Meet the new RN, JoJo

Meet Jojo, he is the new nurse at CH. Jojo is a very Godly, outgoing, and intelligent man. He is going to do an awesome job as the new nurse at Christians' Haven, and bring a whole new spin on the health care department. I had the great privileged to spend about a week and a half with Jojo before I left, orienting him to the job, introducing him to some partners in the city and community, explaining the needs of the campus as a whole and the kids as individuals, and teaching him some skills. He did great, and I was confident to walk out of the bright orange clinic that is close to my heart, and hand him the key.

Jojo and I have been staying in touch for the past 2 weeks as I help him figure out the job and give any needed advice or explanation about the kids. He has fit right into the family there!

Jo is into photos and story telling, and has jumped an the idea of taking over the blog. So, meet Jojo now, and there will be much more of him the future! (Other CH staff will also be taking a try at blogging, so you will all get to meet some new faces of CH through this blog).

See Jojo here in the CH clinic helping run labs, his 3rd or 4th day on the job I took him traveling around the city with me to do some Hepa B screens for another non profit that works with street kids. He jumped right in and did a great job with his first CH outreach experience.

A busy month!

Wow, so much has been happening at Ch in the past month. Where do I even start...

In the middle of June the Ragsdale family came to visit for over a week! The kids and staff were full of excitement as the day got closer, and the week couldn't have been better! Lynn's son Chad did a staff training Bible study on the book of Philippians, Lynn and Betsy spent quality time with all the staff and kids individually as well as time with each household, we fit in a bunch of outreach to the Badjao, Prison and Childrens prison, and had a lot of fun too. It is cool to see the the way the staff are inspired by our new leader and how God is continuing to mold this ministry into exactly what He wants.

Only 2 days after the Ragsdales left, I also got on a plane to leave for the States. Recently God has been speaking to me to come home to America and pursue my masters degree in the near future. After much prayer and consideration I had decided to leave CH at the end of the Filipino summer.

This past month was a bitter sweet time, as I prepared to leave this ministry, this place, and these people. However, I feel very confident in the plan that will unfold later in my life, and I leave knowing that CH has been an amazing and meaningful part of my life forever. And I also leave knowing that CH has changed me in ways that will allow me to help and serve many more people in my life.

I thank God for this work that He has enabled me to do for almost 3 years, and will always look back at CH with the fondest of memories.

Enough with the sappy though... make sure to check out the pictures from my going away night, and the very embarrassing video that I can't believe I even posted!! But, I wanted our supporters to see a snip-it of the joy and fun that life and relationships at CH can look like! :)

By the way- you can see here the wonderful voices of the staff, myself included, and also the dancing talents of our new nurse, the CH President, the US Secretary, the CH Phil president, the campus director, the social worker, the financial secretary, and a few houseparent!!! i love this video... :)

ALL THINGS NEW

a few weeks ago we invited our neighbors into campus to watch the tagalog version of all things new on a big "screen". They were excited to see their faces and scenes that were filmed here a few years ago. And, of course the CH kids never get tired of seeing their own faces on the screen!

If you haven't checked it out yet you should get your hands on a copy!

Badjao Outreach

These pics are from last Saturdays Badjao outreach. Our students visit the Badjao tribe every month to feed, love, make relationships with, and introduce them to Christianity. The Badjao are a poor, beggar, Muslim tribe, who live over the water in bamboo huts. They are basically the poorest of the poor and we are slowly trying to impact their lives. This week we held medical care as well as cleaning of the surroundings during the feeding.

The 4 first year nursing students and 2 other medical coursers helped me out for medical and did an amazing job!! Here you can see Ernesto cleaning a wound and interviewing a patient, Maculate educating on how to take medicine properly, Jenny Bee mixing sulfer power for a skin cream, and then behind the scenes Tessie, Gener, and Leah helped distribute soap and baby clothing. Jerlin, a CH staff, ministered by giving haircuts to the children.

This week they started their first days of nursing school. What a beautiful way to begin a career in nursing. I am so thankful for their help and look forward to seeing them grow as talented Christian nurses. Pray for their success in their schooling and also God's work in the Badjao tribe.

back to school

Times are busy! As summer is just beginning in the US, it is just ending here on the other side of the world. The elementary and HS started back to school this Monday. The college are busy enrolling, and of course the staff are busy making sure that everything gets done! We were able to find a perfectly suitable apartment to rent in the city to house 13 of our college student, along with a houseparent. This year we have a whopping 20 students enrolling in college courses! Praise God. Pray for their success in their various courses such as nursing, fine arts, marines, midwifery, tourism, technical courses in cooking, social work, police, computer science, and engineering.

PS- thanks to a generous supporting church who sent some school supplies earlier this year, the kids were happy to go to school with new notebooks, pens, pencils,ect, and even hand sanitizer. Thanks Adventure CC and also Wi-Ne-Ma Camp for helping our kids be prepared!

Summer camp for street kids

Our summer camp is over, the kids returned home yesterday from a great week of our first ever street kids summer camp at CH. We invited kids and teens from the streets, local slum neighborhoods, and our poor neighbors to camp out at CH, have fun, eat well, and learn about Jesus.

Check out this short video. Man, i miss these kids, they are hilarious and brought a new vibe into campus this past week. Watch and see what happened at the end!!

kids camp at CH

Yesterday started our last activity of summer before school enrollment next week! We invited 25 street kids/children from the slum neighborhoods and a few of our neighbors to attend a 5 day camp in CH. Our College guys are their big brothers for the week. See here some of the team building games of the first day!

