built (it was being finished today!). More about that tomorrow when a few of the team go back for the house dedication. 

Lunch was a real treat, not only because Flor had cooked again but also beause we had a very beuatiful spot to eat it in! Looking over the beautiful mountain valleys in a Nipa hut on the tree land, which is the rest house for kids and parents who come to tend their fruit trees.

Tree planting site

A gorgeous view from the Nipa hut on the land

After this we went into the centre of Tapul (if you can call it that!), to the health centre where we met the local midwife. He (Yes he is a man!) showed us the improved facilities that MiA have helped refurbish and finance. Melody and Sue presented the midwife with electronic weighing scales and suction equipment which he had requested from MiA. The scales will be really helpful in detecting underweight babies and infants. Then it was time to head home for a rest, some needed to recharge their batteries before they go off to Kareoke this evening.

From one midwife to another - a valuable newborn suction kit

A busy day at the health centre...a queue of mum's waiting for check ups

More on Kareoke night tomorrow...

The weekend...

We know that your weekend in England is in full swing, but for us it's nearly over! We're now back in Talisay after an incredible time with the ABBA drop in centre and MiA family kids. There is just so much to tell you it's hard to know where to start but we will try to give you some idea of what we got up to, and hope the photos will tell the rest of the story!!

Friday night...

The centre was in a remote mountainous retreat, 15 minutes from CarCar city. Here's a googlemap for anyone who's really keen to know where that is! It's the group of buildings in the centre of the page the size of a 50p.

Gilead Retreat Centre Map link (click me)

A picture of Sue (arriving with the kids) - horray!!

The facilities were very basic by western standards. Most of the team stayed in small rooms of 2 - 3 people, with cement floors and cold running water; however a few very brave (or stupid) team members stayed in the girls dorms which had communal bathrooms and bunk beds (as well as 30 very excitable and noisy girls!).

The boys dorm block

We arrived late afternoon with around 60 kids mostly between the ages of 10 - 18. They could not believe the facilities, and kept checking with the leaders that they really were going to get a WHOLE bed to themselves, and a WHOLE pillow each! How very very humbling for us. Most of these kids live in the market place in central Talisay. Staying up until the early hours of the morning roaming the streets; when they do finally settle for the night they sleep on cement pavements or on wooden table tops that market vendors use to sell fruit and clothing during the day.

The first session (that night) with the kids didn't get going until after 9pm; once we'd had dinner and divided the kids into small groups. As usual though the singing was still loud and passionate! Sue then read the story of the Wemmicks by Max Lucado. Click here to have a read:

Read the Wemmicks Story

Abi, Ellie, Rach, Helen, Claire and Kitty helped to act it out, and the kids really seemed to enjoy it! It kicked off the weekend just as we had wanted to; by affirming each of the children as valued significant individuals, not only to us but more importantly to thier heavenly Father.

Melody, Rach, Tim & Anieway's group

Claire, Lois, Amy & Jong Jong's group

Debs, Helen, Alma & Nonetta's group

The day started with Loida leading us in praise and worship, it was beautiful and very moving to see these kids worship God with all thier hearts. Leading on from the Wemmicks story the night before, we encouraged each of the children to draw or write about the spots or stars they felt had been put on them (read the story if you're lost!). Some of the younger ones drew lovely pictures of how Jesus loves them.

We really felt that it was important to help the children to begin to move on from the things that have been spoken over them (we do not feel it's right to share specific things that children shared in confidence with us during this time, however abuse and neglect featured heavily). We made a symbiolic river from large pieces of chiffon fabric, if they chose to walk through they could lift off and screw up the paper tabard they had been drawing/writing on.

Sue, Allison and Michael's group

We closed the session ready for lunch. It was a real treat to see the children eating 3 delicious, well balanced meals a day - something that many of them would not be used to on a daily basis! As usual Mama Flors cooking was Lummi Kaayo ('very yummy' in Cebuano!).

Lots of games and activities filled the afternoon and so by the evening the children were ready to spend some time working through their life experiences. We spent time talking about forgiveness and how they can begin this important process in their lives.

Having fun - Rach's fab volleyball teams!

Some very deep and personal experiences were shared, many tears shed and the evening ended with several children sharing how they had been able to let go of previous hurts.

We all moved outside to where a bonfire had been prepared. A very late night with sausages and marshmallows followed!

Today (was that really only this morning?) lots more games, prize givings and the presentation of some beautiful soft toys (courtesy of Disney). By 2pm it was all over with 60 very sad children waving goodbye as a very tired team made our way home for showers, clean clothes and a good rest.

