Leaving behind a piece of your heart in Mailla

Well its the last day, my bags are packed and the shopping is done after two hours of torture wandering around, up and down the shopping mall..urrhh.

We went for our farewell presentation at the Malate Children's home, the generosity of the people is overwhelming we all were given gifts, I certainly felt an unworthy recipient. The Power of Gods transforming love here is indescribable, as we worshipped together being hugged by Children who have been saved from the most horrendous situations imaginable, your heart is poured out, broken and sliced out in gracious thanks to the Lord for his love and Grace. I,m sure all of have left a piece of our hearts here with these children maybe to pick it up again in the future or a reminder to care, love and pray for them. I want to end my blogging with a poem which is found in all the Kanlugan centres.

My Child I've often heard your question: This is my answer.

Your concerned about the the hungry in the world, millions who are starving and you ask what can I do?

FEED ONE

You grieve for all the unborn children murdered every day... and you ask what can I do?

SAVE ONE

Your haunted by the homeless poor who wander city streets.. and you ask what can I do?

SHELTER ONE

You feel compassion for those who suffer, pain sorrow and despair and you ask what can I do?

COMFORT ONE

Your heart goes out to the lonely, the abused and the imprisoned...and you ask what can I do?

LOVE ONE

Remember this my child...two thousand years ago the world was filled with those in need, just as it is today, and and when the helpless and the hopeless called out to me for mercy, I sent a saviour..

HOPE BEGAN WITH ONLY ONE!

I know this poem has helped many us to understand what is happening here. The Gospel is the hope for our world. I was chatting with Mark A After our visit to the Mall of Asia (A huge shopping centre) on the day we went to Smokey mountain(the w0rst place you can imagine ) and put in way that is so true "whether we are 20 minutes from poverty or across the Globe God calls us to do something, it is our responsibility.




See you all soon




Really looking forward to seeing family and friends

PS Emily Wilar has given you her teddy called Michael, he is my bag ready to sleep on the plane

Love to all




Mark H

home sweet home

hi everyone,
alas, it's time to go home and though we are looking forward to be back, we leave with a heavy heart knowing we will be missed by everybody here at Kanlungan. It has been a worthwhile visit and though we have worked with the project last year and know what to expect, God had shown us new things and more revelation of Himself as He work among the people here. Despite the poverty, hardships and suffering we witnessed around , His love and compassion radiate from everyone we meet and places we go. God's message is loud and clear "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the ages" Matt. 28:20
see you all soon.
mela and mary
xxx
p.s. we all miss you
kisses to harry and harley

Only in Manilla

Manilla is filled with some of the most wonderful and strangest sights you'll see anywhere, from the endless stream of Jeepneys( our stagecoach equivalent) to the street sellers selling everything from single ciggies to dvd's.

Today has been of those days where I have said "Only in Manilla". I joined Wilmar again for the day, which saw a consultation at the day centre which the children and young people were asked to particiapte in deciding the activities and how the centre will run. After we had finished i just sat down with 2 older lads who started to sing worship songs, Matt redman the heart of worship, we all just started to sing it was so easy to forget that these guys were street boys as my thoughts collected......ummmm Only in Manilla. We then set of to a new district to meet with street children and familes, I think Wilmar is related to the pied piper as he walks down the street the kids just get up from the cupboard seats, and follow him down to the plaza, about 25 children gathered for songs, bible stories and prayer. As the children stood and all closed their eyes to pray with the street bustling around them i thought ummmm "only in Manilla." The Lord has really shown me just a glimpse of his love for these families over the last few days. I pray that I will never forget.

It really is quiet humbling to pray and just be with these children.

For the funny of the day ask any of the team about grass skirts and pom poms LOL say no more about that one!

Blessings

Mark

Back in England!

Hey guys!

Back in snowy snowy England! I hope you're all missing me and my fruit loops! I am missing all of you, its too quiet. To Lou and Liz, I pray the Sid the cockroach has left your room and to Malcolm and Ian I pray you have found out what the heck is in your room.

I hope you all have had a great day and I really pray the weather clears up so you can get home!
This blog is late as normal for me, but at least this time I have a good reason. Been catching planes for the last two days :). I want to write about Tuseday, when we all split up and went the areas we felt God was calling us to. I felt such a desire to go back to Tunasan, now having learnt to spell it correctly.

We, Malcolm, Lou and I, arrived to empty drop in centre. However this was good news as it meant parents had enough food to feed the children before school and that they had actually gone to school. In Manila, the amount of children wanting to go school and the lack of schools mean that the children go to school in shifts. The shifts are from 6 am to 1pm and then 1 pm to 6 pm. A couple of children did up later as they needed their lunch before going to school. It was great to be there as we had the van so we could give them a lift to school. The school is quite a walk away and they are having to walk when the sun is at its hottest. We then went on a tour of the school and gave the children a lift back to the drop in centre.

Well then they were flooded with children who had just finished school. I think there was around 24 children. We played games, dodgeball and this one where you are in circle and all have to do stupid dance moves. Malcolm, Lou, Kathy (the social worker at Tunasan) and I went on a shopping trip! It was brilliant having Kathy there as she knew exactly what the children needed and what she wanted for the centre. She was touched and so happy, it was fanstastic! We brought her a world map something she had wanted for ages! As we were leaving the mall, we wanted the buy the children ice cream but Kathy suggested brownies from the Brownie shop instead as the children were always staring at them and had never had brownies before! To be honest I think although we were buying stuff for the children, the true enjoyment was for us as we saw how happy they were. We arrived back at the centre with massive bags of stuff but the children never tried to peep in and see what we had brought. They were all doing their homework when we arrived and we did distract them but they stayed in their seats. When we got the brownies out they didn't rush us or fight and argue. They formed an orderly line, no pushing or shoving and just patiently waited till it was their turn. But what really got me, was there was a little boy, around 2 who was to shy to come and get brownies so the children grabbed my hands and brought me to him so he could have a brownie as well. I was so touched by their thoughtfulness and selflessness.

