It's time!

The time has come for Project Life to start new activities in a new area! While all our ministry activities continue and grow on 12th St., Cathy and Cindy will be pioneering a women's fellowship bible study in the slums of Subic. The location is in the midst of both the Muslim and Catholic/animist communities, just 5 minutes from Sonny and Leslie's house and the Sewing Training Center. We also have plans to add children's, youth and men's activities as well.
For the time being, the women's group will be every Thursday afternoon, and we will see what other doors of opportunity will open.
In one part of the area there are 30+ families with over 100 kids living in shacks and under tarps with no toilets.The living conditions are much worse than 12th St. The extent of poverty is shocking, even for those of us who are used to serving in the slums. It is impossible to guard our hearts from this, instead we have to see it, feel it and let it break our hearts. Out of that a deeper passion is born, a passion to bring HOPE to people living in hopelessness.
  Our first reaction is we want to rush in and "Fix" things, but we know that we must take it slow, assess the needs, find out what the people feel they need, then involve the community in all projects as time and finances allow. We will need to identify potential leaders and nurture and train them. We will have to find favor and build relationships with key people in the area. We've accomplished this process at 12th St. and are confident that it can be done in Subic.
A medical outreach is planned for the area in May and we also hope to have a "Lightstrike" there in the future. At this time there is no budget for any of this, but when we began our work at 12th St. there were no funds either.  As we stepped out in faith, God provided the finances through friends, service clubs and churches!
Keep us and all our activities in prayer please! This is an exciting time for ALL of us, both for the Project Life volunteers serving here and for you, our friends and partners who help keep us going! This will be an amazing journey as we share the love of Christ and watch the slums be transformed!

Logos Hope in Subic Bay

The Logos Hope, an Operation Mobilization ministry ship that contains the world's largest floating bookstore, is in Subic Bay! They held wonderful events on board the ship and also sent some of their 400 crew members (from 56 nations!) to help various ministries in our area.

Our leaders all attended the "Called to Serve" evening of fun and encouragement. Many of our 12th St. women and youth attended other events on the ship, and we took 57 children to an afternoon children's ministry event hosted by the crew.

On Saturdays the Logos teams came to 12th St. and spent time with our children and youth. They brought puppets, music and stories and the kids had such a fun time! The teams also encouraged our volunteers, and took time to pray with those at our ministry and the neighbors. A big THANKS to the M.V. Logos Hope for all you have done to serve so many during your time in port!

LightStrike in Kalaklan

Last Saturday we held our first "LightStrike"! We partnered with Church of the Risen Christ (CRC) and they were well equipped and well organized as usual. =) The day's event was a beautiful example of the body of Christ coming together, each part fulfilling their role.

We started off the morning with 5 installation teams installing solar soda bottle lights for free to the residents of Brg. Kalaklan. Once the neighbors saw the lights being installed they were asking to be put on the list! While the crews were busy, the ushers and prayer teams walked up and down the steep hillside between the highway and the river inviting people to the afternoon Thanksgiving service. They stopped to share and pray with many and found the neighborhood to be welcoming and grateful that we were there. After lunch we held the children's program and then Pastor Arnel shared to all about Romans 6:23. Many responded to the gospel. All were counseled and encouraged. There lots of smiling faces and thankful hearts by the end of the day. We installed 51 lights in 4 hours!

We hope to LightStrike every one of the 17 barangays over the next two years. Each LightStrike will cost Project Life about $196 US. A set of tools including ladder for each installation team costs $73. Please considering sponsoring an event and help us bring light to the poor. These lights change the lives of the people who have literally been living in darkness. They can be more productive and the light creates a more emotionally and physically healthful environment.

Here are some pictures of the event:

A very happy recipient!

The Kalaklan covered court as seen from the highway.

Light Strikes Video

Here's the YouTube link for the video: http://youtu.be/3Dm6O5suZcM

"LIGHT STRIKES" Begin!

We will endeavor to bring practical light and the light of Jesus to the various slums of Olongapo this year. This life-changing event pairs the installation of solar light in the homes of the poor with an evangelism event in the barangay (neighborhood). In February we will partner with our local church, Church of the Risen Christ, to bring the love of Christ to the Kalaklan area.

The lights are made with recycled soda bottles filled with water and bleach and installed in the roofs the homes. When sunlight hits the bottle it refracts and produces light below, equivalent to a 55 watt lightbulb! Many of the poor have no electric, or can't afford electricity, so they live their lives in darkness, or with a single lightbulb in their homes. Their shacks or cement homes are built close together, most without windows. Often the only light of day comes through a curtained entrance to the shanty. People sit outside, or sleep much of the day. The lack of light produces a sense of apathy and adds to their despair.

During the installation of solar bottle lights, there will be many activities in the local gathering places of the neighborhood. Worship teams, childrens ministry workers, prayer teams and dance crews will all be participating! Puppets shows will help teach the children. Youth will reach out to youth. The Gospel will be shared, the sick prayed for, and many will come to know Christ!

If you would like to participate or donate towards the needed tools and materials, please contact us. This is the first of many "Light Strikes" we hope to do all around the city of Olongapo.

Here are some pictures of Sonny and the men's bible study as they did their trial run, installing 4 lights in three homes in the "Tambakan" (a former garbage dump) in Barangay Pag Asa.

Children's Christmas Party

The Children's Christmas Party was a great success! The children's workers planned many fun activities that all the kids enjoyed. They laughed, played games and sang. Some of our youth did face painting and emceed the games. Then each grade level performed a Christmas song or dance. Over 200 kids were fed a delicious, nutritious meal and juice, then they received Christmas gifts.

Thanks to those who provided funding and gifts to make all this possible. The children's smiles could have lit up the entire neighborhood!

Project Life Subic also distributed 200 kg of rice to needy families for Christmas.

"...and the award for best party of the year goes to..."

The women's fellowship of Project Life held their Christmas party last Tuesday. What a great, fun filled, precious time we had. Over 30 women attended this fellowship. The womens leadership team, (Tina, Cindy, Emy, Cathy, Connie and Angie) planned worship, food, games and testimonies of God's goodness. It was inspiring to look around at all these women and remember what their lives used to be, compared to who they are now! Such growth, such beauty and joy on their faces! The newer members are now fully participating in women's bible study and activities. Most are attending church regularly.

We all laughed and sang and fellowshipped and thanked God for what he is doing in our lives. It was the best party of the year (so far... the childrens is on Saturday, so we'll update you soon on THAT big Christmas Celebration!) One event was the "Bonga si Lola" (most beautiful elderly gramma) contest. Contestants had an array of clothes, jewelry and other accesories for their friends to choose from and dress them up! Prizes for the winners of the games and contests were much needed canned goods.

Thank you for supporting the women's ministry. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Here are the Three Nanay's!

Showing their winning prizes!