June Updates!

Thanks to those of you have responded to the May blog and got involved! YOU are making a big difference in the lives of many people here=)
- Jordan, a 15yr old member of our Youth Group, received the gift of glasses last month from an anonymous donor. He has also been placed on a waiting list for cataract surgery in BOTH eyes (he is totally blind in one eye, and partial blindness in other) funded by a medical mission. This guy is so smart, and has potential to be a success at school, but has been held back by his vision problems for many years. His mother is a hardworking mom, but poor.  She has been burdened in the past with the sadness of being unable to provide the medical needs of her son, but is now thanking God and Project Life Subic for opening doors to get him help.
- Thanks to friends in Canada and USA who have been collecting fabric for our Sewing Center! We have two big boxes on the way to the Philippines. This will be a huge help, providing materials we are unable to find here in the Olongapo/Subic area. If anyone else wants to get involved with this project just email us for details!
- Anthony and Tina are both enrolled in college and we are adjusting their ministry schedules so they can continue their missions work as they attend school this semester. They are receiving scholarships and discounts, but still have many expenses. Thanks to your donations we are able to help them get an education.


We have had some BIG changes at Matain lately! Unfortunately, the violence has increased with more and more drug dealers moving in to the squatter area and surrounding neighborhood. Shooting deaths are on the rise and the last murder took place next to our bible study tent. We made the decision to cancel the Men's group, women's fellowship and youth group until we could relocate to a safe place. Fortunately we have been given a space (for free!) in the local Barangay Hall Compound just a few blocks from where we had been meeting. It is a room in an old abandoned building that needs some fixing up, and we hope to be using the place by July 1. The roof is patched, a door and window bars installed, and it's cleaned and painted. Our next challenge is the flooding that occurs with each rain, but we are working on a solution. Remember, we are used to floods, hahahaha!
Here's some pictures:

The Youth Group did the clean up!

View from the street.

Our English classes at the Upper Room will be observing a few weeks break while volunteer teachers Sean and Beka are on vacation in the USA. This wonderful couple work at Brent International School in Subic,  (yes, where the amazing Andrew and Brittany also worked!) and have been such an asset to our ministry. They both bring something unique and special to the class and are making a positive, Godly impact on the lives of the participants. Thanks guys, have a nice time with your family and friends and we'll see you in August!

Again, we thank all of you who support this ministry through your prayers and finances. You are a blessing to the people we serve, helping us bring hope to many who have lived in despair. Maraming Salamat! (Much Thanks!)

GET INVOLVED! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

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!

Another Graduation at the Sewing Center!

What a celebration we had as twenty-five students graduated from the Project Life Sewing Training Center last Friday! Our students are primarily not high school grads and have extremely limited choices for employment. Most are from very poor families and feel little hope when they contemplate the future. We are always so happy that after graduation they can apply for jobs as seamstresses or commercial sewing in factories and support their families.They are happy because they have skills, possibilities for employment and they are growing in relationship with God.
This graduation was very special as we had 8 bargirls and a mamasan complete the course. Some of their stories of how they were lured into their current jobs were sad and shocking. Some were trafficked as teenagers. Many live in a room at the bar when "off-duty". They save all they can to send home to families. We were very proud of these students who may have worked until 4 a.m., but then came to class three days a week! We are happy to report that three of this group are returning home to families soon, and six of them will form a sewing shop and start new lives. The Mamasan has leadership and entrepreneurial skills and wants to teach others to sew so they too can escape damaging lifestyles. We will do all we can to assist them in the future if needed.
Here's an excerpt from one of the girl's testimonies.She first worked in Manila as a teenager then a friend introduced her to working as a bargirl:
"I was working at a bar in Angeles with my sister. We were so scared and my parents didn't know that we're working at a bar and afraid they will disown us if they learn. ...We decided to work there because we only finish elementary (school). We were poor and the eldest of the family so the family depend on us that's why we have to work... When our boss transferred to Olongapo we transferred here too...I saw the Project Life Sewing Center and it was near where we work so we registered for class. ...I'm very thankful because I know how to sew and measure now and it's very uplifting for myself that I can do all this now! I'm very thankful to Project Life that I learn to know God....I can get a decent job in the future and fulfill my dreams for my family. Thank you very much and God bless you!
A big thanks to all of YOU who help support this ministry. We'll share more stories like this in the future!

LightStrike in Tabacuhan!