As the day progressed, we coloured in, Lou helped them to make bracelets and rings out of the beads we had brought, but they were already very clever at making everything. At the end of the day me and Lou were covered. We both had bracelets, rings, ankle chains, necklaces and flowers in our hair. Even Malcolm had a bracelet on! Then we played games, similar to British bull dog, the children had their dinner and then we brought them ice cream. We spolit them rotten but they deserve it! The girls made me and Lou valentine's card, as in the Philippines its a celebration of love for everyone not just partners.

They are the most delightful, selfless people I have ever met. The love of one another and their acceptance of anyone new is something we should all try to replicate. I thank God for all the work He is doing and thank you for letting me see it.

Thank you all for reading the blog!
Emily x

Let the children come

Hi
I have been out with Wilmar( the street educator) on the streets, we have put together some tricks, testimonies bible stories and songs. After gathering about 15 children and mothers, including waking some of the older girls from around the bay area. Wilmar had the children and mums stood with a prayer to start. It was almost like a little street church!We sang some songs,as I was stood there in front of them looking at the joy on their faces as they sang and clapped the Lord just gave me a glimpse of his heart for these people, it began to break mine. After some gospel magic, testimony and the story of the lost son, Wilamar bought everyone food and drink and we had some play time. As we left I knelt to pray with my arms around some of the children and the mums and just knew Jesus was there, my question that has been in my mind all week, Just where is Jesus in all this? was finally answered. The prayer flowed from my lips with simply requests food for the day, protection, love to surround them, Jesus was there those words of his echoed round my mind "let the children come" he said as he blessed them.

Thankyou for following the blog it has helped me to think through the enourmous things we have seen and and experienced and special thanks to Mark A, Ian and malc for giving me the prividge of seeing God's work here. It is an experince that Has changed me for life.

Blessings

Mark

Time to find rest in God's shelter says Jen!

Before I came to the Philippines God told me that I would have an 'appointment' with him here. I felt I would learn something of the power of his love. The unconditional outpouring of love that continues in the Kanlungan work has demonstrated this again and again and the powerful transforming consequences in the children's lives.
God wraps the children in a wonderful 'duvet' of love as they arrive and holds them for however long it takes, till they are ready to engage with the wonderful workers as they support them and help them in the healing process that God has started.

My first 'appointment' was the day we took them all to this lovely outdoor swimming pool complex. There was a warm pool attached to hotsprings that I decided towards the end of our time to take a dip in. There was a young man of about 18/19 there with his parents who had had a stroke. I said to Mela that maybe I could support him in the water. She spoke to the parents and told them I was a physio. They hesitated and I held back feeling I didn't want to pushy, as it was only that I could see they were struggling. She told me they thought I would want money, but when they knew that wasn't so they smiled and I just gently helped him stand, sit, relax. He could understand but couldn't speak. He was in the navy and had been attacked by a toxic substance that had obviously hurt his central nervous system somehow. he sttled with me and smiled a lot. As I shook hands to go, Mary and mela said, shall we pray and then Mela asked if we could pray with the family. This we did, I felt so empassioned as I prayed for him for his healing, his smile turned to tears, then I knew I just had to tell him how much Jesus loved him, and then it was over and we left them there. They had brought him out of hospital for the day to see if the spinngs would heal him and instead he met Jesus!!! Thank you Lord, what a blessing for me too.

The 'appointment' we said we needed prayer for was the detention centre visit. It went well as Mark has written. Leta and Mela and myself were able to pray individually for about 10 of the boys. Some shared, they are fearful, they want to be with family and wanted to pray for their family members, many not being visited by anyone! They are so lovely, so vulnerable, so scared. Just imagine how you feel sometimes standing before someone in the prayer team who wants to pray for you. You quietly step out and share what you want prayer for because it is precious or fearful for you and then the Holy Spirit comes, and light penetrates the darkness. We prayed and then we left all the burdens with GOd, theirs and ours. One boy had been there for 4 years and still not come to trial, several of them for a year already. Such a privelege to do what we were allowed to do.

God was so gracious, he led us and held us in that dark place, otherwise it would have been so hard to go back. I trust that God has penetrated the darkness as we prayed- light over darkness-may the darkness flee in Jesus' name. Sol's team are going to begin to do more there. This is fantastic. Pray for the system that rules it to be cracked, broken and changed in Jesus' name.
Thanks for your comments. I was so pleased to hear that Kate (my daughter) went with Fred to the funeral, I was worried about him going alone, so that was an answer to prayer. This is my last blog and along enough one too I hear you say! Looking forward to coming home! Love to you all
Jen

Lola Leta's final blog

Hi everyone,

- thank you Zac for your message - it was good to hear from you - but so sorry to hear you had to go to school in the snow and Michael didn't!! Life is so unfair!

