Learning from my Team How to Celebrate Christmas:

Sharing gifts, clothing, food, and joy - meeting ALL the needs of the poor and suffering - even to the point of adopting a family of orphaned children into our team's homes for the holidays...

For the month of December, our team hosts Christmas parties

for children in various rural and urban poor communities.

I'm cherishing reunions with kids in communities

which I haven't been able to visit for almost two years.

My joy is also in watching these kids grow up to know

Christ and His great love for them. That love is shown even through

our team coming multiple times each year to support and encourage them.

"Maligayang Pasko!" (Merry Christmas!)

December is my favourite time of year to serve children in the Philippines. In part, it's because my teammates really know how to throw an awesome Christmas party :). But also, I'm reminded of the original reason why Christmas is a time for peace, joy, and love.

Often the real joys of Christmas are watered down by it's commercialization in a consumer culture. We all know that. I don't mean to say that we shouldn't appreciate the fun in presents, eggnog, and Santa Claus. But if the gifts we anticipate most are the ones under the tree and only shared with our family, then I know we're missing the point. What if the holidays involved REALLY spending more time meditating on what Christ has done for all of us. For many of you, I'm "preaching to the choir". Yet for others, you may have some issues with the church, some real qualms with religion, maybe even some baggage with Christmas and Jesus in particular. But I'm sure ALL of us can appreciate that there is great joy in giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, and visiting the lonely. That's something we can all do at Christmas. Actually, it doesn't get more "religious" than that - for "religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained" (James 1:27). "Religion" and "Christmas" are loaded terms that we can't help but misuse or misunderstand. But let's appreciate that at Christmas time, God sent Christ not to condemn the world, but to bring love and hope to those who desperately need it.

My Filipino team loves to demonstrate that love at Christmas. Over the last few weeks, my teammates and I hosted Christmas parties for children in need here in the Philippines. We celebrated 10 Christmas parties for a total of over 1100 kids! At most of these parties, we fed the children a healthy meal, enjoyed songs and games, put on a fun skit, and distributed a gift bag to each child. Inside the bags they found a stuffed animal, school supplies, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and more. In some communities, we also distributed clothing and groceries for the families.

Little munchkins receive their own little munchkins!

Opening prayers at the Christmas party.

Kirby & Shavonne Martin are a huge help on our team. They're also sent by

International Teams Canada and are serving in the Philippines on a two-year term.

Kirby jokes around with the kids while serving the meal.

Due to various reasons (malnutrition, worms, etc),

some of the children have a bloated stomach.

The children in Kanawan take me on a jungle hike.

Don't worry about the large animal creeping up behind us. The "carabao" is a

domesticated water buffalo commonly used by farmers in the Philippines.

Straw-in-mouth, Pauline is ready to scarf down and party down.

The last Christmas party we held was in our own community,

and Pauline is one of our daycare students.

Ally is another daycare student. She was one of

my first students, and she still shouts "Teacher John"

and jumps into my arms whenever she sees me.

Many of the photos above were taken in a rural community called Kanawan hidden amongst the mountains, jungles, and rivers. Some of you may recall that Kanawan is one of my favourite places in the world, and we've held many Christmas parties and summer camp programs there over the years. What really captivates me about that community is not just the scenery, but really it's the immense kindness of the children there. Perhaps there's something about the city that seems to "harden" the street children in Manila much more than rural poor children.

Last August, one of the fathers in Kanawan died of acute tuberculosis. His wife and six children struggled to carry on after his death, and his wife suffered from severe depression as a result. One month after their father's burial, Cynthia (the eldest, 14 yrs old) found the body of their mom lying lifeless and foaming at the mouth. There were rumours that either she poisoned herself or someone else poisoned her. Sadly, there was no way to know the actual cause of her death since they didn't have enough money for an autopsy.

