Hope For The Nations

One of the hardest parts of living in the Philippines was knowing that there are hungry families all around, and having limited ability to help.  This video shows the reality for many many hungry and grateful children around the world.  Hope for the Nations aims to enable ordinary people like you and me, to create extraordinary change in the lives of children at risk.  

Meet Abigail and see her story of a changed life with Kids of Hope, which works with Hope for the Nations to empower children at risk to become children of change. 

Learn more, click here.  Donate, click here. 

2012 has been a significant year in the life of Hope for the Nations Philippines with the pain of pruning and the joy of new fruitfulness. A new morning has dawned.  

TOP 5 Memorable Events of 2012

1. Elaschuk family visits the Philippines after 5 years. Highlights were seeing Tabitha kids maturing in life skills, our kids connecting with Tabitha kids - (special moment when my kids,Kezia and Teah shared new worship songs with youth group) and investing in young leaders.  Click here to read more.  
2. 99 Days of Hope brings hope to more kids  Click here  (in case you missed it).
3. Getting kids back to school after brutal flooding displaces thousands in northern Mindanao. Click here to see post.  
4. New team leaders. We are delighted with our new Executive Director Amy Bucog; a dynamic young woman married to Bamie - a proven entrepreneur.  We are also thrilled to have Pastors Teddy and Jenny DePerata leading the House of Jubilee Church and Pastors Peter and Ellen Soriano leading Jubilee Assembly Church, as well as our sponsorship program. Our homegrown leaders have come back to serve with us, Benjie and Rose Gabriel - previous leaders of Tabitha.  Canadians Mike and Cecille McKay have joined the team sharing their trades, nursing and bible teaching skills.  Through this team, we are expecting even greater impact.  
5. Killer typhoon wreaks havoc in western Mindanao.  Click here to see post..

TOP 6 Favourites of 2012.

1. Favourite Video of the Year:  Click here to watch ("A Bright Future" Video).
2. Favourite Post of the Year:  Click here to read.  (Inneke and Rosie).
3. Favourite Scripture of the Year:  You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.  You light a lamp for me.  The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.  In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. (Psalm 18:27-29) 
4. Favourite Song of the Year:  Click here to listen.
5. Favourite Christmas song lyric:  "A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices.  For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."
6. Favourite Quote:  Pastor "These kids really have a testimony, they are confident!"  Pastor Teddy sharing after helping at his first Tabitha Kids gathering. Tabitha Kids is the name of the HFTN kids education and nutrition program. 

A Thrilling 2013 is in the making...
All that has happened in 2012 is preparing us for a more fruitful 2013.  Upcoming and exciting new projects:

1. Bayanihan Banking Program: an indigenous and effective framework for poverty alleviation and training for micro-enterprise.  
2. Agriculture: Securing and developing farmland for the nutrition program and provide micro enterprise businesses.
3. Kids of Hope with John and Suzanne Seale leading.  Check out  Kids of Hope. 
4. Reaching more children (and their families) through barkata’s (groups of 10 in child sponsorship). 

If you would like to donate to Hope for the Nations Philippines to invest in more children being reached and empowered, click here.  Cheques can be made out to "Hope for the Nations" and sent to 222-1889 Springfield Rd. Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1Y 5V5.  Indicate funds are for Philippines on a seperate piece of paper. 

Thank you immensely for your prayer, friendship and support for the Philippines.  We are seeing children from extreme poverty breaking out of their limitations and growing in influence, effecting change in their communities.  A new and glorious morning is on the horizon for so many more.  Together, we are making a difference!

All the best for 2013

Patrick Elaschuk

Hope for the Nations

Three months ago, we launched 99 Days of Hope - a campaign to benefit the children and staff who care for them in some of the Philippines’ most dangerous and poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

You responded generously, and today we are thrilled to be celebrating the close of the campaign with nearly $40,000 raised to help these children.

These funds will provide:

• 2000 hot meals for children
• 6 months’ worth of salaries for staff
• A computer lab for students and tutors
• And much more, including curriculum materials, vocational training and health care.

During the campaign, we appealed to you to help us keep kids tutored and fed, off the streets and in school, safe and cared for. You answered with overwhelming support.

Thank you for being an integral part of our work. Thank you for giving hope in very tangible ways for children at risk. Thank you for providing a chance at a better future for them.

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The Philippines is one of over 20 countries that Hope for the Nations is based in.
Check out other HFTN projects around the globe.

Meet Abigail. She’s a bright and quiet girl who lives in a slum community in the Philippines with her family. She likes to dance, draw, and play with her friends. But her education and health were on the line after her father suffered a major stroke which left him unable to work, and her family struggled to pay for school and food.

Through sponsorship from Hope for the Nations, Abigail’s mother was able to start her own small business as a street vendor selling fried chicken, rice, and juice. The small loan needed to begin her mother’s business has resulted in a better life for Abigail’s entire family. She and her siblings now have enough to eat, are continuing their studies, and have a bright future ahead of them.

These people inspire us every day. We know they’ll inspire you too.

Discover more stories of hope in the Philippines.

For children in poverty around the world, skipping school isn’t fun. Out of school and on the streets, they’re vulnerable to serious harm. But it often seems like the most practical choice.

This is a reality for as many as 5.6 million vulnerable children who are out of class in the Philippines. Find out more.

It is back to school for most Canadian and American children this week. As I dropped off my teenagers this morning at high school, I remembered teaching at a high school in the Philippines.