Thank you Inge for your verse of scripture, and thasnk you all for your thoughts and words of encouragement

Well, yesterday morning Jen, Mela, Mark(H) and I went back to the 'prison' where we met with 21 boys between 14 and 19. They came in after their lunch and we sang Our God is a Great Big God with actions ten times!! It's a good slimming exercise you should try it!
Then Mark told the story of the Prodigal Son/LOving Father while Wilmer from the home translated - they were a really good double act and the boys seemed to enjoy it.
For the next part, we divided into two groups and Jen and Mela and myself had the wonderful privilege of praying with each boy seperately - sometimes Mela translated what Jen and I prayed , but sometimes she didn't but then it didn't matter, because these boys knew we were there for them and that God was there in our midst and at that moment that was their special time for meeting with GOd. There were a mixture of emotions and feelings flying around from the boys being frightened, sad, worried about their family back home. Some of the boys only had an elderly grandparent who cared about them and maybe visited now and again and some had no-one at all. SOme of the lads had been in a month, some 6 months, some a year, and someone had been detained for 4years and none of these cases had still not been heard!!!! WE shed a few tears that morning I can tell you. There was a feeling of despair amongst the boys
THere's lovely old hymn called
Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you

And that is, I believe, what we are doing, being as Christ to those who need a touch of His love
And we leave the rest to God now and trust He will water the seed that has been sown in that place and believe that Light of Christ will bring hope to those who hsve lost all hope. There are a lovelt couple of young people from Denmark who are staying in Manila after we have returned to the UK and they will be going into the prison and carrying on where we have left off and help establish a weekly meeting for prayer etc>>>> WONDERFUL!!!

God always provides his people to carry on His work...

This morning went out with one of the street evengelists and met a families living in a container parked by the side of the road. The mother was washing her 4 week old baby form a bucket of water and laid him on a towel on the pavement!! She was so tender with him.....it was really moving.
Another young mother told me whe wantesd to come to England
I said (politely) "Don't bother, because there is no work and no money, and you have all the love you need here in your container lorry home!! She said that the sides of the container got so hot in the day time you could put your bread on the walls of the container and it would turn into toast!! In all their poverty, they still maintain a lovely sense of humour. The people from the Kanlungan homes are going to establish a link with them so they will not be without hope!
I feel really chuffed that I have blogged for the first time ever, with encouragement, I have to add , getting their slowly!! not quite into illustrating yet....maybe another time. This had been such an amazing time in every way - I don't think any of us can return the same as when we came out, and that is how it should be. So much food for thought I shall be chewing and digesting for monthts. Thanks again for all your prayerful support and wonderful comments GOd bless you Leta

Instruments of Love &Grace

Hi all

Hope you are enjoying the lovely snow we hope for some more after we get back so I can sledge with my family. Thank you for praying about the visit back to the detention centre. God did use us all as "instruments of grace."

We met 20 boys who do not get families to see them, we sang a some with them our God is great big God. Wilmar( one of the Kanlugan team) asked my to tel the story of the lost son which we did together with dramatic hug at the end. We then split into groups and asked the boys to relate the story to their life to help them to talk. Wilmar shared the Gospel with them, and asked me to lead a prayer of repentance with the boys as they wanted to commit their lives to Jesus. The boys them just sat with ate some cookies and coloured in the picture book story of the lost son! I could believe the sight of these tough 14-18 yr boys, sat coluring as little children. We all prayed together. especially that God has not forgotton these boys. We need to really pray that the system can be changed so the backlog of cases can heard and they can get fair and humane treatment.

The afternoon I spend time with Wilmar I realy connect with his heart for the gsoepl and his love for the street children. We worked together preaching, singing songs and doing magic tricks to students who were in the poor area as part of their course and them with the street children. I see the Gospel is shared the same way here. Wilmar is a is an infectious person to be around such love and desire to help, care, teach values and of course bring the children into a relationship with the Lord.

My thought for the day. We are instruments of Grace, we are literaly the Hands of Jesus, oh how we need a pure heart and a willingness to get our hands completey filthy in the Lords service.

My funny of the day
This has to go to ladies on the invasion of the giant cockroachs on the hotel. we had staff with sticks, girls screaming, the men making jokes, Liz jumping up and down on her bed. Much to the amusement of the Filpino hotel staff

love 2 all

Mark H

Lou's back

Hi Everyone,
Hope you are all enjoying the snow. We have been telling everyone about it here. Some say "i wish it snowed" as most have never experienced snow. i'm still enjoying the sunshine :-) my skin is still recovering from the swimming pool sunburn. please pray for emily as she is flying back and starts her journey in about 3 hours. I have had an amazing day with malcom and emily, we went back to one of the places we previously visited. it was so so so so nice to have the day with the children. We went to visit a school but then just hung around the centre. It was so nice. The children were children, when i am with them it is so easy to forget they have nearly nothing and live in absoulute poverty. Thier little faces they are just so amazing and so are the people who work with them. I have to confess i had my first public cry today and i didn't think i was going to stop my eyes just kept leaking :-) ops it was after reading something malcom showed me i will have to show you all a copy at some point. It's all about the difference just one can make. Thats the biggest inner struggle here, There is just so much need. You all know me, i have no money to give...bless you all and thanks again for supporting me to come out here it's meant so much to me! So, unable to give much you are just left with this huge burden to do something but left with the question what is it I can do? Anyways after my blub we went and treated the children to some brownies which sounds silly but Kathy one of the workers says she sees the children walking past this store looking at the cakes. How many of us would just buy them but some of these children would long for a treat like that. I loved being able to give them something to enjoy it was great. Best of all was the games we played with them and the beading and braclets we sat and made. The rest of the team sounded like they had amazing days as well. Thank you all so much for your prayers. God has blessed us so much. They know how to celebrate birthdays out here! Never again will i sing the boring version of happy birthday. Love to you all, keep warm.

more news from lola Leta

After the experience last Wednesday, of seeing young boys living in the detention centre like something out of a Dickensian novel , I felt moved to write down the images left in my mind

These are the forgotten boys,
Living their dark lives in dark cells
Dreaming of freedom
But freedom never comes
Hands stretching out through bars
For one brief moment, hoping to
Touch, to feel, to grasp
Another's hand.
In that brief touch
A spark of love is passed from
One to another
No words are needed
Eyes and hearts say it all..........