Friendship bracelets we made together

Thanks for all the messages of support and prayers for this weekend, as you can probably tell - they were answered!!

We hope you've all enjoyed your weekend as much as we have. We are planning (and needing) a day off tomorrow so you won't be hearing from us until Tuesday!

Love

The team

     

Support for this weekend...

Hi everyone

Just to let you know we are heading off for the kids retreat today (it's 2pm our time now!). We would love your prayers and thoughts over these next couple of days.

We are going to be spending time with around 60 kids; many of whom have grown up on the dangerous streets of Talisay. The only family some of these kids have is MiA, and they are learning that they are beautiful and loveable children of the Father not the lowest of the low (which is how they are viewed by many).

Our heart (the team and MiA family here) is that this weekend would be a small part of the restoration of their hearts. Many of these children have been deeply traumatised by the abuse they have suffered; so this is not something we are taking lightly or expecting to be overnight, but we feel it is a central part of why we are here as a team.

Thank you in advance for all your support! We look forward to sharing photos and an update on Monday.

Thursday - hanging out with the MiA family

It was great to be able to spend some time with the MiA family to prepare ourselves for the coming Kids Retreat this weekend. We spent time in the morning sharing together and encouraging them in the struggles and hardships they face on a daily basis.  It was a wonderful time, and we really felt we got a chance to share some of their lives and connect heart to heart together.

During the afternoon we planned some the activities we are looking to do with the children as well as spending time with our Filipino partners (we have split up into pairs to work with smaller groups, during the retreat).

Flor, Nailyn and May May (left to right) below

Abi, Ellie and Kitty had a really hard day splashing about in the pool nearby!! 

Wedensday - the drop in centre and yummy coconut - a great combination!

On Wednesday the team split up again for the morning.

Sue, Allison, Helen and Melody headed to the White house to help Flor cook the drop in centre food.

Melody commented 'i had really good fun, the language barrier wasn't an issue as we sat round cooking together and the freshly harvested coconut was a real treat. I wish i could climb a tree like Louie!'.

Meanwhile the other half of the team enjoyed some time a the drop in centre with the ABBA kids.

We had a great time hanging out with the kids. We played games and got to know them before the retreat this weekend. Here are some pictures of the lovely kids and some sweaty team members.

After some lunch at Inasal (Rach's favorite place to eat!), some of the team went back to the drop in centre, for a devotional time with the kids.

Claire said 'it's so lovely how the kids engage with us so easily, they climb all over you. Despite the language barrier the kids love to make jokes and have fun with us'.    

Helen led a devotional time with the teenagers, with May May and Claire. The kids drew some amazing pictures of how they felt Father God sees them. It's such an honour to listen to them sharing what the pictures meant to them.

Tuesday's activities...

On Tuesday the team split up into smaller groups in the morning. Here's a little about what each group got up to.

Melody, Allison and Helen headed down to the drop in centre where on Tuesday mornings, the Source mum's meet together. They spend time with the MiA family learning from each other and sharing lunch.  Anieway led us in a beautiful time of worship then all the mum's introduced themselves; the team shared a little of themselves and Melody spoke of her experience as a mum and a midwife and what Father God has spoken to her about the beauty of the birth of a child; how the pain of childbirth is so quickly forgotten when you look into the eyes of your wonderful new baby and the joy that brings.  She felt like this was symbolic of the joy that Father God has for each of us; all the pain is soon forgotten when we turn our face towards Him...  it fills Him with such joy :-)

The team had the privilege to pray for each of the Source mum's; it was a beautiful time of prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit was so amazing.   When asked, all the mum's said they were touched by God's tender heart toward them... Oh & very exciting news... 6 of the mum's asked if they could be baptized next week when we are spending the day with them.

The other half of the team - the girls (Abi, Kitty and Ellie), and their mums (Debs, Claire and Rach) accompanied Mama Flor to the market for groceries for that day's drop in centre lunch.  

Once Flor had everything she needed from the market we headed to the White house on motor cabs (see the pics below!). Hope the Daddy's aren't too stressed by seeing their little girls hanging off the seat of a motor bike!

 
We had a great time helping prepare the vegetables and watching Louie and Flor cook. Of course the tasting was the best part!

   

After the mornings activities we took some time out after lunch to chill out! Later on at 4pm we headed down to the schooling feeding program where we gave out rice to families on our schooling project. Many of them are very poor and would not be eating rice without this extra help.

Here's a picture of the whole team with families. As usual the smiling faces completely won us over! 
 

A quick update on the last couple of days....