Please pray for a successful week of loving on these kid, showing them a good time, and most of all planting a seed in their hearts. More to come later in the week...

Girls night in campus!

this is what the gals do when we have the campus to ourselves for a night! Hehe, thats a "mini-bonfire" since the real one got rained out.
The boys were on their overnight camping trip, so us ladies took advantage of the "peace and quiet" by having an all girls seminar and then cooking out for dinner!

Camping with the ladies

All ladies camping weekend on the beach... "Together as One, sisterhood in Christ" was our theme for all girls camping this past weekend. We studied about being ONE BODY, each of us a different part. We competed in teams for some games related to the theme, and the girls took a deep look at which "part" they are, and how each different part/person is needed to fulfill Christ's mission. Each team made a craft from natural things they could find to show the theme. 1st place went to team 1 for our lamp, made of different leaves and sticks, but it was more beautiful when the light shined thru the different type and colors of leaves, put together. Our last night ended with a dance off, even the 2 grandmothers got out on the floor!, and we enjoyed being in company of all women. The girls would say, "even though the mosquitoes were biting, it was hard to sleep, and even though the rain came down all night, we had a great time together as one... when can we go again?!?!"

the best week of summer...??

sports fest at CH is arguably the best week of each summer. We divide into 4 teams, staff, neighbors, and kids, and compete all week long, with the purpose of bringing unity in campus. You have never heard our girls be so proud of our boys until you witness a ch sports fest basketball game!

Congratulations Laurice!

This past Saturday Laurice graduated from her one year "Caregiver" course. Laurice is such a caring and kind person, her title as certified caregiver is only fitting! I can remember many instances when Laurice will be at the side of her sick friend, offering to help them in any way, or walking along hand in hand with her houseparent's grandchild. Please join us in prayer for Laurice's successful transition to independent life outside of CH.

Last night we had a combined celebration for Laurice to acknowledge her graduation, and also her recent employment. A couple from the city was waiting in campus when she arrived home from her graduation. They hired her that day as a caregiver to their 1 year old son, beginning this week! The Lord has truly blessed this young woman for her commitment to him and her compassionate spirit.

Pictured with Laurice here is her brother Christian. Chris is another grad this year, from his first course in a technical school for hotel and restaurant management. Congrats Chris. Chris has a plan to take the next certification for HRM through a scholarship from his school.

Short term mission

Summer here at CH was off to a great start with a visiting group from Adventure Christian Church this past week. This was Brandon’s 2nd time here at CH, and this time he brought 3 incredible women back with him, Denise, Carrie, and Carolyn.

The 4 of them had quite a week of getting to know the kids and participating in our programs. They helped our kids in their jail ministry, street feeding, kids prison outreach, and Badjao outreach, as well as led the kids in some devotions and just plain had fun!! What a great team, and a great week all the kids and staff had getting to know them. Highlights include- graduation party in the 16 ft pool!; eating the smelliest fruit ever; seeing first hand the poverty of a third world; handing food to the hungry; rockin out with the kids to some new Christian songs; some kids learning a new instrument; popcorn fight!; street kids rapping and break dancing; fresh coconut and a great view after a long hike; pig skin and fish eyes… for lunch!; waking up to kids praising the Lord; becoming part of one very big family!

The kids are so aware of how God is using people and churches in the US to provide for them and send them to school. Each and every day here the kids pray for the sponsors and supporters of CH. Having a team come who represent those people that the kids pray for is incredibly meaningful. Thanks “aunties and uncle” Brandon, Denise, Carrie, and Carolyn!

“When you call on Jesus, all things are possible”

more grads!!!

Shown here is Marlou, who is a college grad as of 2 days ago, and former street kid, with our campus director, Ruel. Congrats Marlou!! Marlou plans to use his automotive mechanical skills at a respected repair shop in the city. Please pray for Marlou as he begins his transition outside of CH, as a skilled, degree holding, disciple!

Also shown here are pics from todays elementary graduation:
Last week Gerald asked if I would march with him in his graduation. Since that day, he has updated me multiple times a day with news and reminders about graduation, ect. He was so proud and very excited for elementary school graduation day! Well today the day finally arrived. He came into the guest house ready to go a few hours before the ceremony looking very handsome (the school is about a 5 minute walk from campus)!!! Upon arrival at the school I put on Gerald's corsage and garlands. He smiled and promptly took his seat. On time and ready to go Gerald waited patiently for the ceremony to begin on "filipino time", instead of 9 am, 9:40 am! As we stood in line for the processional march holding hands, Gerland was suddenly quiet, and nerves seemed to take the place of his smile. He was thoroughly checking everything out, and getting ready to walk across stage. When in the middle of the stage we are supposed to stop and face the crowd and bow. Since i already know gerlad, i knew that our walk would be quick, and his bow even quicker, so i prepared to make it fast! as we approached the center, gerald did a half bow, barely stopping for me to take my place and also bow! It was so funny! All that excitment, just to get it over with so fast! HEHEHE.

I was proud to march Gerald, and even prouder to see our 6 elementary grads walk across that stage. They have already done something which some do not acheive here in the Philippines, and what many would not have expected these kids to do considering their lives before CH. 4 of the six are orphans from the north, 1 street kid from the north, and they all learned a new language as they completed their elementary. the other 2 came from very poor families and on the streets here in Mindanao. These 2 guys are many years older than their classmates, yet they still pushed through and worked hard to accomplish the, at one time, unexpected!

Congrats Diana, Nerina, Gerald, Frederico, Ryan, and Rich!!!