Braving the Floods

Dear friends and family,

In the Philippines, the homes and lives of millions are at risk daily to the threat of typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanoes. We're now in the heart of monsoon season here, and we're all just trying to keep our heads above water...literally. For the past three days it's been pouring rain in Metro Manila almost nonstop. I actually can't remember a day in the last couple weeks that it didn't rain for at least a few hours. Manila sits at sea level with a relatively poor drainage system, and thus flooding happens quickly during heavy rains. The current torrential rainstorm has left 60 percent of Metro Manila (a metropolis of 12 million people) inundated in floods. The death toll from the storm is at 72 and rising, and around 850,000 people are now either displaced or completely stranded.

Residents pluck useful items out of the rushing floodwater.

A man swims across flooded streets.
Notice how close the water is to reaching a "no-parking" sign.

Since my apartment resides on the fifth floor, I've been completely safe from the floods. Classes at my language school have all been cancelled, along with the classes at just about every grade school and college in and around Metro Manila. If I had any reason to stay inside and hide away in my cozy apartment, this storm could have been it. However, with catastrophe just outside my door and many of my own friends and members of our community at risk, I knew I couldn't just sit idly by. Last night God was tugging on my heart to get involved somehow, and so I texted Tin Tin and we came up with a plan. She made a list of essential groceries and medicines that flood victims would need, and this morning we carefully traversed through the floods to purchase whatever we could carry and bring directly to affected families. Actually, we ended up purchasing much more than we could carry, so we made multiple trips back to the store.

Residents huddle on rooftops as the flood engulfs their homes. 

Rescue workers bring trapped families to safer ground.

I'm certain now that Tin and I didn't fully realize what we were getting ourselves into. Our little afternoon mission turned into 8 straight hours of wading through flooded streets carrying heavy bags of groceries and supplies...but I don't regret a single minute. Sometimes the murky water came right up to our waists as we held our bags up high to keep them dry. The heavy rain and wind rendered my umbrella useless as the sideways rains drenched any part of me that was above water. By the way, I would rarely ever condone walking through dirty floodwaters (for obvious sanitary and safety reasons!), but in our case this was literally the only way to reach many families who had no means of buying food or medicine. Under the cloudy water, we often mistakenly guessed when a street curb began or ended, and thus we had a couple close calls with almost falling. We also enjoyed - or at least one of us enjoyed - our new game of: "Was that object that just brushed up against my leg a plastic bag or a dead rat?". No matter what we came up against, Tin and I were decidedly determined to reach and help out our community knowing that God loves to use anyone who is willing. We prayed that through our small efforts He would show His faithfulness and care to those running out of hope.

A group digs through layers of mud to save victims of landslides.

Thousands take shelter in evacuation centers after their shanties are flooded.

Of course, it can be tough to find hope when you are personally hit with such real tragedy. But one thing is for sure, every family to whom we brought groceries to couldn't hide an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this unexpected blessing. Whether it was through a smile or through tears, I know that they felt cared for. Many of the people we brought food to were people who attend our church, and many others were complete strangers who we noticed just needed a helping hand. I'm so thankful that Tin Tin was there to help and to take charge, because I would have been clueless on my own with regards to knowing which families were more desperate for such help and what supplies a Filipino in poverty would need during a flood. In fact, sometimes I even strategically hid at the end of the street while Tin distributed the groceries, because we didn't want people to conclude that the support was coming from the White missionary. Rather, we explained to them that the initiative was from our church, and that in particular the blessings they were receiving were from God. The reality is that without Him, none of what we were doing would have been possible.

Please pray for the families who have been affected by flooding here in the Philippines. There is much to do before Metro Manila can get back on its feet again. Despite the very real tragedies occurring here now, we know God is at work and using many everyday people to answer a call to help.

Take care!

John

I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends

Dear friends and family,

Our community here in the Philippines was truly blessed when my childhood friend Nathaniel Hill came to visit us last week. His time was limited, so we decided to forgo all the typical tourist activities in favour of taking "Mr. Coffey's Whirlwind Tour of Programs for the Urban Poor". Nathaniel assisted with a lesson at Educare (our preschool for street kids), he learned all about our IT Tender Center (a drop-in center for street youth and kids), he experienced worship at our small community church, and he brought his own very big smile and personal brand of humour right into the streets and homes of many of our clients and the families we're reaching out to. Through our photos, I hope you can somehow vicariously share in the joy and even some of the pain that Nate felt as he witnessed the love, faith, and hardships of a community in the slums.

As we arrive in Zanzibar Street, the kids are so excited to meet Nate.

In the Philippines, he is a very gigantic and very White child-magnet.

I've watched these kids growing up over the last few years.
I love them in heaps, and I love to share their joy with others.

Tin Tin teaches a phonics lesson in Educare.

Shelley prepares for the SAT's ...the "Shapes and Alphabet Test".

