Manila - ♫Better is one day in your house ... ♫

Two boys from the Father's House

Some notes of an associate of the HELP ministry for street kids in manila.
’My alarm clock goes off at 4.30am – it is my turn on the early shift today.  Around 5am I have to start getting the kids out of bed – peace and quiet are over now. Until 6am, fourteen children have to get ready for school and to shower with soap (boys at a certain age tend to forget)! The younger girls need help with their hair, I give out medicine, search for lost properties - breakfast. Every minute counts.....
We are on time, when a little girl explains to me, that she needs to bring sand or mud for a project at school today. Equiped with a shovel I crawl into he dark garden…Finally we have them all happily in the car – ready to go. The driver is a bit late today and after a few minute the van unexpectedly returns – two kids forgotten their school ID. No ID, no Entry!
Now it is time to wake up the smaller children – they can sleep until 6am – what a luxury! I have my second breakfast with the three nursery school kids and my third breakfast with the rest of the staff and the other kids who start school later.

At 8am we have our staff meeting. We don´t want to be just a ministry, but we want to share our lives – this is what makes it special for me. We are not only talking about the ministry but about how we feel – challenges, frustration, joyful moments and our hopes and dreams for the future. We laugh together, care for one another and pray for each other. God is there and we really feel encouraged.
After that we talk through the practical stuff and some tell us about the outreach yesterday. They met three brothers of a girl, who is  living with us. Their father has been shoot a long time ago and their mother is gone insane. Another brother is in jail. The boys are all on their own and even the youngest (he is about seven) is sniffing glue.  I can hardly believe how terrible the situation for the kids is – should we not at least take up the two youngest boys?
More about the Father's House >>

Manila – Full house in the Set Free Centre

The HELP drug rehabilitation centre in Manila – While the streets of Manila were filled with opulent Christmas decoration and lights, each and every room at the drug rehab was filled as well. So the “shack” was really crowded for Christmas and we celebrated in a big group. A short while ago, we took on a family of 6, which we knew for quite a while. Mother and Father, they both are struggling with drugs. We also plan to take in more rehab guests.

There is Jeffrey
Some time ago, 29 year old Jeffrey has come to us. Already at the age of 13 he began to take drugs. His father and his brother were doing drugs as well. With age, he also dealt drugs. While his father and his brother could make it years ago, he stayed on drugs. A few weeks ago his brother has made it clear to him that there is a way out of the hell of drugs. Jeffrey took courage and has decided to take up a therapy with us. He feels at home now. Even though the separation of his family is not always easy, upcoming Christmas is full of hope for him.
More on HELP Philippines>>

Dhondhon - A personal story

From our drug-rehab-team of the 'SET FREE CENTER' on the Philippines: During our fundraising tour in Germany this last summer, we talked in many places about Dhondhon, who had just finished the rehab. After the rehab he would have loved to study social work but his knee thwart his plans.  

An old bullet wound
Because of an old bullet wound his leg was very much damaged and he had to undergo several operations. Time and again the doctors even spoke of the necessity of an amputation which was never carried out until now.

The knee remained moveable
By now his problems became so big that he decided on an amputation. The good thing was that the doctors changed their minds and operated below the knee, not above as they had said before. This way Dhondhon’s knee would keep its normal function . 

No longer permanent pain Dhondhon got over the operation very well and does not need to live with permanent pain or constant open wounds any more. Soon he will receive his artificial limb and with the help of it will learn to walk again. We are very thankful for the financial support, for without it he never could have paid for the expensive operation.

Now, let Dhondhon speak for himself: “The last weeks brought me closer to God. I felt like being in the story where Jesus and his disciples were in the boat. Jesus was sitting in the boat with me. Before the operation I but knew one thing: ‘Jesus, I will hang on to your arm. I am completely yours.’ There was wind, storm and sunshine. Once again I could learn to fully trust in Jesus. And I’ll trust him that he will take me to the other side of the shore.”
More about HELP Philippines >>

Manila - A full Father's House

Co-workers of the Father's House on a street outreach

From City Mission/Father's House, a HELP ministry for streetchildren on the Philippines.  In the past weeks we were able to take in some new children. One of them is Lisa *name changed (10 years), who like many other street children had never slept in a bed or eat at a table. Her whole family lived on the street. After her father was shot by the police, her mother went crazy. Lisa had no protection and never went to school. After she trusted us enough, because of many visits to the street, she decided to come with us to Father‘s house. Lisa is now a very happy girl who goes to school with great enthusiasm.
More about the HELP Father's House >>

Set Free Center - Garage Sale

From the 'Set Free Center', the drug rehab of HELP Philippines in Manila. "As we opened our gate for the garage sale a short time ago, an eager an excited crowd of people rushed in and filled the whole place, expecting to get a good bargain. It was really great! Not only because we raised 22,000 Pesos, but we saw in the smiling faces that everyone was leaving happy !





