The hardest thing about teaching in that school was remembering the names of my students. There were often more than 50 kids in my class: all with the same uniforms and all with the black hair and dark eyes of Filipinos.

Some of my favourite memories with the students were when we took the kids out of the class to learn about leadership in the outdoors. The students overcame fears and insecurities through “trust falls,” team building games and communication exercises. I remember one school had sent their top 20 students to a leadership training weekend. Before the camp, this school was in chaos: the teachers did not show up for their classes on time, or at all sometimes, and the kids had the run of the school. That weekend had such an impact on the principal, the teachers and the students, that it seemed to turn the morale around for the entire school.

What I appreciate about students in the Philippines is that in their lives a little goes a long way. A little bit of creativity, a little bit of care, a little bit of help for a student, a class or a school in need can make a huge impact.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Luke 16:10

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

HFTN Project Manager Cecille McKay grew up in the Philippines and fought her way out of poverty with a lot of determination and hard work (watch her tell her story here). Since then, she and her husband have worked in the Philippines over the years to bring opportunities and support to families and children in need.

The work is not easy and finances are not always certain. As Cecille contemplates her family's return trip to the Philippines this fall (they're raising funds on her page) she remembers a few of the many "financial miracles" that have supported her work  in the past.

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

It was after dark, about 7:30pm, when we crossed the road to the “other side of the tracks.” Without any streetlight it was very dark. Some of the small shanty houses had kerosene lamps, others had florescent lights generated by power lines running out of a house that looked like an electrician’s nightmare.

In spite of the darkness, I did not feel afraid, but the young people I was with were obviously nervous. Why? Because we were in “enemy territory.” Years before, the community of Agdao in Davao City, Philippines was nicknamed Nicar-agdao. This was because there had been a lot of violence between government loyalists and fighters of the communist army -- similar to war torn Nicaragua at the time. The result was bloodshed, mistrust, suspicion and fear.

Even though the war was long over, the fear remained for many of these young people. “Crossing the tracks” was the beginning of a journey that would lead the young people into overcoming fear and developing God’s heart for their neighbours. Today, Hope for the Nations Philippines continues to reach out “across the tracks” to bring the message of freedom and love.

Even though I did not experience fear on that occasion, I have had plenty of other opportunities to be influenced by fear. There are times when fear comes from our senses are warning us to be careful. At other times, fear can be a limitation that restricts us from moving into the promises and purposes of God.

Are there some fears that are limiting us today? Let’s take to heart of the words of the Apostle Paul to his mentee Timothy. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

If your vision is for a year, plant wheat.
If your vision is for ten years, plant trees.
If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people.
- Chinese Proverb

A scripture that was a promise to Hope for the Nations Philippines is Isaiah 61:3, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Hope for the Nations is about planting people. First and foremost, we ensure that the children within our reach are “planted” in a secure place. The Bible tells us that “God settles the solitary in a home” (Psalm 68:6 ESV), so we place children in families as much as possible, giving them the best chance to grow healthy and whole. Children are in the care of house parents, teachers, caregivers and so forth who are intentional  about “planting” words of truth in their lives so that when they grow up they will be grounded and mature.

We can all relate to being brokenhearted and in need of comfort at times in our lives. Today, let’s think and pray for the millions of children in the Philippines who are in need of comfort right now because of abandonment, slavery, rejection or disappointment. It is thrilling to see children move from rejection to acceptance by being planted in communities that care for them. Thanks for caring for the children of the Philippines. 

Isaiah 61 - The Year of the LORD’s Favor
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

The following post was written by Rachelle Cordes, who is working with HFTN's projects in Agdao, one of the poorest squatter areas in Davao. Many children go without proper food or shelter, and where all lack what they need to succeed in school. Rachelle is working to change that.

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Meet Gladie, a beautiful little lady with not one or two kids, but six! Like many in Davao, finding regular employment is a huge struggle for Gladie – a stressful fact when you have six little ones to feed and get to school!  Many families simply end up not being able to provide education, or – in other cases – food for their families.
 
Gladie’s story is a little different! She accepted the Lord in the year 2000 and began coming to the HFTN Center in 2004 for discipleship at our women’s bible study. It was here that she learnt about HFTN Jubilee Food for Life feeding program and began also involving her six children.

Gladie values education, and – like all great mothers – wanted opportunity for her children. Unfortunately, her husband was never able to obtain steady employment, finances were always a significant challenge, and education was not looking like an option. Gladie, who had been going deeper in her relationship with God, began to pray. Through relationships at the Center, she began working with our gifted, business-minded pastor. Together, they were able to set up a program in which Gladie is able to use her talent as a seamstress within the Jubilee Center to generate more income for her family. This has allowed her kids to not only receive tutoring from the Food For Life program, but also attend local schools.

Her smile radiates a thousand miles when she talks about what a blessing this place has been for her and her family. Her eldest daughter grew up being cared for in the Jubilee Food For Life feeding center and is now one of the volunteer teachers at only 17! Today, her little ones run around the Jubilee Center, playing and laughing with the other children, getting tutored and fed nutritious meals. Gladie works in the back with a smile on her face, so thankful for the opportunity to have a steady job, as she knows all too well that many of her Filipino brothers and sisters do not have the same opportunity.

It’s so much fun to have such a practical outreach change the lives of the families involved! And be sure to follow our blog, as we will hopefully be able to bring some of Gladie’s work to Canada and the US to be sold there!

