So, this month on the race we’ve been hanging out in the Philippines working with Kid’s International Ministries (KIM). It’s been quite the switch up from Africa where 90% of what we were doing was preaching and door-to-door evangelism. Here ministry is diverse and in a lot of ways whatever we choose to make it. Jeff Long is the guy who heads up KIM and he is one of the biggest visionaries I’ve ever met, just being around him challenges me because when this guy gets a vision from the Lord he doesn’t just brush it off but he trusts it into reality, and he encourages others to do the same. Because of that there is a big need for help here and ton for us to do. So I’d like to show you around a bit.
This is KIM as we've known it so far:
Josie's Angels- Jeff's daughter Josie started up a bible study with girls around the commnity where we live and after some time getting to know them realized that a good number of them were living in home environments that were just not healthy. She talked to her dad about it and he challeneged her to do something about it and hence forth came what the call the "Jazz House" where 26 girls now live. Every morning and evening we have the opportunity to go and hang out, love on, have fun with, and basically be "big sisters" to these girls. Our first week here we got to set up a a trampoline in the yard for them, ha quite the ordeal considering it was donated with out instructions and the pieces were kind of hard to get together at times… but we got it done and have been having a blast on it with all the girls.
Feedings- Every day at 10am and 430pm we go out and feed people around Manila. Because of all the connections Jeff has, he has been blessed with the ability to do this. He does it in connection with local churches giving them a way to connect with the people around them and serve them by helping feed them on a regular basis. The feedings each day are in a new place but every week on that day we go back to the same location, so the people in that area know every week they can count on this meal. After giving them food too we get to hang out a bit and play with the mass amount of children that always come. It also means that sometimes we get the privelage of unloading all the food that is provided for these feedings. So far we've only had to unload one truck during out time here, but each truck has 35 palates with 33 boxes each weighing about 30 pounds… which means we unloaded just around 19 tons of food.
Children's Home- Right around the corner from where we stay is the children's home, which is where a bunch of children live. Ha, but really. They are orphans or children who have been given to the home by their parents because they don't have the means to take of them themselves. They are the most rambuncious kiddos and yet so adorable and loveable. We get to help out with taking care of them each day and then every sunday we get to hold a service in the front yard for them plus all the kids that live in the community around the home. It generally includes kids running around like crazy, lots of playground action, games of soccer, football, and basketball with a grand finally of a skit, puppet show, or some other creative presentation of a bible story.
Children's Garden- This one's just for the boys. CG is boys home which gets boys off the streets and into a home where they are discipled and raised up through the gospel. I actually haven't been the to the home, but every wednesday and thursday night Sharon (the lady who helps run the home) and some of the older boys go out to the streets to minister, play with, and feed people who are still living there and I've gotten to join in that. They have literally been some of the most impactful nights for me on the race getting to spend time with those children, families, and women who live and work on the streets.
Construction– There are a few projects that Jeff has going on that require some good amount of digging before they can really get underway; one includes building a place to house a clinic where woman who are pregnant can come get help and advice and then also come to give birth when the time comes, instead of having to do so at home in unclean conditions and with out proper medical assitance. Currently we are breaking the ground where that clinic plus two homes for some of the employees will soon be.
AND…that's been what most of our time here has looked like so far. It's not an all encompassing depiction that's for sure but it does cover some significant bits and pieces. I've geniuenly loved getting to serve here these past few weeks in these different ways and I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported me in the trip which has allowed me to experience all these things, being impacted and being able to impact others has been such a blessing gifted to me by you. So, thanks.