After hearing their story, our team was cut to the heart and felt compassion for them. Anne Benavidez, the wife of my team leader Joshua, was particularly moved to help this family. While their community is still looking after the six children, it is a big struggle. Anne told me that the Lord impressed on her heart for our team to adopt these kids for a week at Christmas so they wouldn't feel alone or orphaned. I know that she might have even adopted the children permanently if she didn't still believe that they need to live with their other relatives. Nevertheless, our team is excited to show these kids that they will always have a "larger family" in the church who will always take care of them. On December 23rd, we will travel back to the mountains of Kanawan to pick up the six kids and bring them to Metro Manila for a week. The community in Kanawan is very thankful for this act of compassion.

Remember these photos from past blogs/newsletters?

Ishmael (above) is one of the children orphaned

after the tragic loss of both his parents this year.

Cynthia (on the back of my teammate) was the first

to discover the body of their late mother.

Ezperanza is another of the six beautiful and kind siblings.

Thank you again for reading my blog. While there's plenty of other news to share, I wanted to focus on those stories first and foremost. But in brief, here's what else is going on... I'm actually moving out of the dorm in January because I found a great little apartment just down the street from language school for the same affordable rent as the dorm. Praise God for that blessing! Also, my good friends Heather Kendall and Scott Weber (both from Elmira) are visiting me here from Dec 21-29! They have been teaching English in Japan for the last year and are now backpacking around South-East Asia.

Take care, God bless, and have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

John

The birth of ANOTHER Goddaughter, and other new beginnings...

Dear family and friends,

School is back in session! There's no "snooze button" when your alarm is a rooster and a pack of barking stray dogs. So I wake up early, toss my books into my backpack, then I catch a "jeepney" and a light rail train to my morning class. These days I'm feeling much more settled into my dorm and into my everyday routines here in the Philippines. Learning Tagalog is my first priority right now, so I spend a lot of time conversing with shopkeepers in the markets, getting to know the street children in the community, and tackling my daily homework assignments. Studying at language school four-days-a-week is hardly a chore as my teachers have truly become good friends of mine (...I attended the same school twice-a-week during my internship here in 2010). The school is called "His Name SALT" (Shem Adonai Language Team), and it's specifically designed for missionaries. In fact, most of my teachers are pastors, and they support their families primarily through their income from teaching Tagalog. While my lessons are typically one-on-one with a different teacher each day (on a rotation), we also enjoy the occasional group class or field trip in which we explore the history and culture of the Philippines. Speaking of experiencing the culture, just a few days after I arrived in the country I was a guest at my teacher Decai's wedding! There's just so much going on here each day, I sometimes forget to include even such major events in my blog.

Hanging out with the staff at school (left-to-right: teachers Jeff,

Mark, Romy, a White guy, Nenette, Decai; absent is teacher Joei)

My humble abode at St. Andrew's Seminary Dorm

where I'm only renting a room but also occasionally attending

prayer meetings and fellowship with the seminary students.

Privacy isn't a necessity for most Filipinos, including in dormitory showers.

Toilet seats and toilet paper aren't a necessity either.
That's what squatting and scoops are for! ...just don't ask...

Moving on. Yeppers, another Goddaughter of mine just entered into the world! While my first three Godchildren are all pure Filipino and from various families I've befriended here (one of which you saw in my last blog entry - Yanarah Micah), my newest Godchild is actually a Filipino-Canadian. Her father is my good friend from home Brett Ostrander (the youngest son of the director of International Teams Canada - Neil Ostrander). I was in Brett & Grace's wedding party the last time I was here in the Philippines. Their first child, Isabella Yvonne Gantia Ostrander, was born just two days ago. I rushed from my Tagalog school in Quezon City to get to Bicutan (a two-hour commute by bus, jeepney, and finally a motorcycle with a sidecar) and then I spent the afternoon at the hospital. I was able to keep Brett company (even the husband isn't allowed in the delivery room) and I stayed to meet my beautiful newborn Goddaughter. Right after delivering the baby, Grace was sent to a recovery room while Isabella was bathed and placed near a window where together Brett and I could see her for the first time just minutes after she was born. I'm not quite sure when I became such a sap, but in that moment I shed a few tears just witnessing God's stunning work and His amazing little gift to our community.

