From Tacloban to Manila

Within just a few days of typhoon Yolanda hitting the Philippines in November 2013, Kids International  Ministries was in Tacloban, Leyte; feeding, housing and loving people in the name of Christ..... and they are still there. The outreach to help people at the time of a natural disaster has turned into a long term, full-time part of their ministry here in the Philippines. Volunteers and staff continue to minister and help rebuild the lives of the people in that area.

If you drive two hours north from Tacloban in Ormoc, Leyte; you will see that Yolanda also destroyed the lives, homes, and the city there. One family was able to make it to relatives in the area of Manila where Kids International Ministries has their ministry center in Cainta, Rizal.  They began to come to the ministry's local church and some of the staff met one of the family members.  From this encounter the staff and family began to establish a relationship. Jackelyn, 17, was soon employed by the ministry as part of the kitchen staff and was also encouraged and supported to attend Bible college here in Manila. Jerome, 15, and Giselle, 9, were granted enrollment in the ministry's school.  Their cousin, Mary Cris, age 22,  also came with the family. She had earned her teaching degree and passed the teaching licensing exam on the first try right before the storm happened in 2013 where Yolanda destroyed everything.  She is now employed by KIM's new Early Learning Center and is a fabulous addition to mold young minds.  Another cousin, Jelly, age 22,  has found employment in a canteen. When they first moved here they were living in a small home up the street from the ministry center, near the Children's Home. KIM has now found housing for this family and their lives are forever changed through God's grace and the support of those that give to KIM's general fund. 

To help support this family and others that need your help, please follow the link below. God is changing lives through the love of His people every day in the Philippines.

Kids International Ministries

The Tacloban Experience

Kids International Ministries was one of the first groups in Tacloban after Typhoon Yolanda last November. This past month Ruth finished her work with Habitat for Humanity and wanted to find another way to serve while in the Philippines. She found KIM and jumped right in to serve alongside our workers in Tacloban and was changed by her experience serving on the front lines of this mission. Read about her experience here!

Restless Ruth

Kids International Ministries

Madi's Moment

Hey KIM friends, 

I would like you to meet Madi. She is an amazing young woman who spent last Fall in PI. Read about her great time below and then check out the pictures of the new construction going on at KIM. 

My name is Madi Bennett and I spent this past fall in the Philippines working with K.I.M. During my senior year of high school I went on a short week long trip with my parents. This was the fourth time I had been to the Philippines, but I hadn’t been back for 5 or 6 years. I fell back in love with the country and people in just these few short days and wanted to spend more time there. I felt God calling me to come back so I decided to take my first semester of college off and live in Manila.

The main things I did from day to day was to go on the feedings and to work with the kids at the Children’s home, especially the nursery kids. I am studying Early Childhood Development and love working with toddlers and babies. It is amazing all the lessons I learned from these kids. They really show you how to love people. One of my favorite things at the end of the day, no matter how horrible the toddlers had been, how much spit up I had on my shirt, or how little sleep I had from doing night shift the night before, there was always one thing that made it all better. Goodnight kisses. The toddlers usually cried and screamed about going to bed, but once they calmed down I always heard, “Tita! Tita! Tita Madi…Madi…Madiii…Titaaaa Madiiiiii!” coming from their room. And all they wanted was a hug and to give me a goodnight kiss on the cheek. They are such sweet children of God.

While living in the PI for those months, I also got to travel to a couple of the other islands. I went with a few other people to Mindanao and was able to be a part of the ministries down there and had a wonderful time. I also had the blessing of being able to go down to Tacloban three weeks after Typhoon Yolanda hit to help feed people. It was an experience that impacted my life so much but is really hard to put into words and explain. God showed me that these people, the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, are such strong people who are full of hope. I got to hear different people’s stories from the storm and pray with them. I hope that I helped the people I spoke with as much as they helped me see God’s love through their experience.

I came home mid-December but had the opportunity to go back for two weeks in March. It was really good to see all the kids and people that I built relationships with in the fall. I have plans to return soon. I don’t know what God has in store for me in the future but I do know that He is not finished with me in the Philippines.

Kids International Ministries