A note from the Philippines…

DG John

Denny and I have been here in the Philippines for one week now and of course as always the time goes very quickly.  Yesterday I invited all the teachers from Calunasan Elementary School to the house for a meeting and lunch.  It was a productive time for us.  After lunch Vicky Acain, who is in charge of the daily feeding program at the school, and Mark Jay Caballero went with me to the barrio of Ugpong to visit the homes of each of the children in the feeding program.  We also visited Calunasan Sur barrio the previous day.  Today (May 13th) we will visit Canlasid to interview each of those students in the program and to take their picture and have a picture with their families too.  What an eye opener to visit each home!  It’s easy to see why these children need to be in the lunch program.  So much poverty!

Please pray for DG John Virador who “has a hole in his heart” and will be heaving heart surgery in July with a mission group to correct the problem.  He is 9 years old.    His dream is to be in the army one day.

Cejie

Also, please pray for a little boy named Cejie Balin.  He is seven years old.  When he was about two years old his parents gave him and his infant brother away and moved to Manila.  His loving adoptive mother, who has 7 other children herself, says that he is moody.  Poor child, of course something like this affects a person for the rest of their life.  Again, please remember this darling child.  I asked Cejie if he loved Jesus and told him that he is dearly loved by Jesus!  This child brought me to tears but I did my best to hide them.  He’s happy in this loving home but let’s not forget him.  Blessings,  Ellen