As we all know very well here in Manila, basketball is the sport to play. We are trying to introduce soccer to the Cuatro Community area. I am working on putting a team together to play in national tournament for the Homeless World Cup. We are working in this area to get people out of poverty and this is one way we can do that by presenting people the opportunity to play soccer. We recently had two Cameroonian professional players displaced into our community. We are able to use these two players to help coach and train Filipinos to be able to play soccer in hope to represent the Philippines in the World Cup in Milan, Italy in September. We have had two training sessions already and it is very interesting. The two Cameroonian players speak French and I speak English and our players all speak Tagalog. So as you can see we have a fun time translating from French to signing to English then to Tagalog. We are also hoping to have a time where a local pastor will also start doing a Bible study with these players at the end of practices. Please pray with us as we are looking for more players and that maybe soccer can catch on here in the Cuatro area.
Kim Courtright
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Targets
You’ve likely heard the saying, “it’s hard to hit a target when you don't know what you’re aiming at.” To clarify what we at NFFCH are aiming at, we’ve been busy setting goals and defining roles for the new year. We desire that each of our 41 children in Manila and 11 children in Mindanao grow in their knowledge of Jesus…and so are busy mapping out strategies to effectively pursue each child's success in that area. What an awesome responsibility! Please pray for our missionary and Filipino staff. Do you feel God would have you help us? Please let us know!
Short-term teams continue to converge and transform our landscape. In Manila, over the past three months we have been helping a local church get back on its feet. In turn, their building, facility and yard area have provided us community outreach opportunities we only dreamed about in the past. The combined effort of a few teams and some donations has resulted in hundreds of children previously seen playing in the streets of our community are now seen running and playing on grass, swinging from trees and enjoying the sports of basketball, volleyball, soccer and badminton. To take advantage of these facilities, all kids and adults attend a Bible study prior to each time of play. A new energy level has overtaken the place, and the pastors and lay people alike have jumped in to help. What a blessing for us to be involved in the local body! We are praying that more teams from schools, youth groups, friends, and churches will join us in 2009!
In Mindanao over 100 short-term team members from Australia and the United States have joined forces and literally allowed us to build two more of the eight living units on our donated property near Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Mindanao. The teams have welded, poured concrete, done plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. The first unit is ready to move into. We are pushing hard to complete sections 2, 3 and 4 in the first quarter of this year. Our camp site is developing as well. We have aspirations of hosting a camp for impoverished kids with a group of Faith Academy students and staff on March 14-20! Please pray that this could happen. Also pray for Jeremy and Sarah Moody and their three young boys to finish up their support raising and join our team in Mindanao this month. In addition to building structures, roads, septic tanks, fences, etc., we also get a chance to build lives. God is so gracious to allow us to take part in these opportunities. Each day our kids in the homes go through struggles. They cry and share with their NFFCH aunts and uncles. Many times our community people come to us for jobs, advice, medicines or food. What a blessing to be in a position to find solutions. One such person recently entered our life—17-year-old Irene. Irene came to us with full-blown tuberculosis, two failing lungs, six months pregnant and a heart defect from birth. We loved on her, the doctors loved on her and in the end this brave heart gave birth to a little girl weighing less than three pounds. Praise God, the yet-to-be-named child is still alive and with God's leading will have a life ahead of her in our home. Sadly Irene lost her battle as so many of the impoverished people do. We are uncertain of Irene's eternal destination, but to honor her life we want to give her baby what Irene rarely had the chance for—knowledge of a Savior, a loving home, clean water, a safe bed to sleep in at night and more. Keep praying we will be found faithful in caring for the widows and orphans for which we have been called to help.
Josie has finished her hours of cosmetology school and is ready to return to the Philippines to launch “Josie's Cut and Curl and Coffee Shop.” We are trusting God will allow her and others through this place to give young women in our community a way to make a living and to equip them in sharing their faith in the Lord. A long-time friend will mentor Josie as well during these coming months. Josie will also be involved in our short-term mission teams. Please pray for the remaining support for Josie to come in.