(Tomorrow, Tuesday, Jen and Mela and myself are going back ti the detention centre to pray with some of the young boys. Please pray for us and for the boys we shall be meeting, that God will be so presen t and that lives will be touched . These will be boys who have no family at all.
Such a privilege to do this and wonderful that a door has been opened for us to go in!)

the day following the detention centre visit We had a totally different experience when we went to the boys farm 2 hours drive away. It was a Garden of Eden experience. It was a lush plantation. As we arrived there was a young man up a tree about 70 metres high cutting fresh coconuts, the juice of which we drank! Most refreshing - not like coconut milk - it was watery, but very pleasant. We had a walk through the plantation and it is great that the boys have the responsibility of maintaining the plantation - when you realise that these boys were at one time living on the streets of Manila, and through the love and care of the Kanlungan homes , now have the resposibility for caring for God's creation, learning a trade and helping to make a living We then had a time of worship and then we each prayed for one of the boys.

Saturday was a lovely refreshing day when we went for a swim or in some cases, a splash with about 100 Kalungan children. Some very red faces afterwards as we hadn't realised the sun was as hot as it was!! Had a lovely picnic and then a time of worship in the park where the pool was. WE stood around in a circle - a big one, and one of the children chose someone to pray and then we start. I just LOVE this - the children just explode in their praise. We never have any words written, no music to play from, just someone on the guitar , me on the flute and we just go for it!!!! Very liberating. I have never witnessed praise like it. Heavenly
One of the things God is showing me (amongst many others) is just how much prayer is such a part of these childrens' lives and how much they place their trust in GOd's provision. Also that though they have so little they give out so much, content in whatever state they are in! One little boy promised to pray every day for me for something particular, and Sol said that he would do just that.......if he said he would, then he would - isn't that just wonderful?
One just stands back at the open heartedness and generosity of everyone in the Kalungan work

We had a wonderful afternoon today when we celebrated Liz' birthday(Mark's sister) She was showered with flowers and presents from the children and had to dance with every child!! Then it was our turn!! Mark (Herd) and myself trying to perform a cha-cha together was a sight to behold!! At the end, Liz was invited to sit on a chair in the centre of the room and everyone prayed out loud for her. So moving to hear children just praying with no inhibitions from children aged 7 - 16 years of age. I think we were all overcome somewhat. They have a lovely way of clapping after someone has prayed! Interesting to try that out at St John's!!!!
Will finish for the moment - be in touch soon Love Leta Thanks for your prayers and support it means so much!

Jen's Monday news

Well I go from one extreme to the other! What ever is happening it seems to be part of God's learning curve for us. Having felt last week that visiting the young boys about 200 and the girls, about 16, in the detention centre, was the worst experience, the hardest, I now find myself ready to go back tomorrow.
We were given the option to visit somewhere that we had been to for the second time. Overnight I moved from thinking I didn't ever want to experience such a thing face to face, to looking forward to going with Leta, Ian, Mark H and Mela. Leta and Mela and myself are drawn there to pray with the boys. Please pray tonight for us.

This afternoon we went back to the Malate centre to be with the children. It was Liz's birthday today(mark's sister). The party they had arranged was phenomenal! Such abundance of giving, it was overwhelming, wonderful fun, singing and dancing. No doubt you'll hear lots about it.

This will take a lot of digesting, but I can't rush it. Fred has told me that one of our two lovely dogs has had a stroke,s o I am concerned too about home. On Tuesday Fred is at a funeral of a very old friend from childhood and I wish I was with him, so please hold him up in your prayers too.
Love from Jen

Take up your cross and follow me

Hi to all

Thank you for your comments and prayers. Sunday and today have been great days as we begin to go deeper both in knowing the people, and the situations that they work in. One of the things that stands out in kanlugan is the staff's passionate love and commitment to the children and street families of the city, their love for one another and their love for the Lord above all. I understood the verse about taking up the cross and forsaking everything else and following Jesus, in our culture I don't fully appreciate the depth of what that means, here this is how the Kanlugan team lives. It is truely inspiring I am jealous of the simple lifestyle and being so fully committed to the Lord and his kingdom. Our lives are full of so much that we have do like paying the bills etc. Being here enables you to understand these principles in a much deeper way. A priviligde to witness the Lords work in a different place. I long to work these principles more in our context. What does it mean for to go deeper and take up our cross and follow Jesus. Alot of the staff live together in the homes, sharing rooms, meals and their whole life with the children.

a few of us are going back to the dentention centre for boys tomorrow, to visit and interact some that don't have family visits, take reading materials, soap, toothpaste and spend time praying for them.

Despite vowing to not eat more local food I have failed after 2 awesome meals at the Malate centre, I am praying that Jane does not cook Thai, chinese rice or fish for my welcome home meal. I would hate to offend lol.

Truely inspired

Mark H

Sunday

Hi All

Not so much to report today ... Church this morning - the 'Cathedral of Praise' and then sightseeing this afternoon with Ate Sol, Kuya Willy, Ate Joy, Ate Marika and Kuya Leto.

Then Pizza and a trip to a folk-bar run by a man we met selling Bonsai trees on our tour this afternoon! Great thing is, when Ate Sol was talking to him in the bar he agreed to come and do some landscaping at the new house and at the farm. God is good - ALL THE TIME!!!!!!

Tomorrow we are going to the Malate Centre which will be great as we've only been there once so far. Going to be joining the staff for their first devotion time in the new house - what a priveledge!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support back home - please remember our families as well, if you haven't done so yet it would be great if you could give them a call - I know they would appreciate it.

