Read below about many opportunities to sponsor, pray for, and support some of our friends and neighbors.
Make a Difference
Feeding Sponsorship
Feeding Sponsorship
Needs: $300/month
Student Sponsorship: Theresa P
Theresa P is a -year-old orphan and wants to go to college to study social work to help others. She is very kind, considerate, gentle, and brave. God has been moving in her heart and life. She is very active in the local church youth group and she is highly recommended for college sponsorship by the youth leaders. Her mother, Jecel, passed away when Theresa was 9. Jecel died from thyroid storm at 34; she had a goiter. Jecel had married a kind man when Theresa was little, and they had three boys together. Theresa is the oldest of her siblings. But because her step-father was not biologically related, the extended family of Jecel took Theresa in after her mother's death. She moved around to different family members. It was expected for her to work many chores to earn her keep. She was treated poorly and endured difficulties. Now that she is an adult, Theresa would like to return home and live with her brothers and step-father. They treat with her much more kindness.
Here is a note from Theresa:
"I'm going to study social work at the Christ the King University here in Gingoog City. I like music and admiring God's creation, watching the beautiful sky, mountains, and sea. It is satisfying to the soul, the beauty is so good, it is imperfect, but yet WOW. My life is not as easy, yet God never lets me down. He loves me and cares for me despite my behavior. I have learned I should not worry about anything, but pray for it and trust God, for the Lord will bless me with His love and my future is in His hands and I know It will be good."
Student Sponsorship: Eroll S
Eroll is , and the oldest of 7 children. He has four brothers and
two sisters. His father does not have work currently, and his mother tends to the children, cooks, and does laundry by hand.
If we can help him get an education so he can be employed professionally, he in turn will help his siblings go to school…
a real opportunity to rise out of poverty. He would like to study health sciences at Christ the King College and maybe train
to be a nurse. He would like to eventually be a travel nurse, to send money home and see other parts of the world. He is
active in youth group and the youth leaders recommend him for college sponsorship. He also attends Bible study. His mother
also has attended the ladies Bible study for several years.
Here is a note from Eroll:
"I didn't have friends when I was a kid. I kept avoiding anyone who approached me because I was insecure. I remember the day Kuya Marko and Ate Patty arrived here in the Philippines, I met a lot of kids that I could play with. And that's when I met everyone who cares about me.
Jeremiah 29:11 says 'For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future .' So I'll just believe."
Student Sponsorship: Raymar M
Funds needed, but projection is uncertain at this point.
Here's a note from Raymar:
"It was very challenging to have a special opps training and certification in Cebu. It is a very big city and it's very out of my comfort zone and the training activities are very tiring. I prayed a lot because is super duper challenging that I thought I won't make it but I also learn a lot about leadership, teamwork, effective communication, and patience. The favorite part about my training is that the instructors and trainers assigned me as a leader in our batch during every single training activities, which is I am the youngest. My plan now is going to Manila to find a company for me to apply.
And about my realtionship with God, I keep my close distance to God by being thankful and prayerful, in that ways I know I'm growing and walking in His ways. And relay this to the young people at church by being a blessing and a role model to them and being there for them when they need someone to guide them. I'm really thankful to you who supported me in all kinds of ways."
Sponsor Raymar
Student Sponsorship: Meka A
Meka is a -year-old amazing young woman of God. She did an awesome job with teaching and being faithful every Sunday to lead Shine club before she started college. She loves the Shine girls that she discipled over the years and they love her. Meka has also been a part of the youth gatherings and worships God with all her heart.
She is in her final stretch attending Liceo University, taking a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree program. In the Philippines this is the most common course for undergraduates to prepare for Medical School. Her competition has been pre-med students, so it's been pretty intense. She loves what she is learning and has wanted to work in a laboratory since high school.
Since the Pandemic, a year and a half of her college education has been online, without hands-on laboratory. She took the initiative during that time to volunteer at a nearby laboratory so she could put into practice what she has been learning. Now that her classes have resumed in-person, many of the other students are asking her for help, as she learned so much through her volunteer hands-on practice hours.
This last academic semester is not the end of her academic journey. She will need to go to Manila in March and take a very
extensive board prep course for 6 months before she can sit for her boards Aug 2024. It is projected she needs $350/mo.
She is a light for Jesus wherever she goes. You would give her an amazing opportunity to rise out of poverty by finishing out
this education. Medical Technicians are in demand in the Philippines, so she will have great opportunities for employment
following graduation. The laboratory she volunteered at loved her and would like to hire her after she graduates. She will
in turn help her younger sibling complete school. Your investment in her would be an incredible investment, and will
impact the kingdom of God, as her love for Jesus is contagious wherever she goes.
Student Sponsorship: Alfhea B
She has loved her first year of college, and looks forward to learning more in her field of study. She cannot personally afford to attend college. She and her sisters were Nehemiah girls, so her father is not in the picture as he is running from the law because of child abuse. Her mother works hard to provide for Alfhea and her other sisters. Alfhea is active in the local youth group, church, and community group.
Student Sponsorship: Crystal
Job Sponsorship: Jhornel D (Jo Jo)
For employment to provide food, shelter, medical, housing, school needs and transportation for his
family would be $180 a month. So 6 sponsors at $30/mo could help this precious family of 5.
