As we near the end of 2013

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2

2013 has been a year of growth for project Life Subic and as we look forward to 2014 it shows no signs of slowing down!  It has taken years to identify, mentor and build a strong team of leaders from the slum area, but they are now leading most of the weekly ministries in five locations! Here's what's happening in Project Life Subic:

1. The 12th St area still has women's fellowship, Kids Church, and the Feeding Program.
2. The Youth are now meeting in the Upper Room on a main street of Olongapo and the English classes are also held there.
3. In the predominately Muslim area of Matain, Subic, the men's and women's bible studies have grown, and the Matain Youth Group is reaching out to so many teens.
4. The Sewing Training Center is located in the heart of the Red Light District in Barrio Barretto.
5. Sewing training is being conducted in Jail 164.

Along with these weekly activities we have done other community projects such as clean water and sanitation. We do relief efforts when disaster strikes, and occasionally hold medical/dental outreaches as well as provide on-going health education for all locations.

2014 will be another year of expansion. The Upper Room will offer free music classes to the youth (we are directly across the street from a high school with 10,000 students) where they are also invited to the Youth group. The sewing center will be moving into a larger room in the building that we currently rent space in. One of the rooms now being used for sewing will become a classroom for outreach opportunities to youth and bargirls such as English class, Music class and other vocational and spiritual activities. We will also be adding an Alternative learning System course (approved by the Dept. of Education) in June for out of school youth who want to get a high school diploma.

"Do not hold back." Yes, we must move forward no matter what obstacles are placed before us. We have been called to this place, for this time, and will have faith that the plans come to fruition! Please pray for all the workers in Project Life Subic. We all need encouragement, strength, wisdom, good health. We need you to pray that favor is extended to us in the area of city governments, landlords, and other community members. Pray that doors continue to open and lives are touched with the love of Christ!

Women's fellowship at Matain is Growing!

It was such a joy to see over 50 women, young and old, attend the community fellowship last Thursday! They are all participating, and enjoying themselves. Leaders Cathy and Cindy have done an excellent job of teaching and caring for the members of this community. Their commitment and love for the people of this area is so evident in the lives of those they have touched! Neighbors are living in harmony now and helping one another. Their hope is rising and they face the constant hardships with a new, God- given strength.
Cathy and Cindy are now identifying future leaders of this community that can be trained to lead programs to help with the community development needs. Our goal is to raise up and equip the leaders from within each neighborhood that will carry on the needed projects.



Cathy and Cindy take turns teaching and leading activities. Cathy stays tuned in to the needs of this community. Her mother and other family members live here. 

Cindy has their attention and is an amazing speaker!

Our friend, Mila, on Matain beach. The village is behind her.

Typhoon Yolanda Disaster Relief Efforts

We were all shocked by the extent of the damage and loss of life caused by Typhoon Yolanda. We still can't believe what we are still seeing on tv. Project Life Subic was not able to do much, but then a large donation was sent for relief supplies and we had a connection here to send the goods, so we went into action! Sonny and Leslie called friends Tony and Angela to help us shop and transport the relief supplies. A local company, Ocean Adventure, (similar to Sea World), was taking supplies on their 60' boat to Samar, so we were able to send our supplies with them today!
Please continue to pray for the victims of this horrible disaster. The Filipino people are resilient, but it will take months, maybe years for them to recover.

Fire on 12th St destroyed the homes of 24 families

Another shock to the community happened last Saturday night. A fire swept through the last block of 12th St near the canal and destroyed the homes of 24 families. Miraculously, they all escaped and only a couple small injuries were reported. It took a very long time for the fire trucks to arrive, and there was complete chaos on the street. Adults and children were crying and in shock. Once the fire was out, the local authorities opened the Barangay Hall Covered Court for temporary housing.
During our first visit the women broke down and cried and all needed extra strong hugs and prayers! It was an emotional time as they all shared stories. Nanay Linda told how she put her 28 yr old disabled grandson under one arm and another grandchild under the other and dragged them out of the burning building. Another family escaped with eight children through a break in the plywood wall of their upstairs shanty and ran over the tin roof to get away from the flames. They have lost all their belongings except for the clothes they were wearing and a handful of items they could grab as they ran.
Thanks to all who are helping with gifts of food, clothes, bedding, tarps for shelter and more. The families expressed their gratefulness to those of you who have prayed and helped in practical ways. The city also brought food and now the mayor has awarded each family with some money to buy roofing materials. Unfortunately we have a super typhoon predicted to hit our city by Friday, so we aren't sure where these families can take cover. The children are still afraid and some having nightmares of their narrow escape. We are trying to organize a debriefing time with skilled childrens workers to be held at the Saturday children's ministry and feeding time.We will keep you updated.
Here are pictures from the fire and life at the covered court.