Father's Goodness

It's been a bit of time since I wrote....so....umm let's see....
It's just so true ...GOD IS GOOD. The past month has been difficult and challenging not to mention heart wrenching and frustrating....but even in the midst of in all GOD IS GOOD.

JR has dropped out of school. He recently turned 21 so we did let him know that we legally can handle children 0-18 unless he would choose to continue in school he would not be allowed at the center any longer. We really were hoping that would give him a bit more incentive to remain in school, but it did not. He has dropped. The pull of vices and girls is so strong. Please continue to lift him in pray...God knows him and God knows exactly how and when to penetrate his heart....GOD IS GOOD

The cut hand boy....has not been seen again. This is typical of him though. Sometimes it is weeks and weeks and then he surfaces at the center. Other kids have told us they have seen him and report that he can not bend his wrist at all but has use of his fingers. Still....GOD IS GOOD

There has been recent gang activity in the city which has made ministry to all of our usual kids a bit difficult. They are afraid to pass certain streets in order to go to the center because they have to pass opposing gang turf. We did have the recent opportunity to meet with one gang's leaders and discuss our situation. A few weeks ago a silly childish teasing situation got out of hand and very quickly we had a riot in the center. Gang against gang. They brought pipes and knives and all their anger and aggression. It was quite a scary scene. But God helped our staff handle the moment and everyone was fine. The kids all left and went their own way. As a result of that day, I requested to meet with the gang leaders. They agreed and we met. We discussed issues of respect, kindness, honor, God's love and plans for us, and peace. It ended in prayer, peace and understanding. We hope to continue this kind of meeting and dialog with these gang leaders.... GOD IS GOOD

We have exactly 40 days to watch God perform a miracle and provide the $30,560 needed to purchase the center or be kicked out in the street ourselves. It's an incredible opportunity for us to trust God and taste and see HIS GOODNESS in the life of the ministry. Please pray and stand in faith together with us to see GOD'S GOODNESS!!!

Father's Desire

We know that The Father wants the very best for each of us and for each of these precious children. The problem is, they don't realize that God is truly good and has only good things for them. The Father's desire for them is so BIG yet they can see so little.

The little boy that has the severely cut hand, ran back to the streets. These kids are so used to getting what they want when they want it on the streets; it's so hard for them to adjust to "normal" life.....so back to the streets he went. The addiction is to street life.

We chased him down today so that we could take him back to the doctor to follow-up with his injury. He was so scared of going to the doctor that he ran. We ended up having to have the assistance of the police to capture him and bring him to the doctor. He was treated and back to the streets he went.
The good is he was treated and also the doctor, for the first time, really saw the need for these kids and offered any and all help he could in making the next phase of ministry a reality. Someone has offered to give us land and this doctor is the official in that area. He offered to help us build the houses we need to have a restoration center for boys and girls. Praise God for how He works all things together for good; because HE IS GOOD.

Please continue to pray for this little guy. Pray that God will protect him, that God will heal him, and God will pursue his little heart and draw him close to Himself.

Father's heart

Today started out as any other normal day. The kids started showing up to take their bath before heading off to church. Excited for the day, they quickly lined up to take their bath. Today we fed them a little breakfast so they were VERY happy. Then the kids started telling me that one of our boys got his hand cut off last night. I was instantly worried and wanted to go find him. We finished getting ready and headed off to church. The plan was I would take them to church and leave them with our staff and I would go find our hurt boy. I ended up at the provincial hospital but no boy, then i heard from the City Social Welfare office that the boy was treated for a stab wound and released! I went back to the center only to be greeted by another kid reporting that one of our girls was killed last night! I quickly headed off to the morgue to view the body. As I entered, my heart pounding, then stopped....it really looked like our girl. I held all my emotion and breathing, hoping, praying it was a mistake. I quickly went back to the center to bring our staff back there with me to make sure. I grabbed a photo of our girl to show the officials there. As we entered the place again, I quickly held the photo up. I security quickly jumped up and said, "That's not her, the girl in this photo was just here this morning looking at the girl who was killed". Tears began to fall down my face for the third time in the day. This time tears of joy because our girl is ok; at the same time tears of sadness for the girl who was killed.

Today, I felt the heart beat of The Father. My heart literally felt broken and shattered. The Word tells us how The Shepherd goes out to look for the lost sheep....but what to do when 2 sheep are lost or 100's of sheep are lost or millions of sheep are lost? Oh, how The Father's heart breaks for each one of us and for each one of the children in the streets tonight.

Lamentations 2:19 reminds us...

ARISE, cry out in the night,

As the watches of the night begin;

Pour out your heart like water

In the presence of the Lord.

Lift up your hands to Him

For the lives of your children,

Who faint from hunger

At the head of every street.

Sunday

This morning we loaded up 18 street children and 2 street babies in a multicab (utility truck/van, used here in Philippines) and headed off for church. The church we go to is called Beautiful News Fellowship. The kids really love it there. The pastor at BNF has such a heart for street kids, worship, and a heart for Jesus. The church is learning what it means to welcome street kids to church, and the kids are learning what it means to be part of the body of Christ. Every week the kids go with us and every week they participate in worship and respond during the alter call. God is moving in their lives BIG time.

They were so cute as they came to the drop-in center early to take a bath before going to church. For now they understand that we don't have the budget or staff to have feeding twice a day, so they come early just to bathe, then we eat together after church back at the center.

Today I just felt so much joy as I watched them worship and learn about God's love for them. The first Sunday we took them to church, they ran into the church and sort of took it over with their voices and running and taking whatever wasn't nailed down. But, today, one month later, they entered early, not late, and greeted people as they made their way orderly to their seats. They are learning so much.

GO GOD!!!!

A New Life

I have been just so overwhelmed with God's goodness, faithfulness, and nearness in the lives of the kids these past few weeks. I would like to share the story of one boy. He has been with us from day one. I remember when he first came to the center. He would come and sit as close to the door as possible, would not say a word, would not smile, and only worked on a 3-D puzzle we had every single day for the first month. We only knew his name; J.R. By the 3rd week he was starting to smile and even allowed a picture to be taken.

We knew he was a gang member, had many girlfriends, and had the possibility of being a very angry guy. We began to notice that he along with his 3 siblings were coming to the center daily.
1st his brother and his girlfriend who are 15 and 16 years old along with their baby who is now 11 months old.
The next is his sister who is 16 and finally his younger brother who is 15. The whole family lives together is a partially built abandoned house in a squatter area. Their mother left them about 10 years ago and their father is currently living with them but is a violent alcoholic. They also live together with approximately 25 other street kids in the partially built house.

The amazing thing to me is how little by little GOD is drawing them to Himself and changing their lives. The sister, Maricar, started attending school last month. She is 4th year high school. She has had some struggles but is doing well now. In the midst of her struggle at the start of the year, she quit school and stopped coming to the center. We all prayed and prayed for her. The principal of the Christian School where we enrolled her, would not give up on her. Maam Bendoy wanted to talk to her older brother, so we brought J.R. to the school. Before I knew what was happening the principal had persuaded J.R. to study and help his sister to return. J.R. is 21 years old and in 4th grade. He has been attending church with us for the last month and has such a heart for God. He has recently given his life to Jesus. And now he is attending school. According to J.R. :"I'm thankful for Ate Teresa, but it's not because of the food we receive everyday, it's not because of the things that are given to us, it is because of what God is doing in my heart; God is changing me little by little. I'm so thankful to God and for His love in my life. I want to learn to love Him more and I want me life to be lived for Him."