Isabella Yvonne Gantia Ostrander - a beloved little miracle.

Born at 3:43 pm on November 29, 2011, she's healthy and weighs 2.5 kg.

And there's even more to be thankful for... Just yesterday our church held a baptism service at a swimming pool out in the rural province of Laguna (south-east of Manila). We baptized fifteen of our members in one day! They each shared their testimony, then they were baptized as a symbol or picture of what has happened in their life through experiencing the grace of God and emerging from their old life with hope and faith in a better future. The newest members to our church are always comforted knowing they never have to walk through difficult times on their own - but they have a loving church that genuinely looks out for them and an even more loving Father and God. After the baptisms, we shared a barbecue lunch and an afternoon of swimming and relaxing by the pool. Since most of the families in our church are squatters living in shanties on the street, the entire day was really a huge and unforgettable blessing. In addition to the baptisms, I will cherish the bonding time I spent with the kids at the pool. I spent most of the afternoon teaching swimming lessons to our daycare students and to my Filipino Goddaughter Micah. We really felt like one big family. And that's what community is all about!

Fifteen young adults tell their emotional testimonies before being baptized.

 Through tears, Marisa shares how the church brought her

into knowing God and provided a safe haven for her children,

Jet-Jet and Adrian, who are students in our educational daycare.

Young leaders Mackie (left) and Raymond (right) baptize the youth.

Pastor Joshua (left) and Nico (right) also lend a hand.

Thanks again for following along with my experiences in the Philippines. My team and I always need your prayers here - and we appreciate them so much. I will blog again in the next few weeks after the Christmas parties for children in various urban and rural poor communities.

Take care!

John

Where am I? - "Sa puso mo!", that's where.

My wonderful family and friends,

So I'm now settled into the dorm in Quezon City, and I'll be starting Tagalog language school on Monday! In the meantime, I've been catching up with friends and with everything going on in my team's programs here.

On Saturday nights, I return to Manila and sleep over at the home of my friends Mackie, Lerma, and my Goddaughter Yanarah Micah Custodio (though she goes by her middle name - Micah). She is 11 months old and absolutely beautiful. Her daddy Mackie is a good friend and fellow teacher in the daycare. Him and all his relatives live in a very compact squatter community. Mackie built his own home out of four plywood walls and a wooden ladder to a second level. When I stay over, I sleep on the lower level and Mackie's family sleeps up top. It's a pretty cozy duplex. I'm so thankful for their hospitality and for the chance to spend quality time with my Goddaughter each week. We're now teaching Micah how to walk. I also enjoy playing with Mackie's nieces and nephews. His five-year-old niece Michelle is one of our newest Daycare students, and the two of us love to play hide-and-seek. When I ask her "Nasaan ka?" (Where are you?) she always responds "Sa puso mo!" (Here in your heart!). ...can you really blame me for falling in love with these Filipino children? :)

My adorable Goddaughter Micah.

Micah and I holding on tight to each other.

One of my greatest joys was in witnessing the progress of the educational daycare which Toph, Tin Tin, and I established just 18 months ago. All of our students have new, "formal" uniforms - just like the ones in elementary schools in Manila. We're also sending several children to formal elementary school through a scholarship program Toph, Tin Tin, and I also envisioned called Educational Assistance (EA). Through this program, my team gives financial aid to street children for their school payments, uniforms, lunch, and transportation to-and-from school. Many of the recipients of our EA program graduated from our daycare program last year.

Here are some photos I took last week of a typical day in Daycare. You'll see our students getting picked up by our team van, studying hard and learning from Teacher Mackie, and of course having lots of fun and enjoying the comfort of a safe place off the streets. Enjoy!