Job Sponsorship: Maki (Mark John)
Maki () was born and raised in Pandan Village, a squatter village outside of Gingoog City. His father a fisherman for a small local fish called Tamban. When we had met Maki he had dropped out of school and was one of the local youth hanging out and up to no good. Through the years he slowly became involved in the music ministry and the basketball team. Marko had the privilege to lead him to the Lord. He has been faithfully serving and working at Subangan since it started in 2012 until today.
Since growing up he decided to return to high school and complete his education through a local GED type program.
In the recent flood his house was completely destroyed.
We helped him rebuild two small houses for the 22 extended family members that live there (including his wife and
2 children.) His work consists of building and repairing the play equipment at Subangan Cares, and marketing and cooking for the daily feeding program,
and serving and supervising the children that come to play there.
To help his family and the kids at Subangan, we need your support.
Job Sponsorship: Roger
Roger has a very similar story to Maki.
Roger was born and raised in Pandan Village, a squatter village outside of
Gingoog City. His father is a fisherman for a small local fish called Tamban
(sardines). When we had met Roger he had dropped out of school and was
one of the local youth hanging out and up to no good. Through the years he
slowly became involved in the music ministry. Marko had the privilege to
lead him to the Lord.
He is naturally a quiet person. He has been faithfully
serving and working at Subangan since it started in 2012, except a short
time where he went to Manila for work to help support his family.
Since growing up he decided to return to high school and complete his
education through a local GED type program. He supports his family
members that live in a small bamboo house.
Their house was completely destroyed in the recent flood. The shoreline where his house was is gone,
moved inland about 15-20 feet. One of the only spaces in the village that
remained to build on, is over a slough. So recently his house got rebuilt
there. He doesn’t have a girlfriend nor is he married. His mom is a frail
asthmatic. His consistent salary helps his family to eat regularly and helps his mom when she needs medical attention.
Roger’s work is building and repairing the play equipment at Subangan
Cares, and marketing and cooking for the daily feeding program, and
serving and supervising the children that come to play and learn at Subangan Cares.
To help him help his family and the kids at Subangan Cares, we need your support.
Job Sponsorship: Grace M
Job Sponsorship: Annamae S
Annamae is years old, and was one of our Nehemiah girls. Her
daughter Alexa is . Annamae was removed from her home at 15yo because of
abuse and lived at a residential safe house for girls in the Philippines until
she graduated high school. She went on to college through sponsorship.
She finished her degree in Social Work, because she wanted to help others
as she has been helped. She now works at a hospital as a social worker
and is the head of her department. She understands how to navigate and
help others get the medical assistance they need for a hospitalization or a
surgery. She has helped us with the on-boarding of new students. And has
helped advise us in some of necessities in college in the Philippines for our
students. She has helped house students and is helping her younger sister
attend college. She has helped some of our students in Cagayan de Oro be
plugged in and encouraged in church life while they are attending school
away from home. Though she is professional, her salary is not large
enough to support herself, pay rent and childcare, and finance her mentally
ill older sister’s psychiatric medications. If she can’t afford childcare she
would move back home for free childcare from her family and thus expose
her daughter to the potential same abuses she suffered growing up, not to
mention expose herself to the chaos and dysfunction of her childhood home. Please consider helping her continue her journey to rise out of
poverty and abuse.
After the passing of one of the elders in the local church, his children were all grown, but his surviving wife struggled to meet her daily needs. She is very active in the church and leading bible studies. We helped her through a season until she has been making a stipend through Compassion’s program through the local church. And her adult children have stepped up to help assist her financial needs.
One of our Bible study attendees unexpectedly died at 34 leaving behind four young children and her husband. Her husband had recently lost his job due to a factory closure. He desperately needed employment and a situation where his children would be ok now that their mother was gone. We offered him a maintenance position in the church and at Subangan where he could work and over-see his children simultaneously. He worked for 4 years with us near his home where he was able to watch his children while he worked. At times we have taken extra care of his children.
Other widow situations have come up at various times that we have help out with, like the following family…
Judith's Family
Some of you may remember Judith. She has been a regular attendee at
Bible studies for years. We helped her get her goiter removed in 2013. Judith's
husband died from electrocution in 2022. She is now widowed and didn’t
know how she would support her family of 5 children. We have helped with
monthly rice, and we have hired her so she can provide for her family. Judith
has been helping clean the church and its surroundings daily. Those that
live at the church have been so grateful for her help as Pastor Ben and
Pastor Edith have become elderly. Judith is self-motivated, a great worker, and
super grateful for having a job that provides for her needs and her
family. The church leadership could not help but give wonderful feedback
and compliments on Judith's work. They are so grateful for her consistent and joyful help.
Judith's kids are doing well and are active at church. Steven says “they never miss.”
It will
cost $171/mo to help her.
Roy and Marylin's Family
We invested in the Roy’s family after their father had a stroke at 45 years old. We employed him with his disability for 4 years until his passing in 2018. Now his surviving wife Marilyn continues to raise their youngest children. She has a couple of adult children that are helping her financialy to the best of their abilities. She needs assistance with consistent food. Marylin helps out at Subangan Cares a couple hours every day during the feeding time, and we provide her a 50kg bag of rice monthly in exchange.