Teacher Tin tests phonics recognition and letter differentiation.

One evening Nathaniel, Tin Tin, and I were walking from our church to the bus that would take Nate and I back to my apartment. As we walked alongside a bustling highway, three children came running up to greet us shouting "Kuya John! Ate Tin!" (in English "Big Brother John! Big Sister Tin"). I often stop to chat with thirteen-year-old Angelica and her younger siblings and friends in the street. Day and night these kids are selling flowers to make a living. The "sampaguita" is the national flower of the Philippines and is commonly sold by child vendors to drivers in traffic to hang from their rear-view mirrors. We chatted for a while in Tagalog with the kids and translated our conversation for Nathaniel. When he found out that Angelica was celebrating her birthday that very day, he decided that he wanted to generously bless Angelica and her friends. So Nate, Tin, and I went to a nearby restaurant called Mang Inasal and brought back a few meals for the kids, including plenty of ice cream for dessert. Angelica was delighted to enjoy a delicious meal and ice cream on her thirteenth birthday. She was also excited to bring food back to her relatives in the street to share it with them. I know she will never forget the compassion she experienced on her birthday, and each time I see her she's already asking where Nathaniel is and when he might come back to visit again.

Angelica (far left) celebrates her thirteenth birthday with
the abundant generosity from a new Canadian friend.

Nate visits the Custodio family (from left to right: Lerma,
Mackie, and my Goddaughter Micah). Mackie built their
humble home with his own two hands using wood and nails.

Nate also drops by Raymond's place and is shocked to see
how many Filipinos usually live together in one small room -
a room which Nate can't even stand up all the way in.

Thanks again for following along with me here in the Philippines! May you be blessed and challenged by what you've seen and read, and may God be with you and your families throughout your own joys and struggles at work, at school, and at home.

Take care!

John

"I live in the mall...literally"

Dear friends and family,

It's true - I just moved into an apartment in a mall. Yeah, I didn't see that coming either! Many Filipinos confess that in some ways they "live at the mall" - spending hours strolling through the air conditioning or enjoying the window-shopping. However, I'm actually settling into a small apartment at the top of a 5-floor mall in Alabang, Metro Manila. I've never been an avid mall-goer, but this is actually an ideal location for me here. Directly across the street is our drop-in center for street children/youth ("IT Tender") where I expect to spend most of my time. Then, in front of the mall are buses I can catch to get to our church and our preschool ("Educare") in Makati. And then of course there's the obvious convenience of having anything I might need to buy just downstairs (groceries, clothing, etc). "Starmall Alabang" is also known as "The biggest bargain center in the South" (...or at least according to their slogan), as there is a large market in the basement where you can barter for just about anything new, used, or imitated (ie, the knock-offs).

In the midst of the bustling traffic of jeepneys and bikes
in Metro Manila is my new home at "Starmall Alabang".

Because I'm now in the final stage of language school, I'm transitioning out of the classroom and back into the community. The latest big move was just one event in a busy month. Just a few weeks ago we held a 3-day, overnight camp for the youth from our small, community church. We were blessed to be able to bring guest speakers, professional counselors, and social workers to the camp. The purpose of inviting counselors and social workers was to provide support for those youth who've been traumatized by physical or sexual abuse. This was a very eye-opening experience. Just as we worried might be true, many of our youth privately admitted episodes of rape and sexual abuse they'd experienced growing up. Our camp was a very necessary time of safety, peace, and relaxation for these youth. It marked the beginning of a long road of recovery for them through the counseling and support of our church and our team. We're also thankful that many of the youth learned ways to release their burdens and forgive others through their discovery of a loving and forgiving God. With proper professional support, a supportive community, and faith, we believe that these youth can experience a radical recovery and a profound freedom from some very oppressing and degrading experiences.

After the camp, a handful of us church leaders partnered with a team of Filipino doctors and flew to another island in the Philippines for a medical and hygiene mission. Upon arriving in Ilo-Ilo, we spent half a week in the city of Roxas to run the program, then we commuted to the city of Carles to run our program again for a community there. A few members from our church had grown up on that island and thus knew the area well, including "Ate" (Sister) Princess from our team. For the hygiene part of the mission, we taught children the proper way to clean their bodies. We gave them a bath, combed their hair, removed lice, brushed their teeth, cut their fingernails, and also gave them a meal. For the medical program, we offered free services from volunteer physicians, dentists, and an optometrist. We were even able to give out free eyeglasses and medicine to anyone who needed it. We feel blessed that we were able to team up with Pastor Juni and his medical team from "Seed of Love Ministry", and we thank God for making all of this possible.

Tin Tin takes in the breathtaking view of the
Philippine islands during her first plane ride.

Before our medical and hygiene programs
we went out to visit the families in the community. 

Ilo-Ilo is home to some adorable little monkeys (...I mean, kids!).

Leading a devotion and prayer with the workers of the church
who also volunteered to help with the medical and hygiene programs.

