Matain After the Storm

Kids playing after the storm


 

Waiting patiently for food

Disaster relief is ongoing in our area after the latest series of storms and flooding. The Sewing Center made some custom tarps for shelter and we distributed more PACTEC tarps so families would find shelter from the rain. Rebuilding continues as it does each time the shanties are blown away. We fed families a healthy meal, and they celebrated the goodness of God and the fact that there are people like YOU who care about them!
This is a resilient community of informal settlers. When storms come they can't fish and many are hungry. They are so poor that when the children graduate elementary school, the families can't afford to send them to high school because of lack of transportation money. Babies are dying at birth (two just last month) and mothers are having postpartum strokes because of a lack of health care.

Receiving tarps that they can use to rebuild their homes

Project Life Subic is in the process of reassessing the needs and potential of this community. We are trying to determine which projects would make a lasting impact. Some of the ideas that are being discussed are building toilets (there are NO toilets in this community), more health education, hosting an alternative learning program for out of school youth, and finding a way to transport some to high school. We also want to provide more vocational training to those fishermen who want more work options.

As the women's and men's groups have grown, the members of the community are finding more peace with their neighbors. They are finding a deeper level of understanding of God's Word.

The men's group are missing Sonny as he is home recovering from the knee fracture, but JR and Jimson (from 12th St!) have stepped up to lead. They were so excited last Sunday to report that 27 fishermen attended the Men's group. JR said the men were all so eager to participate in worship, teaching and discussion!

We are seeing great changes here, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Feel free to email us with any ideas or help us raise the funds to see these ideas come to fruition. Together, we can make a difference!

Nabongs Move and Sonny Fractures Knee

 From Leslie: After the team left we were so tired, but we had to begin moving the next day. We just downsized from a house to a two room (three if you count the hallway!) apartment above the Sewing Training Center. We had started unpacking and trying to organize our things when Sonny fell from a ladder. He fractured his knee into four pieces. The Project Life staff was downstairs and quickly came to the rescue, helping me stabilize Sonny, calling the ambulance, and contacting the surgeon. Sonny was hospitalized and had surgery that night. The doctor was able to wire the knee together and reattach ligaments. Sonny's leg will be immobilized for 4-6 weeks then he will begin physical therapy. This is a hard time for us but we can already see God's grace around us.  Our Project Life leaders have helped me move boxes, and get more settled. Our prayer team started praying and I'm sure that is what got us through the first few days of pain, exhaustion and feeling helpless and discouraged. Then out of nowhere we got a text offering to help us hire some help as I am now doing my job, most of Sonny's and caring for him 24/7. We are so grateful to God for caring, loving people.
Sonny says he is learning patience. He feels discouraged and bored as he can't do much of anything. He is happy though, that two of the men he discipled from 12th St are now carrying on the Matain men's bible study every Sunday!
For me it is a lesson in self sufficiency and pride. As much as I say I trust God and have learned to live in the moment, I am being challenged. It is hard to accept help, both physical and financial, and I am facing the fact that it is my pride that is being dealt with. Sonny and I have a friend in the USA who occasionally sends us a devotion or scripture that is always so timely, we are amazed! This time was no exception as we face these trials and hopefully learn to grow through them.
It is also in these times that our dependency on God and YOU, the people He uses, is so obvious. We can't do what we do here if it wasn't for our friends and supporters. Thank you for your love, prayers and help. We are encouraged!
Please pray:

• For the leaders in Project Life Subic as they assume more leadership roles.
• For Sonny's complete healing and that he will have no problems with mobility after recovery.
• For strength for Leslie.

We love and appreciate you!

YWAM Denver Sends a Team

We were so happy to host 14 young missionaries from the YWAM Denver Around the World DTS for two weeks. The group was exceptional- loving, helpful, and had a gift for making people feel comfortable and smile! Even though we were their last stop as they traveled around the world, they were still energetic and committed to serve! They were involved in a variety of outreaches and helping our ministries. One highlight was the new men's bible study in Matain where 14 fishermen gave their hearts to the Lord. The men are so eager to learn the bible, and make changes in their lives. Another highlight was the "Spa Day" the women on the team put together for the local bar girls. We visited bars for two nights, got to know more of the girls, then invited them to the event at the sewing center. Not only were the bargirls overwhelmed with care and love, they also got to see the sewing training center and hopefully some will come back to train! The team also helped us with deworming the kids at 12th St.
At the end of their stay, the DTS team helped Sonny and I transfer some things and clean up the new apartment, then left to celebrate the end of their outreach with two days at a beautiful nearby resort.