Never Alone

In Psalms 118:6 it says ” The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid…” It’s a great reminder that wherever we are, we are never alone – though we face trials and difficulties. A fact that we can hold on to is that God will never abandon us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) in every battle that we face and even if we can’t see Him, we can feel His presence through the people or events that He uses to move in and through us.

Our feeding program is just one of the numerous reminders that we are not meant to live this life alone. We thank all the volunteers for sharing with us their valuable time and lots of energy as we go to Camp 7 and feed 600 children. Our gratitude goes to our supporters who are faithfully blessing the children and their families with nutritious food.

The message for the children is to remove their anxieties in the unknown future and trust a known God for everything. They were made to realize that there is a God who is bigger than their problems, their concerns, and much bigger than poverty! It was a fun-filled day spent with the children who were very receptive to our coming. Kudos to their teachers who willingly assisted us!

Beyond Resources Control

 

Harvard Business School defines entrepreneurship as the pursuit of opportunities beyond resources control. It means that the amount of resources is not a determinant of one’s pursuit of greater things. We believe that this definition is not just meant for entrepreneurship but also for academic excellence.

Our twin scholars could surely attest to that! There was a financial challenge in their family as the school year 2013-2014 started and through our partners’ support, we were able to provide educational assistance to the twins. As the school year ended, all their labor and hard work were surely rewarded! They were part of the overall roster of honor students in Grade 8.  Erika is top 2 and Joy is top 8!  The resources were limited for the two but it did not stop them from pursuing greater things, greater opportunities in life. One more important thing to remember is that they did it all for the Lord, keeping in mind this verse as they go through the school year:

Truly, all your support paid off. Their testimony is a proof that we can excel regardless of certain limitations surrounding us… and together, we can make a difference. Thank you for covering them with prayers and for supporting their education.

 

 

 

Next Gen

Children could have various influences; there are many words, philosophies, events, and experiences that could enter their young sponge-like minds. So we have to be careful on the things we pass on to them. We have a responsibility to mould them into quality change makers and ones who would be able to live their lives well.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 78:4 that “…We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his powers and the wonders He has done.” And that’s what we keep on doing – letting these children know the truth about God and the things He did, He does, and He will do in our lives so as to spark the hope in their hearts and increase their faith that God is able to do amazing things.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in coordination with Feed Hope organized a mass feeding program and giving of goods. A total of 75 street children were gathered at the Silungan Center for a short program prepared by the organizers.

 

Nothing beats blessing the children who would be the future of our land. We should never stop to pursue a better future for them and we start first with shaping their mindset with the truth from the Word of God.

Unconditional

When you hear the word unconditional, what primarily comes to mind? One might have heard of Katy Perry’s hit song entitled Unconditional; on one hand, others might claim to  have given love unconditionally as a firsthand experience; on the other hand, others might confess to have received such. Regardless of how you would associate the word unconditional to different aspects of your life, you cannot argue that it has always been associated with the word LOVE. Since February is a love month, let us draw more on the One who loved us first, who enables us to love others… to the One who gives genuine unconditional love.

Love in itself has so many definitions, but the Bible gives the definite ones. As we read the book of Romans, we would like to highlight two definitions of love and retell our stories this love month!

Love must be sincere. Romans 12:9

The school year is about to come to an end – another year of fun learning, another year that we were given an opportunity to be a blessing and to speak words of blessing in the lives of these children. This month, we were joined by Valdez Charitable, one of our faithful partners. They are a group of doctors who supports Feed Hope in all its endeavors.

Sincerity is a by-product of genuine love, unlike popular belief that sincerity should come first in order to love others. It’s something that comes out naturally when you have genuine love…you don’t have to work it out because it will definitely be felt by the receiver as the giver exhibits it. It is our hope to make the children feel the sincerity of our labor and love, through the feeding of their tummies, and filling in their spiritual hunger through values formation activities which will establish their foundations.

 

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Romans 13:10

On the last week of Feb, our Bite of Hope scholars received an allowance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This one tells it all. We don’t love someone and wish the worst thing to happen in their lives; loving someone is also hoping the best for them – rejoicing with them in triumph, being with them in times of defeat and uplifting them in the moments of anguish. We’d like to see the ones that we love to prosper in what they do, to hit their calling in life, and to live this life in the fullest. We aim that they become better everyday and become agents of better change in the people around them and in the future. These children are our key to a great future ahead, and we pray in our hearts that the goodness they receive would be contagious in their family, in school, in their community.