- Rachelle Cordes

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”  1 Thessalonians 4:11,12

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

My first significant test of leadership came when I was leading a group of 22 young people on a two month trip when I was a young follower of Jesus. After expending everything I had to ensure this trip was successful, I was informed by some members of the team that they did not like my leadership style. After soul searching and crying out to God, three questions bubbled to the surface:

• What did God think of me?
• What did my mentor have to say?
• What could I do differently?

The answers to these questions have helped shape my life. It took a measure of humility to embrace what God and others thought of me, and to accept some correction.

As a young leader on that trip, I thank God for:

• Affirmation that I was his precious child and he loved me.
• Encouragement from my mentor that helped me work through my insecurities.
• An admonishment from scripture that led me to quietness and trust, repentance and rest.

Being a leader is birthed in the fertile soil of humility.

“We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be.” -R. Ruth Barton

It takes wisdom and insight to foster humility in the lives of children so that they can be “the kind of person they should be” in the foundation of what God thinks of them. This is what we try to do at Hope for the Nations, putting a priority on investing in children today to develop leaders for tomorrow.

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

When it rains, it pours… at least in the Philippines, where powerful tropical storms wreak havoc on vulnerable citizens. These devastating storms result in widespread flooding that impacts poor families and children the most. Not only do they have to deal with leaving their humble houses, but the source of their livelihood is usually cut off, transportation to and from work is disrupted, and many times the implements essential to their business (tools, supplies, inventory, etc) are lost. So not only is the local phrase “no work—no eat” a harsh reality, but for far too many families, it is incredibly difficult to get back to where they were economically—which in the first place is often not enough to put their kids in school.

Life is hard.

The World Risk Report 2011 placed the Philippines as the 3rd highest disaster risk nation in the world behind the much smaller countries of Vanuatu and Tonga. In 2012, this risk has again proved disastrous.

I just received an update from our HFTN partner in Manila where 80% of the area is under water. Can you imagine 80% of your city under water? The last flooding in the region took six weeks for the water to recede.

Rachel Sanchez, our Hope for the Nations partner in Manila, says that “the nation is at a standstill and many are mourning due to the many losses of loved ones, properties and resources. We are all crying and praying as we see the devastation of the ongoing monsoon rains, where 80% of Metro Manila is flooded. What a nightmare! We cry for the poor people in the slum. We cry out for help for the little children who are hungry and naked. They are so helpless, homeless and hopeless!”   

Mixed together with these tears of loss are God’s stories of hope and faith. 

In this time of crisis these lyrics of from a Chris Tomlin song come to mind, which can be read as our prayer for the Philippines:

A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm.
He will wipe away your tears and return your wasted years.
This is our God.

A father to the orphan, a healer to the broken.
He brings peace to our madness and comfort in our sadness.
This is our God.

A fountain for the thirsty, a lover for the lonely.
He brings glory to the humble and crowns for the faithful.
This is our God.

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

The following was written in 2006 by Lincoln Brunner during his visit to Hope for the Nations Philippines.

“Gary Bernadas knows he should be dead. Most of his old barkada, or gang, are victims of street shootings. He was in line to join them before he came to faith in Christ six years ago.

At that time, Gary and his barkada were pulling typical street punk stuff—shoplifting convenience stores, drinking beer, and sniffing Rugby glue. Then one day they were walking down a street in Agdao, a rough neighborhood one of the Philippines’ largest cities, when they saw two young women playing guitar and singing in front of a maternity clinic. The boys, most of them in their early teens, stopped to listen. The women—two missionaries who were visiting Canadians Patrick and Inneke Elaschuk, who worked at the clinic—struck up a conversation and invited the boys to a dinner they were hosting.

Free meals in Agdao aren’t easy to come by, so the boys accepted.

After that, Gary’s barkada started to hang out at the clinic regularly, sometimes for the free food, sometimes to meet some of the girls who worked there. As Inneke delivered babies and counseled mothers, Patrick began sharing the gospel with these boys. Gary accepted Christ soon after.

In the end, boundless grace came to the barkata, even though most of them have since been killed unjustly.”

Six years later, by the grace of God, Gary is fully alive. He is now in his 3rd year of studies at Davao Doctors College in Nursing, ministering as a youth leader in the International Church in town and following the Lord closely. Gary is a testimony of what Hope for the Nations is all about: chosen and empowered leadership.

While in Davao in July, I was encouraged by spending time with Gary. As I walked down the road after saying goodbye, I was overcome by a sense of gratitude for Gary’s life and how it is being used to make a difference. Gary has chosen a career that will allow him to give back to the Philippines, earn an income, and at the same time, be an advocate for the poor—providing a greatly needed perspective in the health care system.

“The glory of God is man fully alive,” says St. Irenaeus, a 2nd Century Bishop.

Seeing young people from adverse backgrounds like Gary become fully alive is amazing!

Share this story with your friends and tell them about how they can help others like Gary become fully alive in the Philippines.

“Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?”  James 2:5

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

Shortly before George Bernard Shaw’s death, a reporter asked the Nobel Prize winner, “If you could be any person in the world at any time, who would you be?"

Shaw replied, “I would be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been but never was.”  

I find it remarkable to think of the untapped potential that resides in the human spirit: the possibilities for character development, worship, and extraordinary acts of service.  Then I think of my own life, and of the times when I allow my own desire for comfort and complacency to limit those possibilities. 

I am inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s quote. It reminds me that there is a person within who will never become completely alive nor flourish until I allow the Master Architect to mold me and make me into more of his masterpiece.   