Jackie is away at Faith Academy’s Outdoor Education this week. This year all the middle school students are in jungle survival training a few hours north of Manila. It's a fun time to learn how to gather water from bamboo trees and to catch and eat bats and snakes...you know, every 7th grade girl's dream! Ha! Speaking of dreams, Kyle got a new addition to his reptile collection this week. A five to six-foot python…maybe I should say nightmare?
God is good! Thanks for allowing us these opportunities.
Jeff for the family
Short-term teams continue to converge and transform our landscape. In Manila, over the past three months we have been helping a local church get back on its feet. In turn, their building, facility and yard area have provided us community outreach opportunities we only dreamed about in the past. The combined effort of a few teams and some donations has resulted in hundreds of children previously seen playing in the streets of our community are now seen running and playing on grass, swinging from trees and enjoying the sports of basketball, volleyball, soccer and badminton. To take advantage of these facilities, all kids and adults attend a Bible study prior to each time of play. A new energy level has overtaken the place, and the pastors and lay people alike have jumped in to help. What a blessing for us to be involved in the local body! We are praying that more teams from schools, youth groups, friends, and churches will join us in 2009!In Mindanao over 100 short-term team members from Australia and the United States have joined forces and literally allowed us to build two more of the eight living units on our donated property near Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Mindanao. The teams have welded, poured concrete, done plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. The first unit is ready to move into. We are pushing hard to complete sections 2, 3 and 4 in the first quarter of this year. Our camp site is developing as well. We have aspirations of hosting a camp for impoverished kids with a group of Faith Academy students and staff on March 14-20! Please pray that this could happen. Also pray for Jeremy and Sarah Moody and their three young boys to finish up their support raising and join our team in Mindanao this month. In addition to building structures, roads, septic tanks, fences, etc., we also get a chance to build lives. God is so gracious to allow us to take part in these opportunities. Each day our kids in the homes go through struggles. They cry and share with their NFFCH aunts and uncles. Many times our community people come to us for jobs, advice, medicines or food. What a blessing to be in a position to find solutions. One such person recently entered our life—17-year-old Irene. Irene came to us with full-blown tuberculosis, two failing lungs, six months pregnant and a heart defect from birth. We loved on her, the doctors loved on her and in the end this brave heart gave birth to a little girl weighing less than three pounds. Praise God, the yet-to-be-named child is still alive and with God's leading will have a life ahead of her in our home. Sadly Irene lost her battle as so many of the impoverished people do. We are uncertain of Irene's eternal destination, but to honor her life we want to give her baby what Irene rarely had the chance for—knowledge of a Savior, a loving home, clean water, a safe bed to sleep in at night and more. Keep praying we will be found faithful in caring for the widows and orphans for which we have been called to help.Josie has finished her hours of cosmetology school and is ready to return to the Philippines to launch “Josie's Cut and Curl and Coffee Shop.” We are trusting God will allow her and others through this place to give young women in our community a way to make a living and to equip them in sharing their faith in the Lord. A long-time friend will mentor Josie as well during these coming months. Josie will also be involved in our short-term mission teams. Please pray for the remaining support for Josie to come in.
Jackie is away at Faith Academy’s Outdoor Education this week. This year all the middle school students are in jungle survival training a few hours north of Manila. It's a fun time to learn how to gather water from bamboo trees and to catch and eat bats and snakes...you know, every 7th grade girl's dream! Ha! Speaking of dreams, Kyle got a new addition to his reptile collection this week. A five to six-foot python…maybe I should say nightmare?
God is good! Thanks for allowing us these opportunities.
Jeff for the family
Friday, January 16, 2009
Amazing STUFF in the SOUTH......