Well the last couple of days have seen the jet lag starting to ease (phew) and our energy beginning to come back (horray!).

On Monday we had the great pleasure of meeting the (very fast growing) MiA family who include:

Em & Tim - who oversee MiA projects (new and existing) in Talisay & Cebu
May May  (Mymy) - admin manager 
Noniyta - senior social worker
Michael - social worker
Alma & Jong Jong - Houseparents in Blue house, Alma p/t in Drop in Centre
Loloy & Rudeth - Houseparents in White house
Flor - general services manager & cook extraordinaire!
Anieway (Aniwy) - runs the Source (mums group) & Jail project
Nalyn - Em & Tim's house helper
Charen (Karen) - Em & Tim's p/t house helper & midwife student
Kito & Louis - Errand boys


Monday afternoon was spent touring some of the MiA projects which include:

AB:BA Drop in Centre (in central Talisay City) - Ellie, Abi and Kitty taught the kids the dance ready for the retreat this weekend. It was great to have a chance to meet them all before the weekend.

The White House which currently houses 2 families with a total of 11 children who will soon be moving to one of the Children's homes.

The Blue House which currently houses 1 family with 3 children, also moving to the Children's homes when bulit!

Children's homes land (the walls are up, septic tank is in and water well is dug) - building of the first of 4 houses begins next month. Each house will be run by one set of house parents and house 8 children (former street children and abandoned children, as well as any children of house parents). There will also be a communal eating and cooking area and an apartment above for a small family.

Some of the other MiA projects we will be visiting also include:

The Source mums group - more about that on the next post!
Jail ministry - mens and womens
Schooling - 130 kids in the Talisay area
Schooling feeding - providing rice for very poor families on the schooling project
Tapul - as well as schooling they also do daily feeding here. 
House to house visiting - identifying poorest of the poor for MiA help

Hope this helps to give you an idea of people and projects out here, and will be a useful point of reference during future posts!

More soon....

Great news, you can send a message to us!

Great news, you can now post a message to the team (and they can reply). Just look on the right hand side of the blog page for current messages. Post your messages at the bottom.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Thanks Billy - who worked out how to add this application!!

The team x

URGENT REQUEST...

Today's blog is dedicated to the Abella family, please read on we need your help...

It is unusual for us to post such an update so early into the visit; the Abella family have been involved with Mercy In Action for approximately 2 and half years.  Janice, now 16, has been caring for her 4 younger brothers since their mother died following a domestic situation in the summer of 2007.  Filipino law requires a charge to be made against the perpatrator because she had no local family, Janice's stepfather was allowed to go free.  Local authorities decided that because there was no placement in a childrens home available for all 5 children it was better to leave them in his care.  Mercy In Action have been providing schooling and basic needs for the children; whilst we have been in a position of walking alongside them there has been restrictions as to how involved we have been able to be. 

Christmas 2009 it transpired that serious abuse had been taking place on a regular basis and the local authorities intervened placing Janice in a girls only childrens home, the boys being left in their fathers care!  After a few days Janice discharged herself choosing to return to a place where she knew she was in serious danger but her heart was to care for and protect her brothers.  Mercy In Action have now been given leave to have the children brought into our care.  Those of you familiar with our work will know that our planned childrens centre is not yet complete; for Mercy In Action to step in it will require us to rent an additional house locally as our current halfway houses are full.  We are asking firstly for prayer for the children and secondly for finances to enable us to move these children into a safe home with caring house parents.  Mercy In Action's social workers are working to get the paperwork processed; potential experienced house parents have been identified and to be honest all we need to move this forward is approximately £10,000 to fund this family for a year.  

To protect the children we have diliberately not posted photographs and the names have been changed although we will provide further information should you wish to support this urgent and desparate need. 

If you can help this family please email Allison at mercyinaction2008@googlemail.com for further details of how to give or phone the UK offices 01225 443600.

Thank you

A very warm welcome...

Our lovely welcome banner (below). We wish you also could have seen the smiling faces and heard the singing that we arrived too as well!

We have enjoyed a quiet settling in day today. The jet lag is in full flow (most of the team were wide awake by 3am this morning!). Even so it was great to meet the MiA family at church today (which is held at Em and Tim's house).

The team all shared a little about who we are, and what had got us out to the Philippines. Some of the MiA family shared some of their backgrounds too. Already hearts are begining to be joined together - very exciting!

Ellie, Kitty & Abi also (bravely) shared  a song and dance which the Filipinos all loved!

In order from left to right

Kailyn, Abi, JJ, Ellie, Verity, Kitty & Eric (the girls with Em & Tim's kids)