Each moment is given to us to lead people back where Unconditional Love awaits them. Not only during love month do we have the license to talk about love; in fact, every day we have the liberty to speak of it because we experience it day by day. As each morning brings new hope, each one delivers an everlasting message of love.

 

The God Who Protects

“…For He is the living God

And he endures forever;

His kingdom will not be destroyed,

 His dominion will never end.

He rescues and he saves;

He performs signs and wonders

In the heavens and the earth.

He has rescued Daniel

From the power of the lions.”

Daniel 6:26-27

In the pit of danger and threat, Daniel made a stand to never bow down any other God. When the king’s decree seemed all powerful and aggressive, he was not intimidated by the perils that await his decision, for he was yet to prove that he believes in a God who’s way incomparable to the rest of the gods believed to exist.

This January, we were joined by volunteers in our Taste of Hope Program in Sto. Tomas. Also, we were privileged to be helped by one of our partners from Saudi Arabia and visited by our partners in Baguio City. It was such a remarkable experience.

The children were always so ready to play games! We played Pass the Message and though the messages changed when it reached the end of the line, nothing could change or even replace the joy in each one’s heart as they achieve the goal of winning. The winning team gets a free taho (courtesy of our volunteer who sells taho for a living).

The energy seemed unlimited. So we incorporated a game in the Bible story with three characters – Daniel, King, Lion – each character was represented by a group and they were supposed to create a sound each time the name was mentioned during the story telling. The children learned that making a stand for the right things especially when it comes to God and our convictions would be remarkably rewarded. They also learned that our God protects us from harm and evil. And that if we make a decision to do what’s right, others would see the faithfulness of God in our lives just like what happened to the king who was astonished by the God of Daniel. After witnessing what happened, the king declared the aforementioned verses.

It has been proven through ages that God is a God who protects. We’d like to thank all of you who include us in your daily prayers to be continually covered by His protection; and most especially for praying for these children – that they may always be safe and healthy, and that they may grow up with convictions as they continue this life’s journey.

Never cease praying.

 

Amidst Suffering and Tears

Many suffering people want to love God, but cannot see past their tears. They feel hurt and betrayed. Sadly, people often respond with more confusion than comfort.

Philip Yancey (1997) emphasizes that people suffering in this world is a bitter reality that we have to face; in fact, we may be one of them. Moreover, the response of people whom they seek to find comfort from are somewhat confusing rather than a clear path of pointing them to Jesus at trying times. Amidst suffering and tears of people, we are called to represent His love to this world in such a time as this.

We humbly thank God for enabling us to make known His love to other people through His faithful provisions of resources and answered prayers through people like you. In this month, we were able to bless a whole elementary school in Sto. Tomas. During their Friday snack time, the children lined up for their weekly feeding program. There were about 300 students who participated and enjoyed their sweet champorado!

We also launched our Taste of Hope Program in Bakakeng Elementary School which was participated by 120 malnourished students. The program would continuously cater to these students every monday, wednesday and friday.

Thank you for being part of everything that we do. We greatly appreciate your role in representing His love to His people despite our different circumstances in life. God bless you all!

A Chord of Three Strands

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Countless moments of our lives are meant to be shared and would be made more meaningful if not kept to ourselves. In times of triumph, it is great to share the joy to the ones we value the most. In trying times, it lightens the load if the burden is shared. In our pursuits of our passions and dreams, part and parcel of our success is the role of the individuals surrounding us – whether their contribution is grand as the ocean or as seemingly insignificant as the morning dew – we cannot neglect the fact that life is lived momentously if shared. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 4:12 clearly supports this saying that two are good but three is even better.

One – The Children

On a chilly weekend of August, a bunch of enthusiastic children opened the gates of Sto. Tomas Elementary School for our Taste of Hope program.

“We’re awake, alert, alive, enthusiastic!”

Moreover, volunteers joined us despite the gloom in the sky. Ate Carol’s cell group joined us in the life mentoring with the kids and they prepared the games and the Bible story.

