I landed in the Philippines on October 2 and reached HIF on the 6th. This is such a beautiful country. The last time I was here was in March 2006. It was great to see all my old friends and to meet the new staff. My grand children have grown. Brison is such a busy little guy and Makana is going to be tall like her dad.
The ministry is growing. It reaches three thousand children, youth and adults every month. God is blessing this ministry with people, who have His heart for the poor and the suffering. In the past few weeks I have witnessed the passion, dedication and joy that flows from the staff as they serve the people God brings to them everyday. They demonstrate servanthood and labor tirelessly from 5:00 A.M. to dark six days a week. Their sustenance comes from the Lord.
Memories from the Youth Sports Camp hosted by HIF staff and the Maui Mission Team are fresh in the minds of the young people. The youth proudly carry their prized possession, a new Bible from the Maui team.
God’s word is in the hands of youth who are beginning to influence their homes and classmates. The island will be changed because God’s word is penetrating the hearts of these youth.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Youth Discipleship kicked off last week with thirteen young people attending the orientation night. Their testimonies described their longing to have an intimate relationship with God and their desire to learn how His word can change their life. The passion and hunger for God’s word is so evident here.
Last week Dinah, a senior staff member, and I walked 7 km in 32C temperatures to San Mateo, Surigao del Norte. This is the area that has been identified as the most impoverished province in the Philippines. The needs here are staggering. I watched as Dinah cleaned wounds and prayed for individual needs. This was a follow up visit from a previous outreach where donated soap was used to clean bodies that were filthy and infected. The villagers don’t wash because there is no safe water source. Those who did wash or drink the water are infected.
Most suffer from the tropical disease of Schistosomiasis, an often chronic illness that results from infection of the blood with a parasitic flatworm (schistosome), it causes debilitation and causes liver and intestinal damage. It is most commonly found in Asia, Africa, and South America, especially in areas with water that is contaminated with fresh water snails, which contain the parasite.
A recent study showed that 45% of villagers have the parasite and that 80% have worms. Last year this disease killed the village health worker. These parasites often enter the body through the feet and will not even break the skin doing so. Many don't have any flip flops going barefoot. After a recent trip and further investigation we found that a pump donated by a Filipino American had been installed incorrectly and the water source would be acceptable if repaired. HIF is looking into the repair. Because of the infested and polluted water most heads are covered with sores caused by worms.
In the scorching heat Dinah, Divah and Joan treated the children. There was improvement from a week earlier when they cleaned and dressed many boils and sores. Frail children with extended bellies from worms and malnutrition lined up to get a hug and badly needed medical attention.
As the children gathered from all over the village I noticed a little girl being dragged down the dirty road by her brother in a make shift stretcher (made from four small sticks nailed together). She hadn’t walked in weeks. When we examined her we found that she had a large infected boil on her leg. Dinah lovingly cleaned and dressed the area. Dinah instructed the young mother on how to keep it clean because infections that are untreated take the lives of people all the time.
Divah and Joan had a large group gathered around them .They each had a pair of finger nail clippers and were cutting the children’s finger and toenails.
Among the many faces was a young boy age 8 or 9 that was caring for his six siblings. His frail malnourished body and hollow eyes spoke of his need. How does a boy look after 6 children? He was now the recipient of some tender care that showed evidence of a God who loves him so much.
On a previous Medical Mission, five children, considered to be in the worst condition, were chosen for a vitamin supplementation program. The mother of the five is herself skin and bone and in need of treatment. We were told that she has only 3 vitamin pills left from the medicine donated to her. I can not imagine being the person who decides who receives treatment and who does not. God help those who make these decisions. A miracle is the only hope for many who wait for care.
We were offered a place to rest in one of the homes. Lying down resting my head was touching one wall and my feet reach over to the opposite wall. A straw mat was put down on the wooden floor for us to use. Families line up in a row to sleep. A simple lunch of rice that did not look as if it was freshly cooked and a fish the size of a deck of cards was lunch for six of us. Mothers, some in their teens sat nursing babies that were 1-2 lbs at birth. I wonder if any nourishment can be coming from a mother who was already malnourished before getting pregnant and have remained that way. Vitamins for pregnant women are high on the list of needed supplies.
The challenge continues to be enough workers. The needs are great. There are four fewer staff members than there were when I was last here in 2006. Please continue to pray for more servants to be called to this ministry as the harvest increases more workers are needed. Those who remain labor tirelessly and fill in the gap, please keep them in your prayers.