Thanks again

MarkA

A special place in the heart of God

Hi to all

It has been a touch of heaven today after an emotion ripping week, we spent the day at swimming pool set under a beautiful mountain. TheStreetlight trust books this for all the Kanglugan children and young people to come together with all their visits. These Children only come swimming at the pool once a year, so to see the joy on their faces swimming, laughing playing volleyball and basketball was just awesome. Lots of time to chat to the staff and children. At the end of the day everyone gathered for devotions. We worshipped together, the sense of the love of God was overwhelming. These children and young people know more than any of us the reality of God's life transforming power and it shines from them. Not a dry eye in any of us.

Lord forgive us for our lack of love, please change our hearts to love without measure.

On a lighter note i have reached the overdose limit on Filpino food I just can't face anymore rice, chillis or fish!Where's the roast beef and yorkshire Pud!

Chilled

Mark H

A happier note...a day full of love

Hey,

I just want to start by saying thank you to all those who commented on my last entry. Its really lovely that you take time out of your lives to actually read what I wrote, let alone comment on it.

Today we had the joy of taking around 100 children swimming!! All the children from the Farm, the Boy's Home, Lagunna(?) and the Tunsaan drop in centre came. It was the most uplifting and refreshing experience, and after such an emotional week, it was just what we needed. When we arrived, the children were already there, having set off at 7:30 so they could enjoy every minute they had. The children love swimming and it was obvious. Their faces were lit up with smiles that lasted all day. But what was really amazing to see was how the children reacted to one another. You've got to remember that its quite rare for them to all meet up, yet it was like a massive family gathering.

What really touched me was the love they had for one another. The big boys from the Farm were looking after the little ones, helping them into the pool, teaching them to swim and playing games with them. The children had such trust and faith in these boys, boys originally who were as hard as nails, involved in activities you and me can only imagine. I spent the day as a train, carrying two little girls backwards and forwards in the pool. Its weird what endless patience you suddenly have. Then I spent it being chased round a basketball court. I found out later that these were the street children from the Tusaan centre, girls in similar situations to Jen Jen, Jessica and Joliann, only they live next to rail tracks instead of in the city centre.

Its hard to describe the love I feel for these children. Its almost like my heart has doubled in size while we have been here and it just continues to grow with every new child I come across. I have never experienced anything like it and I know its a love that God has put in my heart. Why? I don't know...we shall just have to wait and see. But what I love about this trip is everyone has connected to something. Mark H is determind to get back to the youth detention centre and work with the boys there, Liz has felt an amazing connection to the Lagunna children while Jen and Leta want to go back to the Malate Centre. God works in wonderful ways and he makes sure that there is always someone who wants to help. I never truely understood what it was to ask God to break your heart or to discover your passion until now.

Lou says hi and with that I say bye. Today I only ask for your prayers of thanks to God. He is awesome and the love He has for all of His children is overwhelming. Pray especially to thank Him for the staff at Kanlungan who I think love the children almost as much as He does.

Emily x

The Photos you've all been waiting for ...

Hey again.

Hey,

I am not really sure what to write that hasn't already been mentioned before. So this just my view on how things are. This is a little late in posting as I want to write about the street children, but I was one of the emotional ones and I wasn't quite ready to share my experiences. I've seen, as I am sure we all have, pictures of people sleeping in the streets. I'm sure we have all felt bad and wished they was something we could do for them but nothing can prepare you for the feelings you experience when these nameless people across the other side of the world introduce themselves.

I met 3 of the cutest little girls, Jen Jen, Jessica and Joliann. I saw their happiness when the camera came out and they all wanted their pictures taking. I saw their delight to get sweeties from the Sweety guys, Malcolm and Ian. I felt their fear when the 'rescue' team turned up. Jen Jen was screaming for Jessica who had gone missing, Joliann was shaking so badly in my arms. I haven't got the words to explain the fear these little girls felt. Me, Jen and Leta had formed a circle around them but we knew we were powerless to stop them taking the girls if they wanted to. I pray none of you have to experience such a feeling.

At first they didn't realise we were there. We watched as one of the members of the 'rescue' team cut down a woman's washing line and threw her clothes into the gutter as she tried to remove them. It was their final warning. Then they saw us and stopped. What amazed me was that they hadn't realised we were there before as we were stood within 8ft of the van. I believe God made them blind, so we could see a small example of what they do. Later the husband of the washing line woman kept thanking us for being there otherwise they would have taken all of their possessions. I was so glad that our presence did do something.

So yeah thats my account from the day. A bit late but nevertheless I needed to mention it.
Please pray for all these street families, in particular for Jen Jen, Jessica and Joliann.
Thank you,
Emily xx

A tale of 2 days

Hi all

The jetlag finally caught up with me yesterday, I got i'll and slept for 15 hours. I am Feeling better now though. Yesterday as you have read was a shock as we got an insight into the Justice system that is straining to cope with the enormous size of the problems, and lack of resources. I can't forget the sight of 40 boys locked up in a room no bigger than my front room for most of the day awaiting trial, some are there for up to two years. Being a dad to two teenage sons i think this has impacted me the most so far. I again ask the question where is Jesus in all this? In the dentention centre entrance there was a statue of Jesus in a glass case! Was this a picture of what was happening? Maybe, God's will is without doubt being resited by a structure and system that is not reflecting his values, of love, compassion, and care however Good will not be overcome even inside such a horrible place the power of God's love breaks through as people step out to make just a small difference. The kanglugan team are hoping to go to prison to run activity sessions in the centre.


Today by contrast has been refreshing visiting the Boys long term home, and a farm, where ex street boys were being given skills and accessing various courses. Without all of this in place those boys would probably be with the ones we saw yesterday.