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Philippines - So happy

The ministry of Help international “ City Mission/Father’s House” is reaching out to street kids in Manila:
Just before Christmas we where able to take Jeralyn (10) into the Father’s House.
We knew her from our outreaches in the streets.

She already was smoking and sniffing glue. Her father had died some months ago. So there was nothing left that could keep her at “home” any more. ( Home meaning a little room in a slum hut ) Off she where struggling to survive on the streets.
Now living with us in the Father’s House she enjoys being able to live as a child again.

Thankfully she appreciates any attention given to her. She is so excited that she already learned how to ride a bicycle and roller skate. Every single morning she is happily leaving for school.
After I bought her some new clothes the other day to my surprise she did not put them on, but neatly tucked them away in a wardrobe. When I asked her if she didn’t like them.

Her answer was: “ Of course I like them, but they are too nice to wear them.”
When we prayed over her the other night she wasn’t able to stop crying. Afterwards she shared with us how God ‘s love and comfort had touched her deeply.
It’s wonderful just to see Jenalyn being so happy in the Father’s House and watching her thrive in this place.
More about HELP Philippines >>

Philippines - Christmas was all around

See the picture- gallery with pictures from the christmas-partys for streetkids >>

From the team of HELP "Father`s House - City Mission" Manila.
Since weeks the preparations were running at full speed. Christmas season is a very active and exciting time for us as it is for many others on this planet.
This year we split up our celebrations. We were going out to different places in town, loaded with presents, schoolbags, sweets, food and T-shirts to celebrate Christmas with the street kids we’d been visiting regularly. We were playing, singing and laughing together. Needless to say that we read a Christmas story to them and prayed for them. Last but not least we were having a feast with fried chicken and spaghetti.

More than 300 street kids and their families at various dates and places had been with us.
A special highlight was our Kids Church meeting one Saturday.
We’d especially invited those families hit by the terrible storms some months ago. In all those years I’ve been living on the Philippines I’d never heard the word “thank you!” as often as this one Saturday.
Children and their relatives were deeply touched by the help they received, made possible through your and other peoples’ donations.
A big “thank you” to all of you who gave towards these Christmas celebrations and the typhoon victims - you made it all possible.
It was a really happy Christmas this year for many of our friends from the streets and the slums!
More about HELP Philippines >>

Manila - Mother gone lost between two storms

“We are right in the middle of some relief projects helping some families to get back on their feet after the flood. It’s harder on some people than on others.
We’ve just come back from visiting four teenagers who lost their mom between two storms.

Their hut and all their belongings were swept off as typhoon ‘Ketsana’ hit Manila. Their mother (52), who was suffering of severe TB, died last week. The coffin is laid out on a pile of mud under a provisional tent. Her children are living behind some planks, just a few meters beside it.

We’ve known and come along this family for many years and are grateful to be able to practically help thanks to the donations. We are going to rebuild the hut for the teenagers and will attend to their emotional and spiritual needs as far as we can. The two younger kids are still going to school and we are supporting them with their education. The four siblings are sticking together although they don’t have parents any more.”
More about HELP City Mission / Father's House Philippines >>

Manila - Training in spite of the storm

Our ‘Set Free Training’, a training course for fulltime staff in social missionary ministries, was carried out by HELP Philippines in the midst of the challenging typhoons.

Our team reports:

“Four weeks of intense community life, conjoint outreaches and a lot of good teachings drew to a close with a yummy barbecue and good fellowship in the evening. It was great to get together from so many different nations (we’ve represented 8 different nations).

After the first week of training typhoon Ketsana raged over the city as we reported earlier. One of our experiences: We were on our way to teach at the training and had to stop in front of a bridge, because it was flowed by the river.
Being cut off from the way back we couldn’t drive home until the next day.

With all participants of the training we went on outreaches to the most severely hit areas. We could help to clean up, rebuilt huts and distributed relief supplies.
The participants were all deeply moved by the distress and the positive attitude of the Filipinos in spite of it! We had an extraordinary afternoon when we celebrated a worship service for the people right there in the midst of the chaos and the mud.

