Friends in Manila

A few weeks ago we went to Manila to re-establish some contacts we made when we were here in 2006. There were 2 specific places we went. The first place is Quiapo. This is the area that we plan to do a lot of our main ministry focus when we start our children's home. This area is very poor and there are many street children and families. When we were here last time Jack and I got to know one family pretty well. The family and people that we had gotten to know had lived right under the Quiapo bridge, which goes over the Pasig River. When we went back to visit them this time we were shocked because the area that they lived in had been bulldozed down and was now a parking lot for Jeepneys. Since 2006, the government has also developed a ferry system that runs along this river as another means of transportation. There were a lot of people that had lived in that area and we thought that there was no way that we could find this family again since they had been displaced. Long story short, through no luck of our own, we found the family and were able to reconnect with them. They now have a little store that they run right by one of the ports for the river ferry which is really good for them. They are wonderful people with big hearts and are very protective of us when we're there. They will be helping us to find the street children in that area. Jack is currently on his way to Manila and they are all planning to rent a van tomorrow night, around midnight, and drive around the area to find the kids that are all alone. Many street children work the streets during the day, so going at night to find them is the best way. The family that is helping us also has a friend that is a politician in the area and he is very interested in what we're doing and is going to help out as well. The Lord is really putting things together for His ministry! We are so excited!

Our other friends that we met up with are from a part of Manila called Mandaluyong. This is the same part of Manila that we worked with the clinic in and lived in in 2006. These folks are a little better off than the families in Quiapo, but not by much. They were very hospitable to us and served us lunch. They fed us squid adobo! Jack and I were a bit nervous to try it but when I saw Layla gulping it down with no problems I thought it can't be too bad. Sure enough it was delicious! Isn't it wonderful how 2 year olds have no preconceived notions about anything!? I love it! Anyways, we spent a good chunk of the day just hanging out with them and enjoying time together. We even got a treat of ice cream! There is one gentleman, his name is Marlon, and he has to support all 5 of his kids by himself. The problem with that is that there are very few jobs for him to find and he cannot afford to pay anyone to watch his young children during the day and all his family works as well. It is a really sad situation. Jack has talked to him extensively about this and discovered that Marlon wants to start his own business selling different types of food at the basketball court in their neighborhood. So we have decided to help him start his business so he can support his family. That is also one of the things Jack will be doing this trip he is currently on. Please pray that the Lord blesses Marlon, his children, and his family through this business that God is providing.

There is another woman that we've become close friends with in Mandaluyong who is having a very tough time as well. Her name is Raquel and she works at a Call Center, which is normally a very good job. The problem is that this call center has not paid their employees since December, but tell them if they continue to work they will get paid. The worst part is that the call center is contracted out to an American company and it is the American Company that is saying they can't pay. They are blaming it on the economy...but I'm pretty sure all the execs of this company are still getting paid their big bucks! It just disgusts me. Anyways, the workers filed a complaint with the Labor department in the Philippines but things still don't look so good. Please keep her in your prayers because she is looking for another job but is having a difficult time finding one. She has two beautiful little girls to support as well. Thank you for your prayers!

Here are some pics of this trip to Manila. There are pictures from both Quiapo and Mandaluyong.

Manila