In the past few weeks we have seen over 100 people pour the blood , sweat and tears into our children's home project in Mindanao... It was a wonderful site to see so many people from the Philippines, Australia and the United States work together for God's glory and purpose. We are very close to being able to open the doors on the first segment of the children's home that will eventually be home to almost 96 kids!
God is allowing us to build 8 sections to an L shaped , two story building. To date we are 95% finished with the first floor on the first section and about 80% finished on the second floor to the first section. During the past couple of weeks we have seen section three/four raise above the ground with hundreds of hollow blocks, hundreds of pales of cement and endless amounts of steel all wrapped up with God's love to serve kids in the future... With additional teams on their way our dream to serve the children of Mindanao in a BIG way is FAST approaching!
Our goal is to teach,disciple and care for twelve kids at a time in each 4 bedroom home. Don't be intimidated and say I could never work with 96 kids, we'll only give you twelve little rascals to hang out with! See how easy that would be? We will even provide a centralized kitchen, laundry and nurses facility so you can just focus on the kids and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Will you please continue to pray for God's grace as we build?
Will you pray for Jeremy and Sarah Moody's support to come in so they will arrive from Oregon in February in time to help us open the doors?
Will you pray for God to raise up a team of Filipino workers and Missionary staff to help with these kids?
Will you pray for God's blessing on the home?
We desire it to be a safe place for kids to grow in their love for the Lord.
Many have come to help but we need many more as well.....
Jeff
God is allowing us to build 8 sections to an L shaped , two story building. To date we are 95% finished with the first floor on the first section and about 80% finished on the second floor to the first section. During the past couple of weeks we have seen section three/four raise above the ground with hundreds of hollow blocks, hundreds of pales of cement and endless amounts of steel all wrapped up with God's love to serve kids in the future... With additional teams on their way our dream to serve the children of Mindanao in a BIG way is FAST approaching!
Our goal is to teach,disciple and care for twelve kids at a time in each 4 bedroom home. Don't be intimidated and say I could never work with 96 kids, we'll only give you twelve little rascals to hang out with! See how easy that would be? We will even provide a centralized kitchen, laundry and nurses facility so you can just focus on the kids and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Will you please continue to pray for God's grace as we build?
Will you pray for Jeremy and Sarah Moody's support to come in so they will arrive from Oregon in February in time to help us open the doors?
Will you pray for God to raise up a team of Filipino workers and Missionary staff to help with these kids?
Will you pray for God's blessing on the home?
We desire it to be a safe place for kids to grow in their love for the Lord.
Many have come to help but we need many more as well.....
Jeff
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy New Year
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Happy New Year from the Philippines!
Christmas was a great time this year with several different missionaries and volunteers stepping in to be with the kids day and night while our core local staff enjoyed a much-deserved vacation. After enjoying the fun of Christmas gifts and treats and playing, the kids are back in school for a big educational push until school is finished for summer break in mid- March. We anticipate big things this year at the children's home with our first kids leaving and joining families through adoption, other kids being reconciled back to good family situations, and other kids beginning the first steps of possible adoptions through programs like exposure experiences in the States. As we continue to grow we will always be seeking God's best for each of these kids in our care and all future ones that come our way, for as long as they are with us. We look forward to this new year and all that it will bring and appreciate your prayers and support as we work together to impact kids' lives.
DJ & Rachel
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Great Journey
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalms 16:11
God takes us through a great journey called life. For most of the time we don’t know where it’s going or leading. The path itself is not important. The important part of the journey is the relationship we develop along the way with God.
In January 2007 I retired from Hospital Administration, being single and still young (relativity) and active I applied for a short term mission trip to the Philippines. I arrived October 2007 and stayed until February 2008, returning to Canada for four short months, knowing that I would return to the Philippines. I came back June 2008.
Sometimes we try to understand why God has put us here or try to discover our unique purpose or calling in life. I know that I have found that calling by giving and volunteering and working in Cuatro Cainta Rizal. There are so many opportunities that is presented each day to reach out and to be the extended hands of Christ in this community. This ministry in not confined within the walls of the children’s home to the 40 abandoned and neglected children God has placed in our trust, but through many other avenues including the squatters community and school.