We were blessed with great guest speakers (i.e. Walter Heidenreich and Bernd & Susanne Mette), who have been leading ministries for years.
Besides, we were able to learn a lot from each other and enjoyed the fellowship very much. Thanks to all of you who have contributed and supported this training!”

Manila - Reaching out to the street kids

While the authorities haven’t announced a storm all-clear, our City Mission team is again reaching out to the street kids. A participant reports: ”Tonight we are finally heading for that well known street corner again, where we usually meet with the street kids, drug addicts and prostitutes and spend time with them. First we’ve only met the smaller kids, the older ones kept away since a group of soldiers was within sight.

The kids missed us already and wanted to see the pictures that I took last time. I had to promise to hand out the pictures till Christmas. We had a really cool time with the kids. Rose, a Filipino staff, brought some picture books which we read to the kids. We also played together and I had to take more pictures of them.

One of the kids was very interested in the Father’s House and when we showed him some pictures of the Father’s House he said straight away: “Can you take me there, please!” A little while later, after the soldiers had left, the older boys and girls came, too. We had the opportunity to talk to some of them.

Unfortunately, I was very busy taking pictures, because every minute somebody new asked me to take a picture. Nevertheless, it was great to be involved and I can downright “sense” how much Jesus loves these kids. I’m convinced that he has other plans for them than living on the streets.”
More about the Father's House >>

Tropical storms over the Philippines - Outreach

One of our HELP interns reports:
Today I have had the opportunity to visit Ketsana victims again. In the morning we stuffed around 70 bags with clothing we’ve received from a nearby church. And off we went in the afternoon to places well-known to us.
Many of them looked much better than the last time we visited.


What we didn’t like though was that they had just opened a new garbage dump right there in the slum area. The garbage trucks were all standing in line in front of it. What if the area gets hit by another flood? It would be littered all over with garbage again.
The people were all very busy and many are actually paid to help clean up. However, the way of clearing the area from the dirt was funny. The Filipinos use anything to carry a small pile of mud to another street corner: empty baskets, sliced water containers, the grid cover of a fan ... they attach it to a piece of string and trail it behind.

I am going to buy the Father’s House!

From HELP City Mission / Father's House, Manila.

As a little baby Jonathan was abandoned by his mom. He grew up knowing nothing about emotional attention for his first years in life. That’s why he was a very disturbed kid.

For several years now he has found a new home in the Father’s House and is flourishing. His grandma, who is working in Greece, just found out about this other grandson in May this year. When she was visiting the Philippines, she stopped by at the Father’s House to visit Jonathan. Both of them were so happy to finally get to know each other. Jonathan’s Grandma couldn’t stop crying for joy and thanked us again and again for taking good care of her grandson.

She is now back in Greece, working, but she regularly calls Jonathan to talk to him at the phone. Last week she forwarded 30 Euro so that Jonathan can buy something nice for himself. Never in his life had Jonathan seen so much money at one go; he grinned like a Cheshire cat and said: “Now I am going to buy the Father’s House for us!” (We will certainly save this money for Jonathan and help him to spend it on something nice for himself.)
More about City Mission / Father's House in Manila >>

Manila - New Kids

From the latest newsletter of HELP Father's House / City Mission, Philippines.
"A___ was heavily abused and urgently needed a safe refuge. She came to us in June at the age of thirteen. She did not have the opportunity to go to school regularly so she has to start again in the first grade.

It does not bother her at all that she is the biggest girl in class. She’s just so grateful to be in a safe place, to live a normal life and to be able to go to school. She’s a fast learner and may be able to catch up in the next years.

The next ‘new’ boy is M___ whose family we know for a long time through our street outreaches. He literally grew up in the streets and at eleven, has not completed first grade. His father who died recently was an abusive alcoholic and his mother never cared for the children. He looks forward to an orderly life. We hope, that he will be able to adjust to community life after so many years of independence on the road."
More about HELP City Mission / Father's House >>

Philippines

HELP Set Free Center, Philippines. "Right now we are having some young people living with us who come from a very miserable background. They have hardly been taught any values. Their feeling of worthlessness is overwhelming. Living meant: Booze, drugs, gambling ... They come to us being prickly and fragile at the same time. They are looking for appreciation, identity and a life worth living for.

Jesus said: “Come to me, I will give you rest and a meaning in life. I mean well and I will give you only light burdens (freely adapted from Matthew 11, 28+29). It’s not easy for our boys to believe that there is someone who really loves them the way they are and wants to meet their needs. But whoever gets involved with Jesus, who confides in him, will witness a miracle: he will receive new life."
More about the Set Free Center >>

Philippines - Amazing Devotions

HELP City Mission/Father’s House, Manila
“During summer break we had daily devotions for the children of the Father’s House. We talked about Jesus being the good shepherd who cares about us, that God adopted us into his family and such things.