Mothers of our students send off their kids as they climb aboard the van.

...yes, we pick up the children in a big, sketchy, white van.

Mackie teaches their phonics lesson each Friday.

Jet Jet plays with the alphabet blocks.

The sheer focus and determination in writing the letter "H".

Many volunteers and teachers like Roldan (red shirt)

and Tin Tin (yellow shirt) help out every day.

Developing social skills and making

friendships are what our students do best.

Thank you so much for following along with my blog! May you also experience the joy and blessings of knowing that your support and prayers change lives in this community. Take care and God bless!

John

Back to reality, though it feels so surreal - My whirlwind reunion in Manila!

Dear friends and family,

Thanks for checking in on me and reading my first blog entry as a full-time missionary in Manila, Philippines! I arrived here in the pouring rain late last Thursday night. Brett Ostrander, my friend and fellow Elmira-native, picked me up from the airport and I spent my first night at his place. I was quickly reminded that I wasn't at home anymore when I awoke to the sounds of roosters crowing and bustling traffic, and I had to bathe Filipino-style - with a scoop and a bucket of cold water.

As I ventured out into the city, reminders of it's poverty pressed in on me. Of course, I hadn't forgotten the harsh realities of Manila - the street children begging in the streets, squatter families cramped in makeshift wooden shanties, and the not-so-hidden signs of prostitution, addiction, and crime. Pangs of loneliness and of missing home hit me. Hard. I felt embarrassed by my desire to escape to my very comfortable world in Canada. I missed my friends and family the most, and I knew that I always would.

However, over the course of the next few days, God provided so much comfort and love and the important reminder that I am here for a purpose much greater than myself. First things first, I went straight to the slums to say hi to the street kids who attend our children's programs. Mackie (my Filipino friend and teammate) and I rode his motorbike down Zanzibar Street where most of the students in our daycare/school reside. Kids came running up to greet me with welcoming laugher and smiles. That was the first of many reminders that I really am at home - or at least a home-away-from-home. After many hugs and high fives, the children and I walked down the street arm-in-arm to greet their families whom I hadn't seen for a year. The kids chanted "Laro tayo!" ("Let's play!"), and we played countless rounds of tag, duck-duck-goose, and various Filipino favourites.

The weekend was packed with more reunions. Somewhere in the haze of jet-lag and exhaustion, I remember several hugs with my beloved teammates, churchmates, and other close friends. Our little Filipino church - Jesus King of Kings Community Church - is the heart and soul of our community outreach programs (including the daycare). At the Sunday service, Pastor Joshua (my team leader) gave me the opportunity to get up and share with everyone my story and my plans as I settled into Manila for the long-term. The joyful reception and warm welcome from the church was overwhelming.

My plan now is to move to Quezon City (1.5 hour commute North of here) on Thursday where I will be studying at a Tagalog language school full-time for up to 6 months. In other news, I should let you know that there have been a few big changes here. Our church and team office have moved to a new location in the last few months. There were some issues with the reliability and financial stability of the management of the old building, so my team decided to move a few blocks away. They are now picking up the daycare students each day with our team van to take them to the new church location. Also, Toph and Nico (two of our daycare teachers) don't really have a place to live and have sometimes been crashing at the church or at Pastor Joshua's home (...another reminder that even my teammates are affected daily by poverty and hardship). We are hoping to eventually find a location near the squatter community where we can house the daycare and provide a place for Toph and Nico to stay.

Thank you so much for reading. Hopefully I can cut down on the length and include some pictures in future blog entries!

Much love,

John

It's Official - I'm Going Back November 2nd!

Dear friends and family,

I'm writing with some VERY wonderful news. I feel so blessed to announce that my flight is booked - I will return to the Philippines on November 2nd! Now more than ever I'm most thankful for the opportunity to serve and love my Filipino brothers and sisters as a career. Overwhelmingly, I can sense the grace of God in His provisions and support in paving the narrow road for me to dedicate my life's work to honour Him and to be an extension of His grace and love for the street children in Manila.