God has provided me with an amazing opportunity to serve Him in the talents and gifts he has given me. I love working with children and assisting in health care. For the past five months I have had the privilege to be involved with these children, the community and the lives of those serving in ministry a His service.
As I invest my life in the lives of many children here in the Philippines, my prayer is to promote an atmosphere of trust, health, safety and love for the many children God may bring our way. Mt prayer is to invest in their young lives as they in turn give back to God their given talents and abilities to Him for the further development of their people
Philippians 4 7-9 Do whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable if anything is excellent or praise worthy –think about such things. Whatever you have learned or heard form me, put it in practice and the peace of God will be with you
God takes us through a great journey called life. For most of the time we don’t know where it’s going or leading. The path itself is not important. The important part of the journey is the relationship we develop along the way with God.In January 2007 I retired from Hospital Administration, being single and still young (relativity) and active I applied for a short term mission trip to the Philippines. I arrived October 2007 and stayed until February 2008, returning to Canada for four short months, knowing that I would return to the Philippines. I came back June 2008.
Sometimes we try to understand why God has put us here or try to discover our unique purpose or calling in life. I know that I have found that calling by giving and volunteering and working in Cuatro Cainta Rizal. There are so many opportunities that is presented each day to reach out and to be the extended hands of Christ in this community. This ministry in not confined within the walls of the children’s home to the 40 abandoned and neglected children God has placed in our trust, but through many other avenues including the squatters community and school.
God has provided me with an amazing opportunity to serve Him in the talents and gifts he has given me. I love working with children and assisting in health care. For the past five months I have had the privilege to be involved with these children, the community and the lives of those serving in ministry a His service.
As I invest my life in the lives of many children here in the Philippines, my prayer is to promote an atmosphere of trust, health, safety and love for the many children God may bring our way. Mt prayer is to invest in their young lives as they in turn give back to God their given talents and abilities to Him for the further development of their peoplePhilippians 4 7-9 Do whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable if anything is excellent or praise worthy –think about such things. Whatever you have learned or heard form me, put it in practice and the peace of God will be with you
Friday, December 5, 2008
Piano Lessons:
I am sitting listening to the simple sound of scales going up and down deliberately and rhythmically on a piano at the YunJin Lyso Ministry Center. Today is the first day of piano lessons for some of our kids,a huge blessing thanks to our friend Joy. Joy is probably one of the best piano players in Manila. She is the primary pianist for the University of the Philippines Chorus, one of the premiere programs around here. She plays in the worship services for Greenhills Christian Fellowship, one of the largest churches in Manila. And, she is the niece of Glenn and Grace Ayala, our friends in Mindanao that donated the land for the Malaybalay camp and children's home project.Joy is volunteering her time with the kids to teach them piano twice a week. For a young woman with so many other things going on, that's an awesome commitment, and we are grateful! |
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Monday, December 1, 2008
GOD works in amazing ways:
This past week we hosted a team of 24 middle school students from Hong Kong ICS.... This is the second year they have come to impact the children's home and community. My what an impact....
A neighboring church/seminary approached us a few weeks ago asking if we'd be interested in buying their land and building. I was in shock as this facility, although lacking significant maintenance was a 'light' in the community. A seminary had been training dozens of future church leaders, a church was feeding the flock from the community, a youth group had been reaching out to the youth in the streets surrounding our children's home.
We graciously declined their offer and countered with, " let us help you breathe some new air into your sails" and keep your boat afloat during these stormy times. The end result was the kids from Hong Kong, some of the their donated funds, and community kids pitching in to right the ship and chart a new course. Praise God!
WHO WILL COME TO HELP US FINISH what 24 middle schoolers started?
Opportunities abound in the Philippines,
Come and help,
Jeff
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