Ah yes, the proper wiggle-and-jiggle toothbrushing technique.

Bathing the kids is a humbling experience.

Many of the children had lice, so we helped
pick out the bugs and used special shampoos.

Still hanging around even after the program.

The pastor in Carles gives a short talk before our medical program.

Em Em and I helped by cleaning and sorting dental instruments.

A young girl nervously waits her turn to see the dentist.

We set up a small pharmacy with free medicines for the
patients after they'd received their prescription from the doctor.

We prayed for each patient before they returned home.

Thanks so much for reading my blog. Please pray for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of of these communities in Ilo-Ilo that we have been reaching out to. And also pray for the youth in our community as well. In other news, Educare just resumed classes this week (June is the beginning of the school year in Manila), and we're thankful for another year to teach and grow with the preschoolers. Also, I will be commuting to language school twice-a-week now until I finish sometime in August. The final stretch of school involves a lot more "out-of-the-classroom" assignments and projects. I'm really looking forward to graduating in just a couple months! Continue to pray for my Tagalog as well.

Take care and continue being a blessing to others!

John

Intelligence + Character = The Goal of True Education

Our DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School) in Olongapo, Philippines

Dear friends & family,

Here in the Philippines, the kids are currently enjoying their vacation from school until mid-June. The beginning of the school year also marks the beginning of rainy season. During the increasingly hot months before the cooling rains, my team always travels to various rural and urban communities to run a Daily Vacation Bible School (i.e., "Christian Summer Camp") for the kids. Last week I took time off langauge school to assist my friends with the DVBS in a rural area of Olongapo (a 4-hour commute from Manila). We partnered with a church there to provide an enriching and engaging program for kids ages 4-12 in the community. 

During the opening ceremonies of the DVBS,
the kids led a parade through the streets of their town.

A banner inviting each and every chid in the community
to join our DVBS program hosted by "Balikatan Church".

Standing in the entrance of their small but inspiring church.

My home is the city, but my soul longs after these rural provinces!

Our very own Tin Tin was the MC of the DVBS.

One of the reasons why we travel to other communities to host these DVBS programs is to train the youth in their churches to organize and run their own children's programs. In Olongapo, five young workers of the church assisted us in teaching and running the program. Prior to the first day of the DVBS, we held an orientation for those workers to get acquainted with the schedule, songs, and activities. Each evening, we devoted a few hours for debriefing and prayer with the workers. By the end of the DVBS, we were so encouraged by their growth. Even they were amazed at how much they had learned about teaching, leading, and inspiring young children. Consistent with the old saying that advises to "teach a man to fish" (rather than giving him a fish), we successfully equipped the church to lead children's programs without relying on us in the future. In other words, we chose to "teach a man to teach", as opposed to simply running the program ourselves and moving on to the next community. Although it takes a little more time and effort, we know this is the best approach with the future of the community in mind. We pray that for generations to come, their humble little church can continue to run such programs that nurture within their children a strong sense of self-esteem, faith, and trust in God.

The DVBS program included story-telling...

...singing... 

...dancing...

...lessons... 

...activities...

...crafts...

...prayer and worship. 

I've never before seen kids pray quite like this.
We witnessed a real faith in children that cannot be denied.

These children pray with simple and genuine sincerity.

I was blessed just to be a part of the program.
I also had the opportunity to sing the Philippine national anthem.

My main role at the DVBS was to lead the activity center. This was great practise for my Tagalog. At the same time, I offered the youth many opportunities to lead the activity themselves. I adopted the role of a mentor to them - encouraging them and offering advice on how to manage the children's behaviour while simultaneously keeping them active and engaged in the learning.

April (one of the youth at the church) really cares for these kids,
carefully picking for lice after the day's program has already ended.

Raymond fills a bucket with water for a bath. Us boys slept in a
church without running water, so this is how we got our water for bathing.

Summer camp is a place where friendships are strengthened!

On the last day of the DVBS, we held a "Graduation Ceremony" complete

with certificates, awards, and special numbers. No program in the Philippines

is officially complete without a graduation. Children wore their finest (or only)

dress and/or favourite outfit, and we invited parents to enjoy the celebration.

We opened the festivities with this dance number. Enjoy the video!

In other news, I just completed another written and oral exam in language school this week. It went great, thanks to God's guidance! I'm also excited to spend the next three days at a Youth Camp for our own church. I was asked to be one of the counselors. I see this as my chance to build stronger relationships with the youth in our church (as most of my work has been with children), and also of course to further develop my Tagalog skills. Immediately after camp, my team and I will fly to another island in the Philippines to do a mission trip in a place called Ilo-Ilo for seven days. We are excited to partner with local doctors to run a medical mission, and also to run various outreach programs for the children and families there. Please pray for my team with those events. We will return from Ilo-Ilo on June 3.

God bless, and continue being a blessing to others!

John