Sending Love to the Kids in Philcoa This Christmas

I am again a thousand miles from where the kids are. Four thousand, two hundred, and ninety-seven to be exact. Yet, I am compelled to do something, however small it may be, to give them a joyous Christmas. I am humbled that despite the failures and weaknesses I have, He still uses me and has connected me to the people who have the same heart that I have.

It is so amazing to see that God has always been steps ahead of me, orchestrating events in the background, all for His ultimate glory. It was His move that made me invite the Pastor Roland and his beautiful wife to be part of the Christmas Outreach for the kids last year. This sparked my involvement with their Children’s Ministry in Philcoa. The things that I used to do alone when I was still a college student are the same things that they are doing. Truly, God's timing is always perfect. Teaching the kids about the Bible, how to read and write, feeding them twice a week, listening to their stories, loving and caring for them when they are sick or have skin diseases and so much more.

Every week, Kuya Ringo and his wife, Ate Girlie, close their "gotohan" to cook good and healthy food for the hungry children. They can then come home to their families spiritually and physically nourished. And sometimes you will see them not finishing their food, so they can give some to their younger siblings. Most of the kids arrive really hungry. They would always go back for a second, third, or even a fourth helping. And the church is gracious enough to give them as much as there is still food in the kitchen. 

The Bible Christian Fellowship is a small church in Philcoa, yet it is able to feed 30-50 children week after week. It is a model of the Macedonian Church, Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 8:1 -5. The church has been doing this for more than 5 years already. It thrives not relying on outside donations. The members are sacrificing not just their own money but even their personal time.Their abundant joy overflowed in rich generosity. 

 Pastor Roland Sarmago who leads this church is not just an ordinary pastor. He is also the Director of the Physics Department in University of the Philippines, Diliman. Yet you will see him, coming from the laboratory every Wednesday night, without fail meeting the older children. He also mops the floor after kid's church every Sunday. He is the most humble man I know. 

His wife, Tita Arcie is the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. She cooks and feeds the children every Wednesday and also the whole church every Sunday. Isn't she amazing? They always come whether there are children that would show up or none. Actually, they aren't children anymore. I'm just so used to it since I have seen them since they were little. Time flies so fast that now some of them have started their own families already. This makes us very sad. But still we are hopeful. I see Pastor Roland and his wife not giving up despite the setbacks and difficulties in mentoring and discipling the older ones.

The whole Sarmago family, including their two lovely daughters, Mittsu and Al'ya have also important roles in the ministry. They lead the children in worship, in singing and dancing which the kids really enjoy. They also teach their own classes; Mittsu on the teeny tiny little ones and Al'ya to the pre-teens. And they also do more than that. I've heard Mittsu patiently cleaning a kid with a skin disease every week until the kid was healed. The mother was more than thankful. Mittsu also clothes the children if they arrive wet from the rain. Al'ya on the other hand, travels from University of the Phillippines, Los Baños where she studies braving the commute just to serve the church and the children. Moreover, she is also the worship leader of the church.

I am so blessed to have known this family and I commend them for their unwavering faith, selfless love, and heartfelt generosity not only to the children but also to us.

Evidently, there are still more to be acknowledged. The Matulac family for cooking the food; Raymart who serves joyfully to the hungry mouths; Kuya Ave, who comes all the way from Makati and washes the dirty dishes and Jamel, the newest teacher to the group.  

They are the hidden band of heroes doing the job of loving the little children as Jesus does in the small community of Philcoa. I have a lot more stories to tell but I will let the pictures do the talking for now. 

(Please look up https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151251618731276.508669.640056275&type=1&l=9a4586ed21)

I’m so blessed to have spent the first half of the year with them. I have learned a lot and their dedication to the work is very inspiring. I know the children will be in good hands this December. Yes, I’m afraid I won’t be in Manila this Christmas. I am thankful to all my friends and to the people whom I haven’t met who gave and supported me all through the years. You all know who you are. This time, I am asking your support once again in sending my love to the children across the miles. By the way, Kuya Ave who does the dishes is also an accountant so everything will be reported after. (This, I always fail to do. Yet, I thank you for the trust.)

The party will be held on the first Sunday of December. Please feel free to send me a message in my facebook or email (lynnegl@yahoo.com) if you want to be a part of this. I will be more than happy to hear from you.

If you wish to contact the church, please call/text Ms. Arcie Sarmago +639165178571.

Thank you so much  for your generosity and I pray for a love-filled Christmas to all of you. 

They are not forgotten- this Christmas

Last year, a thousand miles away from Manila, I sat in front of a doctor who reminded me who I am and my passion in helping the kids. It was a dying ember that silently grew again when I came back.

I don't know yet what are my plans are specifically for the kids,yes, I should do something concrete since I am doing this for 6, 7 years already. I need to do something concrete and while I figure out what to do, I am organizing again a party for a hundred or so kids this December.

This time, I invited a small church, Bible Christian Fellowship, who has been helping and discipling a handful of kids already in our community to partner with me in this event. They will be the one who will do the follow-up on the kids who would want to attend church and open their lives to Christ. Food and gifts do matter but what would bring a lasting change in the lives of the kids is Christ. And I noticed, the handful, about 10 of the kids who regularly attends the church behave well than most other kids I meet in the streets. We are praying that there would be a lot more.

So we pray that this event would be a catalyst to bring change in the community of Philcoa, one kid at a time. And yes, we do need your help. We need a lot of hands and giving hearts who would share even just an afternoon to bring happiness to the kids.

If you are interested to help me with the cause, please drop a message in my facebook account, my email address (lynnegl@yahoo.com) or call/text me at 09193583815.

Thank you very much for all your help.