ARISE and CRY OUT for the children!!!

Dear Family & Friends,

Please pray for the situation here in Philippines:

Just in the last couple of weeks 8 children have gone missing and found dead…various organs missing and up to P500,000 ($1,200) taped inside or around the body. Apparently it is a van that comes by and grabs the kids as they are walking to or from school. Some schools have even suspended classes for now. The children range in age from elementary to 16 years old. Obviously, their organs are being sold on the black market. (Kidneys, heart and eyes) These children were taken from areas near Butuan, about 1 hour away. Please pray God’s hand of protection and justice would come quickly. Pray for the families who are now grieving a terrible loss. Pray all other children would be safe. And pray that those who are doing this would be caught and stopped. God have mercy on us.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

In 2008, the National Bureau of Investigation alerted the public over the rampant smuggling of human organs in the Philippines. The NBI said smugglers are now targeting children who are kidnapped and taken abroad where their organs are sold to foreign nationals.^{[102] [103]} The World Health Organization has identified the Philippines as one of the five organ trafficking hotpots. ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_Philippines#Child-organ_trafficking}

^{http://www.asia-acts.org/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100:ngo-calls-for-the-protection-of-filipinos-from-the-black-market-trade-of-human-organs&catid=34:side-flash}

^{http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2011/09/06/law-deployment-village-watchmen-schools-approved-177769}

Coin Banks for Sale

PDK boys are making bamboo banks to help raise support for PDK. The boys cut, chisel, and sand the bamboo. While Teresa paints the designs and then the boys varnish them.
We've started making candle holders as well.

Daisy

Daisy was a great pig!!!

Gardens gardens gardens

Cucumber Corner

This is our attempt at a hanging wall garden. We ran out of ground space so we decided to try hanging our gardens on our walls. We used rice sacks attached to a simple wooden frame supported with chain. The planting material is rice hull, sand, and soil. We are attempting to grow Pechay in these.

This is our squash bed

Okra patch...we've already transfered this bed and will create a talapia tank in this spot.

PDK animals!!!

Our chickens ...these are our 1st batch...we're already on our 2nd batch

Daisy and Dorothy our 1st pigs...Daisy is already in the refrigerator now, Dorothy will be at Christmas Dinner

Parakeets that we are hoping will breed and we can sell $10 a pair

Our rabbits...they are almost ready for breeding. We will eat the meat and sell them for $10 a pair

Ampalaya Garden

Amazing Ampalaya almost ready to harvest

After just a couple of weeks

Our start with Ampalaya

WHO will...???

Shots fire off. One. Two. Three. Screams are heard, a body flails. A boy is injured, bleeding, dying. A police officer is on the other side of the barrel. The kid. Should not have been there, should not have been doing that, should not be that. Stealing, fighting, vandalizing or just having dinner equals a shot to kill?

The bullet entered the chin and lodged deep next to the spinal column. Unable to speak, unable to react, struggling to just breathe he lay there alone. Who will speak for him?

The first hospital has no vacancies, the second hospital has no vacancies, the third hospital requires massive money just to enter the doors. Where does one get large amounts of money in the middle of the night? The fourth hospital has no vacancies and no doctor that could treat him anyway. Back to the previous hospital, finally with money in hand. It takes 30 minutes to get the boy inside. After a few simply tests it is determined that the boy is critical and must go to the next city for treatment. A five hour trip turns into 8 hours because we have no ambulance driver yet. Who will care for him?

The fifth hospital accepts the boy. But where are the doctors? With no staff available, the boy continues to struggle to breathe, blood continues to fill his neck and still he has no voice. Hundreds of patients no doctor no supplies. Who will see for him?

12 hours later…30 hours since that bullet smashed through his face…he is in surgery. 50/50 is what they say. The officials turn their heads. Who sees this life? Who will take action for this life?

For those who don’t know by now, Lawrence was shot by a drunk police officer in Butuan City February 13. He has undergone three surgeries so far with still one more additional life saving surgery needed. Please pray for Lawrence, for the Butuan City police department, and for the doctors who will be operating on Lawrence. Please also pray for the children still in the street.

Destination...DESTINY

Life is full of ups and downs. The journey to Destiny however is bursting with turns and twists, hills and valleys, storms and surprises.

March brought a surprise to us in PDK when Lawrence jumped the fence and left PDK. No one was more surprised than me. The days and weeks that followed brought news to me that Lawrence was using drugs again and had lost so much weight. We was back living his old life. How could this be? How could a kid who accepted Jesus as his saviour, been water baptized, even preached to his family and walked out daily so much visible transformation now return to his old ways? And for no understandable reason. Why didn't we see this coming? Why couldn't we convince him to return?

I didn't and still don't have an answer to these questions. One thing I do know however is God has a plan and destiny for Lawrence, God has never and will never leave or forsake Lawrence, and God will stop at nothing to win Lawrence back to His loving arms.

