Some of you have been able to come here and teach our children's workers, volunteer with youth, share at bible studies, etc. But many don't have the time or resources to do that. How can YOU get involved? Joining our prayer team is one way. Sharing and promoting the Project Life Subic ministry is another. Here are a few more ideas that would be practical and effective:
Sponsor a college student by covering the miscellaneous expenses for only $85 per semester ($17 per month). Better yet, a donation of any amount would help.
Tina Luna has been faithfully serving with us for over 5 years. She is a single mom who's children are now teenagers or adults and she is ready to go to school. Tina has overcome a stroke and her limp doesn't keep her from sharing the gospel, serving on the women's team at 12th St. or climbing up the hillside to share at the Bulanghagi Bible study! Tina wants to enroll for a two year course starting this June. Any one-time gift appreciated, no matter how large or small! Click on the "Donate" button to make a difference in this woman's future.
Our two youth leaders, Anthony and Darryl, will also return to college next month on scholarships! Any amount given towards their books and supplies would be a blessing.
Sponsor a ministry! What area of ministry is your passion? Youth? Children? Men or women? Is it education- like our Alternative Learning System (a high school diploma program for elementary and high school drop outs). Is job training your interest? Helping victims of human trafficking? All of these programs need funding to continue. Please, prayerfully consider helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of the poor and their communities. Help us share the Hope for the future! Please send us a note with your one-time or monthly donation specifying what/who you are giving to.
Send us your fabric! We are looking for someone to organize a fabric drive in your community. The Sewing Training Center is in need of cotton fabric to make their various products, plus the students need fabric for their class projects. Our fabric choices locally are limited in availability and design. Do you know others (individuals, quilting clubs/shops) who have fabric to donate? Just collect and ship to us via LBC. Message us for details.
Be an outlet for various products being made by the poor. Do you know of a shop that would buy jewelry or soap made by women leaving the sex trade and staring a new life? Or can sell our Matibayong bags made by the Sewing center? Maybe you know how to design a web site where these products can be sold? Please contact us!
It's time to step up and get involved. We need you!
- 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!