Today, let’s let go of some of the things that are hindering our spiritual progress and embrace more of what God has for us.  Let us also be mindful of the masterpieces that God is creating around the world, such as those we see when we visit those working with Hope for the Nations in the Philippines.  As these children are given tools to break out of poverty, they can begin to step into their destinies as well.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray. Give. Do.

There are many nations in the world where scores of children are not only abandoned and rejected, but abused and victimized.

“A nation has reached his lowest ebb when children are victimized.”  Ravi Zacharias

What fuels these atrocious behaviours? At the top of the list are greed and corruption, backed by a world view that does not value the sanctity of life. So when it comes to being an advocate for children at risk, it is important not only to make available a safe place where children can have food, love and an education, but also to help communities understand the necessity of developing a worldview that is healthy and loving. As Christians, having the attitude of Christ is a critical part of a biblical worldview - Jesus made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, giving his life as a ransom. He lived his life valuing children.

One of the most beautiful things is when a child from an abandoned or abused background begins to flourish because their caregivers are filled with love and have the attitude of Jesus.  Such is the Kingdom.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  Luke 18:16

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
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Patrick shares a few words about how his daughters learned to give at a young age. The heart has no limits.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

Some words from my wife Inneke...

Five and a half years ago, we returned to Canada, leaving the children of Davao City. They had become part of our lives since we started the Tabitha Feeding Program with HFTN, Philippines. Among all the precious children, a girl named Rosie stood in my heart in a very special way. I was the primary midwife during the delivery of baby Rosie. Three days after Rosie was born, I went looking for her and her mother only to find that they were living in an abandoned Jeep with 4 other children without any male support. SOS, a European secular NGO who had tried to help Rosie’s mother for 3 years, had given up on her. Right away, my heart said, “She needs Jesus.” My experience with Rosie’s mother, and what I discovered about her life, urged me to look deeper into the possible call the Lord had on our family to build a discipleship ministry for the community of Agdao - an urban poor slum in Davao.

Rosie went from being raised in an abandoned Jeep to sleeping under a table at the market. But for the past year, with initial financial help from her sponsor in Canada, she has been able to rent a room to live in. HFTN is a familiar destination, where she receives a meal along with love and acceptance, regular education tutorials and knowledge of Christ.

My husband Patrick visited Agdao last week. He brought home an astoundingly pleasant report of how Rosie is emerging into a confident teen, showing compassion and leadership. This metamorphoses is miraculous.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. Psalm 19:1-2

Still living in poverty, Rosie has many years full of challenges lying ahead. Yet one inheritance she carries with her that no money can buy is Jesus in her life. The presence of HFTN, Philippines in Agdao is a shining light over children like Rosie and a testimony of the goodness of God.

-Inneke Elaschuk

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

Seeing a child full of potential fall into the trappings of life on the street is very heartbreaking. While in Davao in July, I got a ride on a trisicad - a motorcycle with a side car, from  a 16 year old boy who used to hang out at the HFTN centre when he was young. He showed so many traits of leadership. He never got a chance to be sponsored to go to school and eventually stopped coming by. I was very happy to see him again, but saddened to hear that he did not stay in school due to his family’s financial circumstances. Some friends told me that he got hooked on rugby which exacerbated his problems.

There  are 2 types of rugby in the slums, (1) the sport of rugby that my dear friends and HFTN partners in Bangkok play with people in the community and (2) Rugby brand contact cement glue. My young friend was involved in the second kind.

Millions of kids in slums around the world turn to sniffing glue as it curbs hunger pains and suppresses emotional pain. On the flipside, it kills brain cells and dulls the conscience, often leading kids to prostitution and theft to get food.
HFTN Philippines was started with 7 rugby boys, but that’s another story.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Most of us can relate to being very disappointed if something that we have been hoping for doesn’t happen.  We also likely can relate when a dream of ours gets fulfilled - it’s like a tree of life.

Thank you for helping kids' dreams be fulfilled through your prayer and support.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
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*Photo courtesy of Eugene Paul Gonda

When surrounded by so much misery in the world, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and helpless. But it can also lead one to do all it takes to make a change. This is what keeps Patrick going. The more sadness he sees, the more he wants to make a difference. In this video, he shares one of the many unforgettable moments in his work with HFTN.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray . Give . Do

Have you ever been distracted from doing good work?

I can think of many times when I was on record time to complete a project that had tremendous value, when just before I was about to finish it, an email, a phone call, or another competing project screamed out at me as if it was the most important thing in the world.

This week, we are learning from Nehemiah who sought it, bought it and taught it (see Mondays devo). While Nehemiah and his team were almost finished building the wall, Nehemiah was called out by a small group of people who opposed the building project...4 times! Every time, Nehemiah resolutely replied "leave me alone because I am doing a great work!" (Nehemiah 6:3)

Because of his focus, the wall was able to be built and the vision of God was fulfilled. Nehemiah fought it;  he fought off the opposition/distraction with the help of God. Today, let’s pause for a moment and evaluate what negative forces are intending to distract us from the “good work” that God is leading us into. With the resources that God provides, let's be strong and recalibrate our course to be in greater alignment with the vision and plans that God has for us.

Many times, the “great work” is about investing more in our families and communities. Other times it means raising our compassion quotient up a notch or two to help others. Most of all, it means loving each other as if our life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless - cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all can get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help.  