Just last week, I received a message from a friend who requested some workers for a goat farm that is just getting started. I took to the streets and recommended a few kids to my friend. To my surprise, one of the kids that surfaced while on the streets was Lawrence. My heart jumped inside me.

Today Lawrence is starting again on the road to the Father's arms. I took him and the other two kids up in the mountains to the goat farm last week. They were all so happy for the chance to start again to make a life. I received a message from Lawrence just the other day. He thanked me for not giving up on him and for giving him another chance to change.

I'm thankful today for the grace of God, for His unfailing love and mercy for us. I'm thankful that God chose me to be part of Lawrence's journey to HIS destiny. Please pray for Lawrence, pray that he will once again surrender his life to God. Pray that God will give him strength, peace, and protection.

Eveybody Loves Hanna

PDK Mascott

1st Cereal

Everybody loves to hold her

1st watermelon

URGENT PRAYER

DEAR FAMILY & FRIENDS,

PLEASE PRAY FOR NATHANIEL JAMES....
HE IS BEING HOSPITALIZED DUE TO HIGH INFECTION. HIS MOTHER DID NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE PRE-NATAL CARE. SHE WAS ALREADY 8 MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN SHE CAME TO US. NATHANIEL WAS BEING BORN WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAD SEVERAL STDS AND SHE IS POSITIVE FOR HEPAB...WHICH MEANS ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN PAST TO NATHANIEL. PLEASE PRAY FOR SUPERNATURAL HEALING AND MIRACLES IN NATHANIEL AND IN HIS MOM.

OUR OTHER BABY, HANNA JOY, IS 3 MONTHS NOW...SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY AS WELL DUE TO A COUGH. SHE IS QUITE SICK AS WELL. SHE IS STAYING IN THE STAFF HOUSE AND IS ON 4 DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS FOR HER LITTLE LUNG INFECTION. PRAY FOR HEALING FOR HANNA JOY.

WHILE WAITING FOR THE BABIES TO SEE THE DOCTOR, I RECEIVED THE CALL THAT ANOTHER ONE OF OUR GIRLS STILL IN THE STREETS DIED YESTERDAY. SHE WAS 18. HER NAME WAS ANN-ANN. SHE DELIVERED A BABY IN DECEMBER AND WAS STILL IN THE STREETS. ANN-ANN WAS VERY ADDICTED TO THE STREETS; SHE STARTED LIVING ON THE STREET AND WAS PROSTITUTED AT AGE 12. WHEN I SAW HER JUST AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH SHE WAS HIGH AND ABSOLUTELY GRIPPED WITH GRIEF THAT HER BABY HAD BEEN GIVEN AWAY TO SOMEONE ELSE. IT WAS HEART WRENCHING TO SEE HER IN THAT CONDITION. TODAY MY HEART IS BROKEN AND GRIEVED AT THE LOSS OF ANN-ANN. SHE WAS A SWEET GIRL FULL OF HOPE AND PROMISE AS WELL AS HURTS AND PAIN. HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE? SO MANY PEOPLE SAY THEY CARE, SAY THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP, BUT IT IS ONLY WORDS AND EMPTY CHATTER. TODAY IS A HARD DAY IN BUTUAN. THE REALITY OF JUST HOW FRAGILE LIFE REALLY IS CAN BE A SOBBERING FEELING. ANN-ANN WAS HERE AND IN AN INSTANT HER LIFE CUT SO DRASTICALLY SHORT. SO MANY DIE IN THE PROCESS OF MINISTRY HERE. AND STILL WE CONTINUE TO BE LIMITED BY FUNDING AND WORKERS. CHURCH, PLEASE WAKE UP...ARISE TO YOUR CALLING...BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY MORE ANN-ANN'S STILL OUT THERE ON THE STREETS TONIGHT. PRAY FOR MORE WORKERS, PRAY FOR MORE FUNDING FOR PDK AS WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO KIDS IN THE STREETS. SHARE THE VISION OF PDK WITH OTHERS AND PRAY, GIVE, OR COME OVER HERE AND HELP OUT!

UNTIL EVERY CHILD KNOWS THE FATHER'S LOVE,
TERESA

Broken Things = LIFE

January 16, 2010...Nathaniel James entered our world. 6lbs. 4oz, 18.5" long, at 12:45 p.m. our world changed forever. Nathaniel means GIFT OF GOD...James means TO REPLACE ONE THING FOR ANOTHER. God has truly given a gift to "K" and is replacing her pain and trauma with new life, healing, and restoration.