Ate Carol’s energetic cell group members

The activity started with a simple prayer led by Kuya Pancho. The children, having formed in them the posture of praying, automatically bowed their heads, closed their eyes and put their hands together when told that it was already time to pray.

“Let us pray…”

As our morning booster, we started out with fun games! The volunteers prepared a series of role plays which the children would watch and determine whether the action done by the characters portrayed were right or wrong. The children were also asked to explain briefly why they deem the action as such. Another exciting part? The one who answers correctly gets a prize! Everyone was earnestly watching the scenes and eagerly raised their hands at the signal.

Two – The Volunteers

We prepared another role play for the story telling. As one of the highlights of the program, the volunteers brought with them a very simple scenario in the Bible with a great message attached to it. It was the moment when a sinful woman was being judged by the people in town and Jesus intervened. He told them that whoever has not sinned to courageously pick up a stone and throw it to the woman and everyone left.

The children were told that we should exert our best effort to do what is pleasing in God’s eyes. Also, they were reminded that even if we have sinned in the past, Jesus is willing to forgive us and He gives a way for mankind to have a better path in life. And lastly, they were advised not to judge other people for it is not right.

Some of the parents helped us also during the hand washing and of course, the barangay officials prepared a sumptuous food for everybody. This program was really a result of people coming together having the same heart and having the same passion and vision for these children. We were really blessed for an alumna of the elementary school who’s now a professional graced the event with additional food for the students and the volunteers.

Three – God

We gathered them again for the prayer before eating and we had Dennis, a grade five student, as our volunteer. We thanked God for the blessings we were about to receive and we prayed that the children and their families would be blessed abundantly.

God is the main ingredient for everything we do. We acknowledge that without His grace and favor upon His children, we would not be able to this activity and reach out to the students’ lives. It is Him who enables us to do great pursuits all for the sake of His glory. And we believe that it is Him who would make the seeds planted in the children’s heart to grow and bear fruits.

The children, the people who help, and God as the main source = cannot be easily broken. 

July 26 Life Mentoring Pictures

This gallery contains 10 photos.

Our Taste of Hope Program pictures in Sto. Tomas Elementary School.

What Is Right

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right…. Parents do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1,3

The good relationship at home is like the sunlight and water that the seed needs in order to grow. The presence or the lack of it determines whether the seed will survive or perish. The seed is the child that has been sown into the family and it is of great importance that each one knows how to nourish them.

Our Taste of Hope program for the malnourished pupils in Sto. Tomas Elementary School runs three times a week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Last Friday, we conducted our scheduled life mentoring to the pupils and to their mothers as well.

Right Meal
We evaluate the performance of these children in school, how they perform academically and how they do physically. The aim is to lift them up out of malnutrition and to raise them as healthy, God-loving kids. So we serve them healthy food for lunch. This Friday’s menu: our Manna pack (protein pack) and veggies!

our Friday lunch with the children and their mommies…

Right Time

Paul must have been prophetic to have foreseen that relationships in the family would soon be prone to strains and stress. Or maybe, it was the case during his time already. Whatever holds true, the fact that foundations and roles in the family should be laid down carefully and properly should be kept in mind and in practice. The time to speak the truth to the families we minister to is NOW.

waiting to be filled with pupils

The Value of Values

In a parents’ point of view, raising kids who are morally upright is of great importance. Not only would it show that they were able to impart good values to their kin but also would be indicative of making a good contribution to the society by raising responsible citizens. The children’s behavior would also be a reflection of the behavior at home. However, this is not always true because the truth is, there are many influences on the the child external to the family. Outside the cares of the home, lots of uncontrolled inputs will come and penetrate the child’s mind.

One mother who accompanied her child during the Taste of Hope program had a brief exchange of thoughts with one of our volunteers about this last Saturday. She expressed her gratitude on the program that did not only aim to give food to the children but also to impart the important values that would help them in their everyday lives. According to her, children nowadays, even the little ones, should be certainly guided when it comes to their conduct. She said, “Mabuti nga yung meron kayong mga ganyan, kasi iba na ang mga bata ngayon. Kailangan nilang maturuan ng tamang asal.”

All the more that we are inspired to continue the programs for the children. This simple appreciation and motivation we received that day was more than enough to fuel us the coming days of reaching out to the next generation!