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
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This week I was sharing this devotion with the staff of our main partner in Cambodia - a place where walls have been destroyed.
In the majority of poverty-stricken communities around the world, the protective walls of family, education, economics and support networks have been destroyed, often leaving youth and children prey to predators. Just like Nehemiah who captured God's heart for the plans of a city, we too can get a glimpse of the need to help build family, education, economic and supporting walls to protect children and youth from harm, while planting seeds of hope in them. Seeds that will germinate, grow and develop children at risk into tomorrow’s leaders. Nehemiah did a few things when he heard the condition of his hometown.
1.       HE SOUGHT IT:  When I heard these things (walls destroyed and gates burned with fire), I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:3) Nehemiah sought the vision of God for the city.
2.       HE BOUGHT IT:  Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire.   Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." I also told them about the gracious hand of God upon me and what the king had said to me.  (Nehemiah 2:17) Nehemiah bought into the vision because he knew God was with him.
3.       HE TAUGHT IT:  So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. (Nehemiah 4:6)  Nehemiah taught it (the vision of God) to the community by his sacrificial and inspirational leadership. 
What is God's vision for children at risk that God is inviting you into? Thanks for helping us build the walls with Hope for the Nations in 25 different countries.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

It's hard for children to imagine a bright future when their days are filled with fear and uncertainty. So, during these 99 days, you can do your part to help make a child feel safer and happier in the Philippines. To stay inspired, follow Patrick Elaschuk here as he continues to share his stories this week.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for
at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray . Give . Do

Over the past couple months, I have been going through some pretty high calibre disappointments. It seems like in times like this we  can dwell on discouraging situations and adopt that momentary "deer staring in the headlight" kind of response instead of taking authority over our thoughts, clinging onto hope and responding in love. In spite of the shots that get fired our way, let us remember that hope never disappoints, and the process of obtaining this quality of hope is precious, even though it comes with a cost.

….rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3b-5

People in our lives can make some ridiculously disappointing decisions, whether that is family, co-workers, friends, even acquaintances.  There is love available to us to respond in grace and courage.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

You never know what lurks under the surface..... Sounds like a tagline for the latest killer shark on steroids movie. Once, while driving in a "killer" rainstorm in the Philippines, I ran over an 8 inch deep, 10 foot long, unfinished piece of road. Because there were no warning signs and because the hole was filled with water, there was no indication of the danger that lurked beneath the surface. Two new wheels and two new tires later, I learned a couple lessons.
1) Wait until it is safe to drive.
2) Always be mindful of what may be lurking underneath.
Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. – John Ortberg

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.  Psalm 27:14

As we wait patiently, let’s be people that are aware of the things that are lurking underneath the surface of our character, and allow the transforming power of God’s spirit to help us be what God wants us to be.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

In case you missed it last week, take a moment and watch Patrick Elaschuk as he shares a few words on how he got to where he is today - a place where giving hope to children in need is a life priority.

If you haven't yet, check out his blog posts at Patrick.HopefortheNations.com to see stories of challenge and finding hope through perseverence and the love of God. 

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

Not again!  It happened too many times while we lived in the Philippines - the small water tank that collected water on our roof emptied unnecessarily. The usual suspect was the rubber stopper in the toilet not landing properly, allowing trickles of water to escape, leaving us as a family, waterless.

You see, water only made it to our house in the middle of the night, so if our tank drained, we would have no water all day long until the next night.  We learned how to check the potential water leaks incessantly and have buckets of water as a back- up.

As followers of Jesus who receive our strength from God, we all have leaks, where resources naturally trickle out. Let us remember about our need to be filled by the only One that can provide for all our needs and “fill our tanks”.

I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine.  (Ephesians 3:19,21)

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray . Give . Do

I was once in a very big storm on the ocean in a very small boat. In fact the waves were crashing  so powerfully inside the boat that it was very quickly filling up with water.

Compounding the dilemma was that the ocean water was sooo salty that we could not even open our eyes.  Everyone was using any object they could find to bail  the water out, but the water continued to rise quickly.

In the end, the plug to the drain had dislodged (an orange), which caused even more water to enter the vessel.  The storm eventually died out, all the water was bailed out and we ran out of gas.  During this harrowing time, we were a refuge for each other and God was a refuge for us.

Psalm 9:9  The Lord is a refuge in times of trouble.

During these 99 days together, it is my hope and my prayer that we all develop in our understanding of the Lord being our refuge, and that we grow as we become more of refuge to others.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.

Pray . Give . Do

Meet Patrick Elaschuk, Executive Director, as he gives us a glimpse into his life and how he started his work with HFTN.  

You can follow him here for more stories.

Cecille gives us a quick lesson on some favourites from the Philippines. Come and have a taste tomorrow at Hope for the Philippines event.

This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
Pray . Give . Do

For those of you who missed the Hope for the Nations Philippines party June 2nd. Everyone had a great time learning about the work happening in the Philippines and we saw over 16 people commit to PRAY, GIVE or DO something to help the ongoing work. 

We're having another get together June 23rd. This event is hosted by Patrick Elaschuk, Executive Director of Hope for the Nations along with Michael and Cecille McKay. For more info and to register go here. 