As I peeped through the crack in the door hinges at "K" I realized a few things. One thing I realized is that I am helpless to DO anything. I felt helpless and weak. Then I realized that actually I had the most powerful tool of all...PRAYER. We prayed and declared grace, comfort and God's presence to be with "K" and baby. It was literally 15 minutes and baby Nathaniel had entered our world safe, healthy, and so precious. I also realized that we see in part but God sees the whole picture past, present, and future. I'm amazed at how God deals with each of us where we are in life. God has brought new life in the midst of such pain and death really, He always brings good and turns what the enemy plans for evil. And finally I realized our lives consist of moments...moments in which God is working His purposes and plans for our good. We may not like the moment that we are in but hold on because the moment will change. Praise God it is only the moment that changes not God...He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

January Happenings

We are so excited about moving into the Girl's House. The girls will still go to the Boy's Shelter House 8-11 a.m daily for school, which will be good for socialization and relationship. The girls are ecstatic and have already started packing for their big move. The House will be good for 12 girls. We are planning to bring in more girls by March.

The girls we have now are 11-18 years old. When asked what was the biggest and best thing that happened to them in 2009, they answered, "I came to live in Project Destiny and don't have to be on the streets anymore." They are so thankful for the chance to change their lives; to leave prostitution, drugs, and pain. They are like little sponges soaking up all of God's goodness and love.

We praise God for Association of Caraga Executives (A.C.E.) who gave a new refrigerator for the girls house! We praise God for Greg May who is allowing us to use this house for the girls!

We will be needing to purchase some items such as furniture, curtains, paint, and cabinets before we move in. We also will be bringing on 2-4 new staff.

Please pray for the needed monthly increase of budget. We MUST have $2,500 monthly in order to run 2 homes for street kids. Last month our monthly support was only $800. Please pray for more provision and any ideas to help increase our funding please don't hesitate to contact us.

New Year!!! New Dreams!!!

My heart has been heavy with vision...

1. We really want to open a girls home. There are so many girls and new ones every day. We just can't take in any more girls in the one house, we really need a separate house for girls. Which means a separate staff for the girls. It takes 7 people to run one house. We are planning to open the Girl's Shelter House by February 2010.
2. We also want to re-open the drop-in center NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need 5 people to run that.
   
3. We are also dreaming of an alternative school for all the street kids not just the ones living in our shelters. So for that we would need a whole teaching staff M-F. And this would include feeding breakfast and lunch.
   
4. We also have thought about the possibility of starting a business here where the kids could work...thought is a coffee shop where live bands would come and play and board games would be on the tables sort of a family place but definitely a place where street-people could walk in and be welcomed and ministered to.
   
5. We want to start "Frontline"; this ministry would be strictly to the streets and those who are still in and on the streets. The Frontline team would go out nightly and witness, pray for, bring food and medical help to those on the streets.
   
6. We dream of one day having a YWAM Children At Risk School here in Project Destiny Kids, where people form around the world will come and learn how to do street kid ministry.
   
7. Teresa will be asking one of the local Bible Colleges to partner with us. She would teach a course in the college on street kids then the 5th year Bible College students would intern by working in either the drop-in center or one of the Shelter houses or be part of the Frontline team

All of these dreams will happen in God's timing, it's just that they are burning in our hearts now. And kids are literally dieing in the streets now. So we are praying and belieiving for more staff, buildings, and increased financial support.

more more CHRISTmas 2009

and more CHRISTmas 2009

more CHRISTmas 2009

We all had the best Christmas ever! Just want to say thank you to the so many of you who gave and made it possible....The Lowry family, The Hawkins family,The Santos family, Sierra Pines Church, Double Blessings Plus Ministries, Calvary Chapel Fremont Church, Grace Community Church, Laura Rohwedder, Greg May and so so so many more....THANK YOU!!!!!

CHRISTmas 2009

Christmas Party Feeding behind our Shelter House

Please continue to pray for these rugby boys. There boys are high on drugs literally ALL of the time. Please pray that God will reach down and open the eyes of their understanding that they might know how long, how high, how deep, and how wide is HIS love for them.

Deceived, Damaged, Disallusioned

Frightened, alone, in pain...kids are drawn to the streets only to find themselves frightened, alone, and in pain all over again. No education, to hope, to future. The only thing in sight is how to escape the current pain and fear. With no self respect, self esteem, self worth...kids willingly cling to whoever or whatever accepts them, "loves" them, and is there even just for the moment.

"J****" and "K*****" are 2 girls who fit this scenario. "J****" we have known for a couple of years now, "K*****" we have just come to know. They are confused on every level. They claim to be "partners" yet the one has a one month old baby and the other is 7 months pregnant by her "regular customer". Clearly at age 16 she is under age but still she is "working" the streets. They are living in a brothel some of the time, the streets the rest of the time.

The two girls have come to us looking for a home, for help, for love. What can we do? I cannot say NO, yet I don't clearly know what YES will look like. We are meeting with them now and decisions are being made as to whether they will come live with us or not. We are laying down very strict rules and guidelines for the girls to follow for their best good. They could start school tomorrow if they choose. They could start a new life now ....if they choose. Please pray for these 4 lives and for us.