Please pray for us a family It our wedding anniversary today so it is especially lonely esp for Jane.

Mark H

Lou again

Hi all,
Found it hard to put the G in again a mo ago. also keep mixing up my f and d's as this keyboard has hardly any letters on so i apologise if there is some bad mistakes. Zac i can't wait to tell you all about it when we get back. Glad it's been fun at little fishes, i have missed you looking forward to a baby reuben cuddle, can't beleive i haven't had one yet. Heard the Big Whales curry night was good! I'm pretty sure everyone has wrote about today. so i will just thank you again for your support. Please pray for the Lads we met today, Gods got a plan for them, sol has a heart for them as we stood there in the middle of it all me, her and liz all welled up she said if only we has the resources. She really has genuine love for them, i'm beginning to understand why. It could have easily been any of us in these appalling situations. Thanks God that it isn't, but lets not forget those who are trapped in this beyond poverty, horrible mess. Love to you all.

Rest Day ... mostly

You'll have seen from other posts what we've been up to today, so I won't repeat it here.
For me I had a haircut and a shave, all for 750 pesos (how many lotions did he put on me!!!) Very refreshing in all the heat!!!

Tomorrow we go to the farm, so that will be a full day so we probably won't be blogging till later

Thanks again

Mark A

Liz Elks (Marks sister!)

What an aweesome day, truly heart rending to see what 'rescue' means in the Philippines. Children are taken here after they have rounded them up. They wash tham and feed them and lock them up only allowing them outside for a short time in case they run away. They have done no crime - they are poor and are trying to live in a city which is overwhelmed by poverty. They can be kept there for weeks their parents can only pick them up if they have their papers which many of them don't have. If they come from the provinces they are sent home only to reappear in Manilla because there is no work in the provinces thats why they came to manilla in the first place! Its so bizarrly tragic. One girl asked us to help find her mother which of course we can't do it's dreadful but this is what the mission out here is workng to try and prevent the need for this happening.
We also saw a youth detention centre where chldren waiting for their cases to be heard in court are kept. 204 boys in 5 rooms, locked up all day wth no hope and no rehabiliation programme. hard to take in even though I have seen it. Sometimes when they are bought to court they are given 1 month sentence but they have already served 2- 3 years in detention. With no hope of learning a trade or skill they are returned to the streets only to reoffend again. What a crazy corrupt system. Thank God for Sol and her team who are bringing the light of Jesus into this dark situation. It is only in His power that they can do what they do. Pray for openings and resources so that they can go into the detention centre and work there.
Off to the farm tomorrow at 8.00 in the morning so preparing for an early start! Can't wait!

An afternoon off!

Its difficult to express the journey over the last few days. I feel I have seen the enemy and known the presence of God in the middle of a fearful atmosphere. I have just written a long blog and cant believe it has just disappeared! God's love is at the centre of Kanlungan. I feel I am witnessing what it means to follow Jesus through the power of prayer and obedience to Him. The whole family of workers and children know the transformation of their lives, because of how they live. Jesus is the vine and they are so certainly attached to Him.
Pray for health for the team please.

from blog-shy Jen and Leta - both doing well!!

Hello for the first time! I call this 'The land of Smiles' Everyone smiles whether it is the children who live on the streets, the shopkeeper, the children in the home, the fsmilies who live on the rubbish, everyone has a smile! Wonderful!
I am known by the children in Kanlugan and Laguna centre as Lola Leta (I can hear the laughter now) Lola means grandmother......Great respect is paid to older persons here and everytime we go out, a young man from the Kaloogan Centre looks after me - helps me off the escalator in the stores, takes me across the busy roads, and helps me down from the bus. All very nice.
Well Inge, before we set off, you prayed that I would have a taste of heaven and I have had that.
On Tuesday, we were treated to the most wonderful worship time with the children at Laguna Centre. I have never witnessed worship like it in my life Children from 8yrs-15 years whose lives have been marred and scarred by every form of abuse imaginable standing there just lost in worship! It's wonderful to see God transforming lives through the love of the people who work there it is truly miraculous! I was too choked to sing! Then 3 children sat round with each member of the team and prayed for us. Even though they prayed in their own language you didn't need to know what they were saying - you just knew thet God heard their heart requests.
So humbling and so uplifting!! One just marvels at the miraculous here in the change which is taking place in the lives of the children in these homes - prayer and the love of Jesus is at the heart of everything, and it is love that wins through in the end.
Monday, Tuesday and this morning were tough times!
Seeing children and whole families living on a gigantic rubbish dump which spread over acres.
I never thought I would live to witness such deprivation and abject poverty - the enormity of it is overwhelming find it hard to see that on the one hand and the great oppulence on the other
the gap is truly enormous...
we have seen small children as young as 5/6 sleeping on bits of cardboard or inside plastic piping, people whose homes are cardboard to lie on and an umbrella to shelter under!

We were invited by a lady to come into her home which was one room made from wood and corrugated iron 6ft by 6ft in which a family of 7 lived, ate slept and cooked. We prayed with her before we left as she was afraid that soon her house was to be bulldozed and she didn't know where she was going to go!