Elaine Van Ryckeghem
The ministry is growing. It reaches three thousand children, youth and adults every month. God is blessing this ministry with people, who have His heart for the poor and the suffering. In the past few weeks I have witnessed the passion, dedication and joy that flows from the staff as they serve the people God brings to them everyday. They demonstrate servanthood and labor tirelessly from 5:00 A.M. to dark six days a week. Their sustenance comes from the Lord.
Memories from the Youth Sports Camp hosted by HIF staff and the Maui Mission Team are fresh in the minds of the young people. The youth proudly carry their prized possession, a new Bible from the Maui team.
God’s word is in the hands of youth who are beginning to influence their homes and classmates. The island will be changed because God’s word is penetrating the hearts of these youth.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Youth Discipleship kicked off last week with thirteen young people attending the orientation night. Their testimonies described their longing to have an intimate relationship with God and their desire to learn how His word can change their life. The passion and hunger for God’s word is so evident here.
Last week Dinah, a senior staff member, and I walked 7 km in 32C temperatures to San Mateo, Surigao del Norte. This is the area that has been identified as the most impoverished province in the Philippines. The needs here are staggering. I watched as Dinah cleaned wounds and prayed for individual needs. This was a follow up visit from a previous outreach where donated soap was used to clean bodies that were filthy and infected. The villagers don’t wash because there is no safe water source. Those who did wash or drink the water are infected.
Most suffer from the tropical disease of Schistosomiasis, an often chronic illness that results from infection of the blood with a parasitic flatworm (schistosome), it causes debilitation and causes liver and intestinal damage. It is most commonly found in Asia, Africa, and South America, especially in areas with water that is contaminated with fresh water snails, which contain the parasite.
A recent study showed that 45% of villagers have the parasite and that 80% have worms. Last year this disease killed the village health worker. These parasites often enter the body through the feet and will not even break the skin doing so. Many don't have any flip flops going barefoot. After a recent trip and further investigation we found that a pump donated by a Filipino American had been installed incorrectly and the water source would be acceptable if repaired. HIF is looking into the repair. Because of the infested and polluted water most heads are covered with sores caused by worms.
In the scorching heat Dinah, Divah and Joan treated the children. There was improvement from a week earlier when they cleaned and dressed many boils and sores. Frail children with extended bellies from worms and malnutrition lined up to get a hug and badly needed medical attention.
As the children gathered from all over the village I noticed a little girl being dragged down the dirty road by her brother in a make shift stretcher (made from four small sticks nailed together). She hadn’t walked in weeks. When we examined her we found that she had a large infected boil on her leg. Dinah lovingly cleaned and dressed the area. Dinah instructed the young mother on how to keep it clean because infections that are untreated take the lives of people all the time.
Divah and Joan had a large group gathered around them .They each had a pair of finger nail clippers and were cutting the children’s finger and toenails.
Among the many faces was a young boy age 8 or 9 that was caring for his six siblings. His frail malnourished body and hollow eyes spoke of his need. How does a boy look after 6 children? He was now the recipient of some tender care that showed evidence of a God who loves him so much.
On a previous Medical Mission, five children, considered to be in the worst condition, were chosen for a vitamin supplementation program. The mother of the five is herself skin and bone and in need of treatment. We were told that she has only 3 vitamin pills left from the medicine donated to her. I can not imagine being the person who decides who receives treatment and who does not. God help those who make these decisions. A miracle is the only hope for many who wait for care.
We were offered a place to rest in one of the homes. Lying down resting my head was touching one wall and my feet reach over to the opposite wall. A straw mat was put down on the wooden floor for us to use. Families line up in a row to sleep. A simple lunch of rice that did not look as if it was freshly cooked and a fish the size of a deck of cards was lunch for six of us. Mothers, some in their teens sat nursing babies that were 1-2 lbs at birth. I wonder if any nourishment can be coming from a mother who was already malnourished before getting pregnant and have remained that way. Vitamins for pregnant women are high on the list of needed supplies.
The challenge continues to be enough workers. The needs are great. There are four fewer staff members than there were when I was last here in 2006. Please continue to pray for more servants to be called to this ministry as the harvest increases more workers are needed. Those who remain labor tirelessly and fill in the gap, please keep them in your prayers.
Elaine Van Ryckeghem