Meet Ace, one of the fabulous young gentleman that Jun and Ed’s youth have met through their outreaches into the ‘tent cities’. Tent cities were the refugee camps set up in response to last December's severe typhoon which left thousands of people homeless (please check out our ‘EMERGENCY RELIEF for the PHILIPPINES - Act Now to Help’ page for more information) 

It’s been a rough year for Ace and his family (8 of them!). About 6 months ago, Ace was working labour and fell. This fall, left him as a paraplegic with quite a nasty gash on his leg. He and his family were just adjusting to this change when “Sendong” hit and took their home. The floods came so quickly, that they were forced to all climb nearby mango trees to escape the flood waters. Ace’s family worked as a team to haul him high enough up the tree so he was safe. They then tied him to the tree and hung on for 6 hours while they waited to be rescued.
 

They lost everything and are now living in one of the ‘tent cities’. Despite the hardships that have befallen Ace and his family, there is a lovely peace that surrounds them. Ace talks about the youth coming to his house to pray and hang out with him and how they are like "presents from God".

His mother was sharing how it is difficult to feed all 8 mouths and take care of Ace’s health concerns (which includes a unhealed wound from his fall), but God is providing and always filling them with hope.
 

It’s really is amazing to see the youth rally around this lovely family and other ones like them, who have lost everything and face quite trying circumstances every day. Their testimony of peace and hope is truly inspiring.
 

People who have a heart for their city, that is the perfect description for Pastor Jun and Ed. This gorgeous couple have started their church only 6 months ago and God has filled it with eager and hungry youth. Their passion flows from their church and onto the streets of Cagayan- A recipe for revival!

Along with Pastor Jun and Ed, these youth are touching their city! It’s a common perception and word spoken over youth in the Philippines that they are “nuisances” or “troublemakers”, but God is using these youth to prove them wrong! 
 

Every second Saturday, they all get together to make a healthy nutritious meal for all the children in one of the local slums. They feed anywhere from 80-120 kids, along with any breastfeeding mothers and/or pregnant women. Along with Pastor Jun and Ed, it’s the youth who get their hands dirty and cook and serve and pray with this community.

It really is something special to witness as many of the youth are from this local community and from homes where their parents are plagued by addictions of gambling and drinking. To see them come from such broken homes, but stepping up and serving them and the next generation, is so special, and like we said- is a recipe for revival! They want to increase the feedings to every Saturday but at this moment cannot due to lack of funds, so if you want to be a part of this fun program, please donate!

The youth that come from these broken homes where gambling and drinking rule, often find refuge in the homes of their second parents- Pastor Jun and Ed. They have opened up their homes to these youth and found it’s become a safe place for them and a place where consistent mentorship is happening.

Pastor Jun and Ed live on the top of a mountain and when the typhoon “Sendong” hit back in December, one of the many refugee camps, or more commonly known, “tent cities” was set up right in their back yard. Having their home already being ‘the place to hang out”, this was an opportunity that could not be missed! Pastor Jun sent the youth out to minister and love on this tent community of a couple hundred families. There is a presence of God and peace in this camp that is not in the other ones. It was amazing to walk with the youth and visit family to family and watch them pray, listen and love on these many victims.

Along with everyday mentorship, evangelism and frequent happening worship times, God is really moving in Cagayan! Pastor Jun and Ed live with open hands and what they receive, they consistently pour back into their community! In driving around one day, Pastor Jun and Ed pointed out a hidden tent community that did not receive lots of handouts because of its obscure location. They had just received a donation from a mission team and were excitedly reporting they were going to go the following day to minister and distribute food. If you want to partner with an exciting project in the Philippines that focuses on all aspects of community, these are you guys! 
 

Join us in this 99 day journey to help families and children living in poverty in the Philippines.  Your support means they have a chance for a better life – a life that all children deserve.

• Pray for the children and families at risk. 
• Give $1 a day for 99 days to support HFTN’s work in the Philippines. 
• Do away with something unnecessary in your life; share your experience with people around you and inspire them to join you in raising funds.

“Today’s orphans, tomorrow’s leaders!” While these two ladies are not orphans, they have been mentored up through our ministries in Davao and are golden examples of our youth rising up into “tomorrow’s leaders”. Meet Janice and Shazadel two young adults who have been around since the ‘olden days’. Janice even accepted Jesus through our youth program in 2003!

Both these ladies were described as initially being extremely shy but have overcome that and are now pouring into the next generation by working as teachers within the Tabitha feeding program. They have a passion and love for children that radiates! When asked what their favorite parts to their job was, Janice shared her favorite time was their ‘fellowship time’ as this is when kids get to share about what’s really going on with them. She smiled as she recalled their stories and described how sometimes she laughs with them and other times she cries with them. Such a beautiful display of relationship!

Shazadel described her favorite part as ‘devotion time’. Her eyes softened as she explained what it was like to watch these children be transformed through the love of Christ. She also laughed, as she explained how much these little guys love to sing and pray! What an amazing thing to see one generation being touched and then consequently pouring into the next.

But this is just the start for these two young ladies. Both are pursing university educations to be better equipped to work with and continue pouring into children. Janice is getting her teaching degree and has one year to go, and Shazadel is getting her social work degree and has 3 more years. At the moment, Shazadel is sponsored for her schooling but Janice still needs a sponsor for her last year.

At Hope for the Nations, we have 2 options for sponsorship, a basic sponsorship which is $40 per month, or an advanced sponsorship which is $75 per month. In the case of these two young ladies, sponsorship covers their tuitions costs, school supplies, exam fees, school uniforms, tutorials and essentially everything related to education. Sponsorship also covers ensuring healthy meals, family support and minor medical bills. If God is speaking to you, please check out our sponsorship program and help us invest into youth’s lives within the Philippines! 
 