Pray that God will send us more staff, a home for street girls, a school building for rugby kids on the streets..........the harvest is so plentiful but the workers are few.....pray that God will see and hear and answer.

Love Revolution

To repay evil with good...to love enemies.... LOVE REVOLUTION....

There is a group of rugby boys (rugby is the glue solvent the kids sniff to get high) that are staying in the neighborhood near our Shelter House. These rugby boys get high and then come to our house and throw stones and break our lights outside and steal clothes on the line. We have done everything humanly possible to stop them...called the police, put up barbed wire, put up a live-wire, moved the clothes to the interior...nothing has helped. So........ after coming to our wits end we prayed....we felt that either the Word is true or it's not and we choose to take God at His Word and do good to these boys....so.....the next night when the stoning started I went out there introduced myself and told them I wanted to be friends with them and I wanted them to come to our house for lunch the next day. They were all so high but agreed. The next day little by little they started coming around the corner. They were very hesitant and told us they felt ashamed. We told them to come on over we wanted to eat with them. At first they did not want to eat because they thought we were trying to poison them. But when we started eating, they joined. Our landlord came over and burst into a rage, the kids ran, the landlord shouted that he was going to kill them. We had to go mobile and take the lunch to the kids over on the next street away from our crazy out of control landlord. The boys were so happy with us; we talked and shared and learned their names. We are planning to feed them every week now. They came back the next night and shouted. The staff were afraid at first but when the staff went to the window to ask what they wanted and why they wanted to continue doing this....the kids simply asked for us to feed them again. We told them next time. and the boys shouted back, "ok, thank you." and they left...no harm no foul. God is really working in the hearts of these rugby boys. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance. We will no extend our table to these 25-30 boys weekly and by the next time we will also extend the Word of the Lord to them in a Bible study.

Please pray for the landlord as he has promised by December 7, 2009, he will start killing these rugby boys.

Vision

Things seem to be going very very well. We have 5 kids now in the Shelter House. And we have 9 staff. All are happy and content and seem to be enjoying everything. Today we are taking in a possible 3 more new kids all the siblings of one of the boys. We have 1 staff and Susan who will be leaving soon, and another leaving end of January....so we are really praying for replacements.

We have started girls night and boys night every Sunday night. Our one girl and her baby come to the staff house will all the girl staff and the two boy staff go to the Shelter house. We do girly things like, watch girly movies, crafts, cook, and we started a Bible study on the life of Sarah. The boys on the other hand, throw colored water balloons at each other, run around like wild indians and watch funny PG action movies and eat snacks. We are working on getting the Bible study on Wild at Heart started for them.

All the kids were baptized 2 weeks ago, and continue to grow and change in their attitudes and behaviors. We are so proud of them all. We are starting a new school arrangement which everybody likes. It's called A.L.S. (Alternative Learning System). It is a modular system created and set up for out of school youth to complete a high school equivalency test. One of our board members has been a high school principal for years and is an incredible educator. She was recently promoted to Dep Ed office which allows her to have weekends off. So she is coming every Saturday to test the kids on the modules they complete during the week. We have had one week so far and everyone LOVES it. The staff are learning to be teachers now and love it! After the kids finish the A.L.S. and pass the final test they can then enter TESDA which is a vocational school where they can learn cooking, restaurant/hotel management, welding, carpentry. auto mechanics etc....

My heart has been heavy with vision...

1. I really want to open a girls home. There are so many girls and new ones every day. We just can't take in any more girls in the one house, we really need a separate house for girls. Which means a separate staff for the girls. It takes 7 people to run one house.
   
2. I also want to re-open the drop-in center NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need 5 people to run that.
   
3. I am also dreaming of an alternative school for all the street kids not just the ones living in our shelters. So for that we would need a whole teaching staff M-F.
   
4. I also have thought about the possibility of starting a business here where the kids could work...thought is a coffee shop where live bands would come and play and board games would be on the tables sort of a family place but definitely a place where street-people could walk in and be welcomed and ministered to.
   
5. I also want to start "Frontline"; their ministry would be strictly to the streets and those who are still in and on the streets. The Frontline team would go out nightly and witness, pray for, bring food and medical help to those on the streets.
   
6. I dream of one day having a YWAM Children At Risk School here in Project Destiny Kids, where people form around the world will come and learn how to do street kid ministry.
   
7. I will be asking one of the local Bible Colleges to partner with us. I would teach a course in the college on street kids then the 5th year Bible College students would intern by working in either the drop-in center or one of the Shelter houses or be part of the Frontline team

All of these dreams will happen in God's timing, it's just that they are burning in my heart now. And kids are literally dieing in the streets now. So we are praying and belieiving for more staff, buildings, and increased financial support.