This morning was quite difficult when we went to a children's rescue centre and a centre for children who had been taken off the streets for a short time, only to be returned to the streets a week later! Doesn't make sense. Visited a centre for young boys who had committed crimes - like something out of a Dickens novel, but much worse - 20/25 young men and boys in a cell with nothing to do. Even they had a smile and loved to shake us by the hand....
Last night was great. Some of the street boys came to a park and did some break-dancing - they were amazing-double somersaults, balancing acts and any amount of gymnastic acheivements - all performed on hard concrete! No such thing as crash mats or spring boards, they were absolutely brilliant. After they had finished, they went 'home' to sleep somewhere on the streets!
THis week has been such a mixture of emotions - great heartache, deep sadness, anger at the injustice of things, feelings of helplessness and somewhat bewildered! But
there have been feelings of joy and delight, excitement, peace and love and seeing God at work in the lives of so many children - that what might seem impossible in the world eyes has been made possible when God is brought into the equation! Alleluia! We continue to thank God for the work done in Hid name and my prayer is that Christians can be in places of authority and decision making that there is compassion in the way government works in Manila.
Thanks for all the prayers and support - it means so much God bless you all back home
from Lola Leta with love

from blog-shy Jen and Leta - both doing well!!

jen and leta are alive and well!

Hi Folks ....

Just be clear, the blog from last night was from Mark Herd and not from me. Don't want to take credit where its not due!!!

Yesterday was indeed a difficult day in many ways, and although I knew about the 'rescue' operations it was still difficult and traumatic to see one at first hand. That was not something I had experienced before on any of my previous visits.

This is a different sort of visit for me - I knew what to expect in seeing all the poverty and the work of Kanlungan in seeking to address it. But this is the first time I have led a team out here without going through all the culture shock experiences myself. So its really a learning point for me in helping others with what they are seeing. That's why its great having Ian & Malcolm here, as well as Mary & Mela who have also been before.

This morning they have gone off to the Reception Centre to see the place where the children where taken yesterday, while I have stayed behind to get up to date with some church work, so check back later to see their reactions!

Thanks again for your support and prayers. It really does make a difference.

MarkA 

Where is Jesus in all this ?

Hi to all,

It has been a difficult day for everyone, we spent the afternoon with the street ministry team, meeting the street families. Later in the afternoon the Government welfare agency came round in a big van and started rounding up the street children to take them to a detention centre where the would be separated from their friends and families for a couple of weeks, the group we were with started to hide, they were very scared and rightly so, several guys jumped of the van with thick bamboo canes in hand, and threw the washing people had hung up in the sewer and cut the lines, and were being very intimidating. however on seeing us there they backed of a bit and left the children alone. This apparently happens 2 or 3 times a week. They call this "Rescue". Where is Jesus in all of this injustice, squalor and poverty? He is the hands and hearts of the kanlungan team, reaching out with love,help, friendship and hope, and the life changing Gospel day in day out.He was in among the people in the shanty town we visited the morning. As we visited inside one of the houses which had a picture of Jesus hung on the wall the Lord spoke to me and said I am here look and you will see, look closely, draw near and you will see, we can all share in that as we support, pray and give without measure

Finding Jesus in all

Mark

Prayer requests
please pray for my family at home It is hard for them to be without me.
Pray for some of the team who were particular upset by today.

The world of Lou

Hi all, really really please keep praying for us all. I think we are all really missing so many people and the things we are seeing and hearing are starting to impact, we can't help talking about how we respond! Thanks for all your comments as well it is good to read them. We had another interesting day. We saw some guys tonight and boy could they dance. The team we are working with are amazing, the people love them and so do we. The great thing is in it all there is so much to laugh about. I guess nothing i can write on here can begin to tell you how amazing it is in so many ways. There are huge highs and lows. Everyone else i'm sure will write about the details. Everyday is different but both nice and bad happy and sad, today at one point it was horrible you could feel the fear in the air. It got to us all i think. Anyways thanks for your support. Hope all is good back home, missing you all.

Mela and Mary have returned!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, well it really doesn't seem like a year since we were writing on this blog. In some ways it feels like we have never been away. Gods answered prayer and Mela is feeling much better . It was so good to see Sol and the Kanlungan family again ,especially the children. Things have changed in Malate and after getting evicted from their centre last year they now have a lovely house for the children. It was great to see the children so settled in there. God is Good. One of the highlights for us yesterday was seeing some of the girls that we got to know last year in Malate now settled in the long term residential home in Laguna (about an hour from the city)and going to school there. We visited the school and saw them in the classroom, they have come such a long way with alot of love from Kanlungan. They remembered us and even the stew minus dumplings we cooked for them!!!!
lots of love Mary and Mela
ps Hope Harry and Harley are being good
pps love to all at the Beacon we are praying for you all

What Can I Say???

Just great to read some of my fellow bloggers comments here. I guess for me its just great to see the effect Kanlungan has had on me also being seen by the rest of the team.

Just also want to say thanks for all the families back home for letting us come out here. I think I am more aware than ever this time that without Helen, Michael & Zac's support I would not be able to do what I'm doing here. They are very much part of the team even if they are not here!!!!

You've seen from other blogs what we've been doing today. Tomorrow we go on the streets with the Street Education team. Check back for more news ...

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

MarkA

Hey!

Can I just say that I was wearing HUGE shades, that look like what celebs wear. The children are incredible and so talented. The amount of strength and determination they have and the love they show is wonderful. Anybody would be blessed to simply spend an hour with them.

Emily x

The light breaking into the darkness

Hi to all

After a stop at the daycare project working with the railway community.We went to the the lagunna home today which is the place which children are settled after they have been off the streets in the kanlugan centre for 8 months or so. Which is about 1 Hours drive outside Manilla. We visited the school where the children go, Emily was mistaken for Britainy Spears on account of being blonde,([Adds a new slant to blonde jokes LOL :-)] the boys said she was beautiful but WENT very shy when we called her over to go into their class to the great humor of the rest of the grade 6 class.

At the home when the young people returned from school they did a presentation for us of singing and dancing which was just overwhelming to see how God's Power had changed their lives of brokeness, and abuse to wanting to acheive their true potential, living to Godly values and having love in their lives. TRUELY MIRACULOUS.