LINK FOR SPONSERSHIP: 

http://www.hopeforthenations.com/program/program.aspx?asset=172
 

To directly sponsor Janice, please contact us at:   lisamarie@hopeforthenations.com
 

A few weeks ago we met Alice (posting below) one of the talented young ladies working at Bahandi Gifts (the business line of products from Ginapadala International) and a part of the jewellery making program in HFTN Cebu. We are going to continue meeting some of the ladies from the community who are involved in these ministries and hear how it not only affects their lives, but also what God is doing! This week, meet the talented and beautiful Elsa!

Elsa has been married for 9 years and her husband is fortunate enough to have work as a hospital janitor. Unfortunately, he only makes minimum wage, which makes it impossible to adequately support themselves and their 4 gorgeous girls.
 

Elsa, like all great mothers, values education and wants her daughters to be educated. In order to ensure this, she used to frequently take on small jobs like doing laundry for others in the community, even though she suffered from an allergic reaction to the laundry soap. This is why the being a part of the jewellery making business makes such a difference for her! She can comfortably work, allergy free to help have income for her gorgeous growing girls.
 

Elsa blushed as she shared how her relationship with Jesus really began through the bible studies and prayer times offered at the jewellery making program. She reports, that she “is so happy” as these times not only serves as discipleship for her, but also for her daughters. “I tell them what I learn” is what she says beaming. The love of God being passed on from generation to generation, a beautiful thing!    
 

    Meet Gladie, a beautiful little lady with not one or two kids, but six! Like many in Davao, finding regular employment is a huge struggle and stressful fact when you have six little ones to feed and get to school!  Many families simply end up not being able to provide education or in other cases food for their families.

   Gladie’s story is a little different! She accepted the Lord in the year 2000 and began coming to HFTN center in 2004 for discipleship at our women’s bible study. It was here that she learnt about HFTN Jubilee Food for Life feeding center and began also involving her 6 children. Her smile radiates a thousand miles when she talks about what a blessing this place has been for her and her family. Her eldest daughter grew up being cared for in the Jubilee Food For Life feeding center and is now one of the volunteer teachers at only 17!

   Gladie values education and like all great mothers wanted this opportunity for her children. Unfortunately as her husband was never able to obtain steady employment and finances were always a huge struggle, education was not looking like an option. Gladie who had been going deeper in her relationship with God began to pray! Then through relationship at the center, she began working with our gifted business minded pastor. They worked together and were able to set up a program where Gladie is able to use her talent as a seamstress within the Jubilee center to generate more income for her family. This has allowed her kids to not only recieve tutoring from the Food For Life program, but as well attend local schools.

Today her little ones run around the Jubilee center, not only playing and laughing with the other children but also are getting tutored and feed nutritious meals. Gladie works in the back with a smile on her face, so thankful for the opportunity to have a steady job as she knows all too well that many of her Filipino brothers and sisters do not have the same opportunity. So much fun to have such a practical outreach change the lives of the families involved! And be sure to watch as we will hopefully be able to bring some of Gladie’s practical work to Canada to be sold there!
 

We have many talented young ladies working at Bahandi Gifts (the business line of products from Ginapadala International) and a part of the jewellery making program in HFTN Cebu.

These gorgeous women come from one of the local communities and over the next few weeks, we are going to introduce you to them! They have heart felt stories about their struggles in supporting themselves, their families and each other. But they also have testimonies about what God is doing and how these programs have helped make a difference for them!

Today, meet Alice, a gorgeous young woman with one of the cutest wide eyed baby boys. Her tale is seemingly common one for the Philippines, as she was pregnant at only 18 years old.

Alice found herself pregnant and alone with no way of supporting herself or her little one on the way. It was one of the ladies in her community that knew of her situation who decided to love on Alice and invite her to be a part of the jewellery making program. Alice shared how these ladies stepped in and loved on her in such practical ways. They not only helped with the cost of being pregnant and having a new born baby, but also opened the doors for her to be a part of a new livelihood- jewellery making!

This young single mom is now smiling, laughing and playing with her gorgeous little boy, Ervin. She explained that initially when she was pregnant and alone, she was so disillusioned and disappointed in life, but God sent these ladies in the community to her. Alice is now able to support 7 month old Ervin and herself. She is also going to bible study and prayer every day. When asked what this opportunity has meant for her, she smiled and said it really has changed her life.
 

Last night was the Graduation Banquet and RINGHOP of Jonalyn Diano, one of the College Students GII has assisted for three years. 

Through HOPE FOR THE NATIONS you have helped Jona reach her dream of being the first in her family to graduate from college!!  

Her life took a turn 4 years ago, when she was bartending at a resort near her home in Malapascua.  Someone offered to help her go to college... She took the brave steps and came to Cebu, enrolled at the University of San Jose - Recolletes.  

She struggled through her first semester, then met some students who were studying the bible!  She lived with me for a year, and has been discipled and nurtured by our friends in PSALM.  Not only were her dreams of a college education realized, she has also grown into a woman of God who has also impacted her family and community for good!

While Jona studied, and fulfilled her requirements for her Batchelor of Science in Business Management, she also gave GII 5 volunteer hours a week, including attending our staff devotions every Tuesday morning.  

She has challenged me many times in her deep insite of scripture, and passion for prayer.

Last night, after the great food, each graduate was called upon to make a symbolic “hop” through a giant ring indicating their transition from being a student to a newly graduated qualified citizen, ready to be a valuable member the workforce.

I reflected, as we watched more than 300 graduates “hop” through the giant ring holding their lit candle, to receive a ring from their parents or sponsor. 

