First day in the Philippines

Our Filipino adventure together began at O'Hare Airport in Chicago.  Here is our group just before we boarded for the first leg of our trip to Manila - a stop in Hong Kong. 

After about 18 hours of flying (more for one of our group),we arrived in Manila to a warm welcome by the staff of Grace Family Helper Project as well as the weather system.  It was noticeably hot and humid, but, oh so friendly!

After a very short night at our hotel, we took off this morning for four sponsorship sites in Quezon City.  Below is a photo.   It  was raining steadily this morning, and it created special challenges at the church in Mountain Heights where the structure is just bamboo poles with a roof.  But the children, parents, staff, and sponsors did not let the water dampen their excitement of being together.

At each site, the group was met with singing or dancing and enthusiastic words of welcome.  There were welcome signs as we arrived at each location, as well as shouts of welcome and delight as we entered each church outpost.  Below is the sign that welcomed us at Patayas.

I shared each time the story of the salvation bracelet and my 92-year old mother's ministry in making and providing them for children and families around the world.  The children and parents are always amazed and shocked when I tell them that she has now made 90,000 bracelets by hand, all for Children of Promise.

Then the task of interviewing commenced.  Three pairs, each with a translator, met with each of the sponsored children in Mountain Heights, Payatas (Manila dump site), Tilex, and Talanay.   At left, Pastor Ryan Reed of Racine, Wisconsin, interviews Jose Bacoy, Jr., in Tilex.





At right, the hands of Tom Kumpel begin the task of recording the interview information for each child on their master interview sheet.

"It's so great to see the kids so happy and healthy."

"I am so impressed with how much they love and enjoy their local church."

"It is amazing how much sponsorship means to the children."

These are just a few of the comments by the sponsors in the group after the first day of interviewing children in the Quezon City area in The Philippines today.  While the rain hampered us from visiting homes of the children, the interviewers were amazed at how much they learned about each child. 

The day of interviewing ended with a large group photo of the children and some of the church members in Talanay.  (see photo below)

Stay tuned for visits tomorrow to several other sites in the greater Manila area.