Thanks to a grant from Rotary International, the LightStrike project is underway! Last Saturday's event was a success and 49 homes have light! The families are very grateful, and we will have follow up stories soon. Logos Global Mission Church was the group we partnered with in Tabacuhan, and they made many connections with the locals and have committed to continue Lightstrikes in their barangay.
The people of Tabacuhan were so grateful to have light in their homes. Many were shy at first but then gathered closer to watch then offered to help. One family, though they are very poor, shared their food with the installation team to express their gratitude.
We have three more LightStrikes planned for April in three more areas of Olongapo City! Our target installation for the next three is 60 homes each event. Stay tuned for updates =)

Sewing Training in the New Classroom

I walked in to the Sewing Training center to see 25 new smiling faces in the classroom! The students are so happy to learn to be seamstresses and hopeful to get a decent job in the near future. Most of the students are unskilled, poor, or victims of human trafficking. All see this training opportunity as a way to better jobs and providing for their families. Some dream of having their own business someday.
Our sewing trainors also share the Good News with the men and women they teach. They have seen lives transformed from the inside out by the power and love of Jesus. During the trainings the students build relationships with each other and with God. They have amazing testimonies of how the Lord is changing their life, marriage, and family. Keep up the good work trainors Emy, Cindy, Cathy and Glenda!

Bringing Light to the Poor

Training installation teams has begun for the LightStrike solar bottle project! What is "LightStrike" ? Read on- 

 So many families live in darkness every day in the poor areas of the city, their windowless homes creating an atmosphere of despair.  For a few that have access to electricity, they often can’t afford to pay their bill and the power is cut off. The rest only have what little light that the entrance to their shack provides, or from light coming in the small holes on the tin roof. Most small shacks are built closely together with a dark narrow alley as the only access to these homes.

The lack of light lowers the productivity of many and the people feel apathetic. It is difficult to do tasks such as housework, students homework, and other daily activities. The use of candles is always a danger in the slums, but these residents must burn candles for light not only at night, but during the day.

One of our community projects, “Light Strike”, gathers volunteers to help provide free light for the homes of the poor.  Recycled soda bottles, filled with clean water and bleach, are installed in the roofs of shanty homes to create light with the equivalent of a 55 watt bulb. The soda bottles provide light during daylight hours. Sunlight enters the top of the bottle which is above the roof approximately five inches, then is refracted by the water and provides light shining through the part of the bottle that is under the roof. The bottle has been fitted and sealed on a square of corrugated tin then silicone sealant and rivets create a waterproof seal to prevent roof leaks.

 We first train volunteers within the neighborhoods to install these lights. The local barangay (community) leaders are contacted and their neighborhoods surveyed to make a list of the families in need of light. With the financial help from our friends in Rotary International, we are now training teams to provide LightStrikes in 8 barangays this year. They will also receive sets of tools and be able to continue to help their communities!

With the installation of the solar soda bottle light, we have found that families are less apathetic, more productive, and their quality of life is greatly   improved!

 

January brought many new changes!

There's so much to catch up on! January really flew by and our little ministry has expanded. The first major change was the Sewing Center. The expansion of the sewing training center is a reality! It's been a long week of cleaning and moving as the Sewing Center is relocated to a much larger space in the building we rent. The sewing machines are being repaired, new shelving built, and plans underway to start the new class with 25 students on February 10. The new room is 1,850 sq. feet, with areas for machines, cutting tables, a lecture/classroom and office.
We traveled to Iba, capitol city of the Zambales province, to meet with officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) last week. We have started the process of being recognized by TESDA, and they will administer competency exams to all of our graduates. A TESDA certificate is highly valued for those seeking employment here and abroad.
The grant from Rotary International (Oakhurst Sierra , Oakhurst Sunrise, District 5220 and Subic Bay Freeport Zone), and our collaboration with Malampaya Foundation and PACTEC has been a blessing. Because of their help, we will be able to train 125 men and women this year and equip them to get jobs, plus train many more in the jail! Maraming salamat to all that helped make this happen!
The new space-

before move

Emy and Leslie cleaning windows

Joel from PACTEC doing maintenance on the machines

Cindy and Emy sorting fabrics that will need to be stored on shelves

Joel and Greg moving machines into place

More ministry news:
 BULANGHAGI- Connie and Tina have begun the new bible study in the Bulanghagi tribal community. It's up on the mountainside near Connie's place and the neighbors have been asking her to start a bible study there. Please keep them covered in prayer as they step out to do this new ministry.

UPPER ROOM- The music classes resume on Saturday at 2 p.m. with Sonny teaching bass, Anthony and John Rick teaching guitar. Then the Upper Room Youth Group, led by Anthony, begins at 4 p.m.  English classes are now being led on Fridays by two American friends who also teach at Brent International School.


LIGHTSTRIKE- Training for the LightStrike teams will be held early this month and the first four LightStrikes will be held in March and April. This solar light project will impact hundreds of people and help communities. The Rotary International grant will fund the eight LightStrikes plus equip eight barangays to carry on the work!

Next blog: Big changes at Matain and 12th St!