GII has “hopped” through a giant ring this month.  We have transitioned from a learning student of the society, hoping to bring hope and light through livelihood to some families in need to being practitioners in the field, now passing through a “ring” of learning and experiments to the realities of producing a few citizens who are now valuable members of the workforce, supplying daily needs for their families with hope for their future!!

Jona is a part of our history, and now our futures are wide open...

I know God will guide and lead us as He has in the past!

Tabitha Food for Life feeding program runs 6 days a week and the one in Agdao caters on average to 60-100 children a day, all from extreme poverty. The kids that come get a healthy nutritious meal. They also receive tutoring in school, get daily teaching on basic primary health, and get to play and be loved on by our wonderful staff.

I want you to meet 4 of our little ones from Tabitha Food for Life feeding program, Ma Caila, Hazel Ann, John Mark and Anna Marie. These little guys took time out of their morning play time to tell us a bit about themselves!
 

Ma Caila is 9 years old and Anne Marie is 7 years old. When asked what these little girls wanted to be when they grew up, they pointed towards their beloved teachers and tutors at Tabitha and said “we want to be like them!”
 

Our sweet little John Mark who is 9 years old said he wanted to be a police man. And Hazel Ann, 7 years, smiled and said she wanted to be an artist!
 

All of these children come from impoverished families where sometimes gaining basic supplies like food and education are very real struggles. It’s so lovely to see them provided with these basic necessities and have the ability to dream big for their futures!
 

Meet one of the talented sewers at Bahandi Gifts (the business line of products from Ginapadala International), Mr. Josue Negro. His story is one of divine appointments and connections! This talented man has been a sewer since 1979, but before working at Bahandi Gifts, he shared how he lived a life filled with gambling and drinking. He regretfully explained how this lifestyle tore his family apart and most of the time, when he was at home he did not know where his wife or 6 children were. But 3 years ago, God intervened!

His nephew, a pastor who connected with our people at Bahandi Gifts, had heard that they needed a sewer. This divine connection was made and Josue started working at Bahandi. Through his time there, the staff and his nephew were able to share Jesus, and this is where he says his relationship with Jesus began! He described how initially, he struggled to give up his vices of gambling and drinking, but every day he would just talk to Jesus about it.

Today, he sits smiling and beaming with his wife and reports that he is free! He says how working at Bahandi gifts, not only introduced him to Jesus, but has also provided a avenue of funds and support for him, his children and now his many grandchildren. Isn’t it amazing how God divinely connects people to ultimately get into their lives and change not only them, but their whole families?

This is the Ginapadala vision! Raising up disciples and empowering them through love! If you want to be a part of this wonderful transformation project, please follow the links to donate!
 

This evening is a special time in many ways for me...

Tonight I fly with Alicia, our GII business manager to Singapore enroute to Cambodia, and Thailand!!

I met "Gaga" (Some call her "LADY GAGA") more than 3 years ago because I heard she was making soap.  That was one industry I thought was a great livelihood because it was consumable, local, and inexpensive to make.

So every other week, Gaga and her business partner Jackie would come to our office with a batch of laundry detergent, and fabric softener, which we in turn would sell to our sewers for them to use to wash the juice packs used in our recycled juice pack bags.

With very short notice one morning in June of 2009,  I invited Gaga, Jackie, and anyone else she could find to our jewelry-making training since the invited gals did not show up!

To make a long heart-warming, and God story short... Gaga helped us in Oct 2010 to file the necessary papers for our triple wedding,  and was in charge of 11 other jewelry makers in Cebu.  We then hired her as our full-time staff at GII - our business manager for the production of our Bahandi Gifts, and this year she lead a team of others who trained 13 gals in jewelry making from a safe house, graduated from the Kairos course AND was beside me when we graduated with a certificate of Transformational Development from ASDECS in October 2011!

I will bring her to Cambodia this week to interview and research some of the many social enterprises in Phnom Penh.  I will also bring her with me to the Hope for the Nations Conference held in Pattaya, Thailand Feb 6-9.

It is there that we will give a short ministry presentation of what Ginapadala International Inc is.

When a group of visitors come to our office, or when we present our ministry to others we usually explain that Ginapadala is the Cebuano word for SENDING, and explain the acronym S.E.N.D.

S is for Study Scripture and Society

E is for Equipping and Empowering

N is for Networking for the Needy and our Neighbours

D is for Discovering and Developing Disciples of Jesus.

Gaga usually explains the E, since she has been equipped and empowered with our skills trainings and in our business area.

However, since she has become our full time staff in October of 2010, she has not only learned about all of them, but now,  she LEADS in them all!!

I have been so blessed by her life.  Just over two years ago her husband died, leaving her a widow with two young girls.  She now lives with her mom, her 12 year old, her 7 year old, and her 12 year old niece finds refuge in her home most nights of the week as well.  She has also been a wonderful nieghbour,  hosting a Sunday morning Bible study for several ladies in her community.

She recently volunteered on board the Logos Hope for three weeks, 8 hours a day being one of the "Accommodation Angels", cleaning the ship's staircases, hall ways, and washrooms,  doing the laundry for 400 crew members, and cleaning the visitor cabins.  Before and during those hours of work, she also sat in on the daily devotions and prayer-times with the ships' company.

What a great training ground for our short vision trip this week!!  I am so privileged to be able to travel with her!!

Today, please pray for our travels, and her household, as we will be gone for 2 weeks.