Before we left we joined with the children for evening devotion, I have never heard worship like it before. 30 Children and youngt people singing and praising their hearts out all of us were reduced to tears. The children then broke into groups of 5 and prayed for us!

Truely Humbled

Mark H

Liz Elks

What an amazing day - a real conflict of emotions from seeing Gods love in action with the children at Kalunga to the abject poverty of the people on Smoky Mountain. The smell was indescribable and I can't believe that this is all these children know and without the work of people like Sol they will never break out of this cycle of poverty and squalor.
On the other hand the mall of Asia is more opulent than anything we have at home - and yet is only 20 minutes way.
Other interesting experiences!! Vegetables which tasted of fish!! Beef stew which i THINK was beef! Meeting the wonderful children and seeing Lou being chatted up by a smoky mountain dweller!!
Liz

Lou's first day

Hi everyone, we've had a fantastic couple of days! Today was very interesting to put it mildly, gives you heaps to think about that is for sure. I'm not even going to begin to go into Lou's thinking. We have met so many amazing people and i have had so much to laugh about, high lights were going to the new house and having such an amazing welcome, Mark A having to shake some ones snotty hand and Mark H's near explosion.

You know you have got nothing when you have to live on a rubbish dump to sift through tons of rubbish to recycle cans, paper plastic and metal... and you know you have everything when you can walk though the biggest shopping centre in asia and eat an amazing meal, buy donuts and even get a laptop for 200 pounds all withing 20 minutes of one another. That has been the extremes of the day . In the middle of all that Kanlungan childrens project does an amazing work bringing hope to the abandoned, the abused and the forgotton. To hear the children singing about Jesus in the centre was just overwhelming to see the power of God changing a childs life from hopelessness to a future. The Gospel in action.

PS Don't eat philipino chili's they are extreme even for a spicey fiend like me.

Love to all

mark H

Arrival & First Day

Hi there!!!

Sorry that it has taken a while to get onto here. The Internet Cafe I used to use has closed down, so its been a bit tricky. Still have managed to find another one now so hopefully we'll get things going!!!

Flight was long but uneventful. Kuwait Airways looked after us well. We arrived 4:00 yesterdaye afternoon, met by Ate Sol and other friends from Kanlungan. It was great to see them all again. Got to the Shalom at about 6pm, showered and then out for a meal at TGI Fridays's!!!

Today has been busy - in our morning devotions we looked at the passage from Ephesians 6 - using the armour of God!!! Then onto the Drop-in Centre and Office, an introduction to Kanlungan to those who had not been before and an opportunity to see more friends for those who had.

Then it was on to the New House!!! And what a great place it is - so much lighter than the old centre. It really is a blessing from God. We enjoyed the Children's presentation and then did a small one of our own (well done Mark H for the puppet!!!). Lunch followed and then we left for Smokey Mountain. Difficult to know what to say at this point!!! I'll encourage some of the other team members to blog their thoughts later.

Back at the hotel now and getting ready for a trip to the Mall of Asia.

Please ket us have your comments - its great to hear from you.

Yours

MarkA

Bags are packed, goodbyes said and work loose ends tied up, so I guess i must be ready. Not sure what to expect only that the Lord will be there as he is here, so looking forward to the adventure ahead. Please pray for my family that they don't miss me too much.

Blessings

Mark.h

ready to go!!!

Well it won't be long now and I am excited and really looking forward to seeing everyone again. Just finished a busy session at the Beacon and said my goodbye's, I will miss everyone but I know from last year once you get there the time just flies! Looking forward to going out with a great team and I am sure God is going to bless us plenty and hopefully we will be a blessing to the Kanlungan family
Mary

2 days to go!!!

2 days to go ... and last minute preparations are well under why (except that I'm still on a course in Sheffield!!!)

Still, I know that once I leave here tomorrow (Friday) things are going to happen very fast!!!

We are planning to leave Mansfield at 3am on Saturday morning, then its a 4 hour check in at Heathrow and we take off at 10:30am

Our flight schedule is as follows (UK times in brackets):

Depart Heathrow 10:30

Arrive Kuwait 19:35 (16:35)

Flight KU0104

Depart Kuwait 23:55 (20:55)

Arrive Manila - Sunday 16:10 (8:10)

Flight KU0411 

Manila is 8 hours ahead of UK time and you can track the flights on the Kuwait Airways website

Please pray for the team as we prepare to go, and check back because I have asked them to post their own thoughts about going.

For me - my current thought is that I want to get on with it!!! Really looking forward to seeing everyone there again. Really looking forward to coming together as a team from our different places. Really NOT looking forward to the flights!

Please do check back during the trip - I will try and update every day, including on Sunday night when we arrive. Also please do leave your comments. They really are an encouragement!!!

Many thanks for your support

Mark

Streetlight Visit 2009

14 days to go and its almost time for the Streetlight Visit to Kanlungan for 2009.

Its a new team going out this time, with 7 people visiting for the first time and 4 of us on return visits.

We fly out on Saturday 24th January from Heathrow with Kuwait Airways. So, at the moment we're getting all those last minute things done - changing money, getting travel injections, insurance, getting the itinerary sorted out and all that stuff. 

So, please keep an eye on this blog - we'll update it again before we leave with details of all the team members and details about our flights.

Plus ... we have some good news from Kanlungan, they have put down a deposit on a new house to replace the Malate Centre in the centre of the city, and they should be moved in by the time we arrive.

And finally ... we now have the ability to donate to Streetlight on-line, go to the giving page on the Streetlight Website and follow the link there.

So ... watch this space!

Mark