This and That!

• Many are asking for more info on who we are training. The backgrounds of the men and women vary from trash scavengers and bargirls (prostitutes) to those with little skill and no jobs or poor fisherman who can't fish much during rainy season (June-October!) Others are highschool graduates with no jobs looking for another opportunity to train and find work. All are poor, all are vulnerable to falling into a life of crime or begging on the streets. Recently we have seen a need to reach out to local bargirls, many of them young women who think they have no other options for employment. Many moved to the city with the promise of being waitresses or dancers in a local bar and hope to support their extended families back home. Most end up forced into prostitution. Our local area is a "human trafficking" or "sex tour "destination. Many men are on tours, traveling to Angeles City and Subic Bay in the Philippines, then fly on to Bangkok and other places where the nightlife and bargirls are plentiful and cheap. We have many pedophiles "vacation" in our area. Many of the bar owners exploiting these girls/women are foreign. In fact recently there was a raid on a bar just a two minute walk from my house! It involved both the US and Philippine authorities. More on that here: http://abcnews.go.com/International/americans-targeted-allegedly-running-underage-prostitution-philippines/story?id=18582802  Our Sewing Training Center is in the middle of this "redlight district" and very accessible to the girls who work in the bars. We are trying to help them help themselves and start new lives!
• We are all going to jail! (haha) The Project Life Sewing Training begins April 15 in the women's jail. The warden says that 75% of the inmates are there because of drug peddling. She told us that most of the women have no job skills and resort to drugs to support their family. We will be training inmates in basic sewing and and also high speed commercial sewing. Classes will be held three afternoons a week. Our hope is that they are able to find employment and turn their lives around. Thanks to all of you who are supporting these projects!
• We were able to sponsor fifteen of our 12th St and Matain youth to attend our local church's Youth Camp last week. For most of them, it was their first experience at a camp and they were so blessed to be there with 80 youth to learn about God and have a fun time doing so! Friendships were strengthened and their spiritual life deepened as they enjoyed the beautiful campsite outside the city.
• The new youth center opens soon... we are patiently waiting for the building to be finished and will let you know when we move in!