One time the kids wrote letters to a Chinese family whose father is serving time in prison because he “sells Bibles”. They were really shocked about the fact that one could end up in prison on account of his faith.

Another time we told them that it is not right to hide sin in your heart. During the time of prayer that followed one boy asked for forgiveness because he was lying very often, was always hiding toys (which drives the other boys crazy) and had smashed the cup of one of the staff and tried to conceal it.
Those moments are of cause very precious to us and the kids will surely treasure one or the other devotion for a long time.”
More about HELP City Mission/Father’s House >>

Philippines - Filthy and stoned

HELP City Mission/Father's House Manila
During one of our outreaches we met MariVic. She staggered towards us completely filthy and stoned, the glue still sticking to her nose. When she came closer I finally realized that she was a little girl. A bunch of older guys stumbled after her, mocking her. We started to talk and invited the whole group of fifteen kids, all full of lice and very filthy, to dinner at McDonalds.



After talking to the manager, we were finally allowed to take the whole group inside to sit at a table in a remote corner. They were as pleased as Punch, since they haven’t had anything to eat yet. It didn’t take long to discover that MariVic was an orphan trying to eke out a living on the streets. I invited her to come and stay with us in the Father’s House. She came with us without thinking twice. Since she didn’t know what to expect, she looked about scared.

The only thing she knew was a life on the streets, so she preferred to sleep in a corner on the floor for the first night. The bed with fresh linen in the girl’s room was just too odd:-). Meanwhile she feels at ease and we are happy to have her as a new member in our Father’s House family. Right now we have space for 24 kids and youngsters and have only little room left.
Petra Erkens

Manila – Children Are Non-returnable

From “Noah’s Arc”, HELP Philippines

This girl is just a year old, yet had to experience awful things in her life. She was sold by her mom, who tried to claim her back later on.

The buyers tried to find help at the social department and were quite surprised to learn that they might be sent down, charged with child trafficking.

Right now, the public authorities are examining, if the parents are able to care for the little girl at all. And for the time being she will be at home in Noah’s Arc.
More about Noah’s Arc >>

Philippines - Update from 'Noah's Arc'

The staff of our 'Noah's Arc'-children-ministry sent us a little update about their 'crew'.

"This three and a half year old girl is with us since two years. At the moment, we look for parents for her."

"He is with us since March. A bright boy who, with his four years,  gives us a lot of joy."

"Despite her handicap, this little girl keeps us in motion. She is now three years old and she is with us since her birth."

These were only three of the little inhabitants of the 'arc'. Upcoming, we will introduce some more.

The team of the 'arc'. "Just now, we celebrated our seventh birthday. Some of our staff are here since the beginning. We are looking forward to enter the next year with all of them."

Learn more about 'Noah's Arc' >>

Christmas in Manila

Would you like to know, how our team of the City Mission in manila celebrates Christmas? They made a wonderfull gallery which you can watch here. See the gallery >>

Philippines - Sponsored Sprint

The team from the HELP City Mission / Father's House in Manila gives shelter to 25 children and young people at the age of 5 to 25 who have no family which can take care of them. Right now, they have the possibility to buy the property where they live on. To help to finance the whole project, they organized a sponsored sprint.

They tell: "The kids prepared themselves for weeks. They practiced as often as possible, tried out if they can do more rounds by scooter or roller skates.
They prayed like world champions for lots of sponsors. Time and again the same question was asked: ”How many sponsors do I have by now???”

The sponsored sprint was the number one topic for weeks and it was exciting to see the kids highly motivated. It really showed how much the Father’s House means to them and that they have found a new home.
October 12th finally arrived – the kids raced their laps in small groups, while we as staff cheered them on, counted the laps, accompanied them for a lap with water and dextrose at hand.

It was a happy and successful event. Some of our friends from Manila came to just cheer for the kids.
The kids gave their best and most of them surpassed themselves.
Everybody knew: “This is my chance to contribute to the house purchase.”

Jemmy, 10 years old, was the fastest. He drove 24 laps (more than 7 kilometers) with his scooter in half an hour!
The weather was perfect, even though the weather forecast said it would rain and it did in some areas close by.
As acknowledgement every child received a certificate and a little present in the end.
Pictures from the race >>
Pictures from the Father's House >>
Morte about the City Mission / Fathers House ministry >>