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