We have finished gathering the final document and had it notarized at the U.S. Embassy last Friday. We will meet on Thursday morning to review and submit the final package for our Philippines Visa processing. We have also secured our new temporary home in Manila and will be moving in this coming Friday (14-Jun-24).
This past Sunday, we attended service at Manila New life Church – 마닐라 새생명교회.
Immediately following service, we headed up to Angeles City to help with the Childrens feeding program run by a retired London firefighter (David McCready). The kids in the slum areas, along the Balibago Creek, know him as “Banana Man”.
On Monday morning, we met up with the tri-cycle driver, Joel, and we proceeded to gather the morning supply of baked goods, bananas, porridge, and canned meat.
When we arrived at our first location, I was happy to see
Darren Egan, who the kids know as “Daddy Monkey”. Darren has recently returned to the Philippines after being back home in Australia for over a year. The morning feeding of about 320 kids took about 2 hours, over 9 different locations. It is difficult to put into words the living conditions of these children. Not much of a home other than a roof made up of plastic tarps or whatever they can find and four walls put together with scrap wood and boards. Running water, toilet and electricity are nonexistent for these children and their families.
It is now the end of summer and the beginning of monsoon season. The past several months have been unbearably hot 🔥with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit), but with the reprieve from the heat comes torrential rain and flash flooding.
We will return to help feed the kids again next Monday followed by a visit to an orphanage, where some of these kids are being relocated. So far about 12 children have been sent to the orphanage, run by Pastor Jeremy Ferguson, who has over 150 children under his care. I will provide more info on the next update.
After the feeding, we met up for breakfast and coffee where we delivered some antibiotic ointments, bandages, and children’s infection medicine (소염재), and baby powder (to help with heat rash). David will divide them between the orphanage and the feeding program kids.
Over breakfast, we got to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Darren – “Daddy Monkey” for about 3 hours. Darren has been one of the founding members who started the feeding program with David 7 years ago. About 5 years ago, he suffered a heart attack, and the doctors were able to revive him but unfortunately told him that he had to take 27 pills daily in order for him to survive. Since his return back home a year ago, he said he has stopped taking the pills, but he is at peace with his life (showed us a tattoo on his left arm “It is what it is”). He shared about his past life and the reason why he decided to return back to the Philippines. He stated that he feels love and joy in his heart by being able to make the children smile through his interactions with them. Over our 3 hour discussion, we tried our best to answer his questions about God and Jesus and the way to salvation. Growing up in a blue-collar neighborhood in Australia, he attended a Catholic parochial school but was never introduced to the gospel. He said he has learned more during our conversation and made it easy for him to understand than in his entire life. We will continue our conversation next week…
After breakfast, we also met Bill Kazmaier (World’s Strongest Man), who also goes out to help feed the kids in the afternoon. Darren said that Bill’s life has been transformed and helps with Sunday school for the kids. Praise be to God! Please pray for the children and Darren to be healed from his heart ailments.
Prior to our bus ride back to Manila this morning, we visited a potential location for the future Good Neighbor Orphanage and went to visit the local Barangay City Hall to inquire about zoning. Unfortunately the Secretary was out of town and so we made arrangements to see him next. As we left the office, I was surprised to see this message on the wall of a little store across the street, but pray that God is leading us on the right track.
Also, while waiting for our bus back down to Manila, I saw this little yellow sticker on the wall of a merchant’s kiosk… only in the Philippines 🇵🇭 will you find bible verses everywhere you go. Praise be to God.
That’s our update for now… Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
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