And of course, thank YOU. To my friends, co-workers, relatives, even acquaintances - you've followed along with me and offered more support, prayers, and encouragement than I could ever imagine or repay. Your grace and compassion could never be overstated.

Speaking of support - although I have booked my flight, I've done this with a great measure of faith. Many people have offered much financial support for which I'm so thankful, but in truth I'm still a bit short in the monthly support I need to sustain myself and the daycare/school. I am around $400 short monthly - which means if you're considering sponsoring my work and you haven't yet, right now is the time. A handful of sponsorships anywhere from $5 monthly to $100 monthly and we're good to go! If you would like to donate or sponsor me, you can do so anytime through credit card here: Support John Coffey ...or you can donate or sponsor through automatic bank withdrawal or cheque (email me at johndlcoffey@gmail.com for the appropriate form to fill out). All donors/sponsors will receive tax receipts and a fridge magnet with a photo of yours truly in Manila - a friendly reminder to remember me and the kids in your prayers :).

For the next few weeks, I may be busily preparing for my return, but I'm never too busy to spend some time with you. Please email or call me if you would like to meet up for coffee or dinner or shawarma or frogurt or absolutely anything - because I would love to enjoy your company before I leave for this next two-year term in Manila. Send me a shout at johndlcoffey@gmail.com or at home at 519-669-8173.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Blessings and love,

John

"The Filipino is worth dying for." - Ninoy Aquino Jr., a martyr for his people

Hi there everyone!

It's been seven months since I last left the Philippines. Not a day goes by that I don't think about the children there. I'm patiently awaiting my return as a FULL-TIME worker in Manila with International Teams - hopefully for many years to come! I'm excited for what God has in store for the children there, and I'm ready and willing to be used and stretched as I continue providing an education and healthy meals for street children in poverty who don't have the privilege to go to school.

In the meantime, I'm working part-time in various group homes for adults with special needs. In July and August I'll be a counselor and academic tutor to children with special needs at a wonderful place called Camp Kodiak (near Parry Sound, Ontario). My biggest priority now though is raising support for my work in the Philippines so that I can return in the Fall. When I think about the amount I need to raise (over $2000 monthly), it feels quite daunting. However, these street children are my life and my passion, and I will work as hard as it takes to return to them. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I just think of the motto of a Filipino named Ninoy Aquino who sacrificed his life to free the Filipino people from an authoritarian regime. He said, "The Filipino is worth dying for!" Absolutely. And I would only add - they are worth living for too.

Right now, I'm just past halfway in the amount of monthly sponsorships I need to serve in the Philippines full-time. THANK YOU to all who have decided to sponsor me or pledged to sponsor me - you are the reason why I can serve in the Philippines and why we can hope to sustain a program that provides schooling for impoverished children. Before I can return, I still need more monthly sponsors. If you feel at all compelled to help, please contact me at johndlcoffey@gmail.com. There is NO MINIMUM required sponsorship amount, so any amount that fits your budget that you can give monthly is a BIG blessing. All donors will receive tax receipts and a fridge magnet that I designed. Monthly donations can be given through automatic bank withdrawal or credit card. Email me for a donor form, or go to this site if you want to give online with a credit card:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1043405&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone

Even if you can email me to say you can "pledge" to begin sponsoring me when I leave in the Fall, that will allow me to start planning my return! Once I simply have enough pledges, I can book my flight and plan my date to return to our little school and to resume classes at Tagalog language school.

Thank you again for all of your support - for your donations, prayers, and encouragement. Please enjoy this video (below) that was taken by a missionary from England who came to check out our programs (...you may recognize some of these kids - the video is taken in the Sucat community where we regularly serve meals to the street kids there). I love these children!!

Philippines from Alex Lawrence on Vimeo.

"Ingat kayo!" (take care!)

John