March Update

Hope for the Island ART program!

Hope for the Island has a huge burden for the youth in the island that have no way to earn income even if they wanted to. After high school many go off to the big cities in hopes to find a better life and employment. The majority are not able to survive on the meager wages they get and end up on the streets squatting or going back to the island as a failure to the family. The ones that stay in the island become stand by (unemployed) and fall into the same sad and unproductive cycle of poverty. The youth go on to become men who get married and father many children. With no education or skills training they fall into hopelessness and despair. Most deal with their troubles by adding to them by gambling and drinking away the few pesos the family has. All the while their children are malnourished and cannot go to school because they are forced to help work for the next meal. As sad as this is, it is what we at Hope for the Island encounter daily.

We have been ministering weekly to the children and youth for many years. We do our best to set them on a right path spiritually, but at the end of the day many go home to little food and another large percentage have hopeless futures.

I see in each of these youth a lot of potential!! As young people they are very open to new ideas. They are not set in their ways or stuck in the rut yet. They know that the road ahead is not bright and given an opportunity to escape the grip of poverty they would jump at it. Filipino people are also very emotional people. They have a lot to say but never a platform to express their passions, anger, despair etc. That combined with the energy and creativity that youth have, I believe ART could be a great way for them to express themselves as well as bring the positive cultural aspects of this island to life.

God divinely crossed my path last month with the owner of a 5 star resort on Siargao. My time with him confirmed what I had already felt in my spirit. He went on to share how so many of his guests come to the island and are captivated by their experience. They all want to be able to take home something that captures the soul of Siargao and reflects their unique experience while visiting this island. Sad to say there is very little in terms of native art in the Philippines, unlike neighboring Asian countries where cultural arts are in abundance. Philippines is so influenced by the West that most of what tourists find is knock off American products.

Hope for the Island has taken the initiative by starting an Art Contest open to all between ages 10-30 years old. It is a cost effective way to get this vision moving forward and to expose potential talent. Though there will be a cash prize for 1st 2nd and 3rd place, the main purpose is to bring to the surface potential talent. Each one who has potential will be given an opportunity to be sponsored by Hope for the Island. God has put it in the heart of a gifted Artist from Hawaii to give of his time and talent by visiting Hope for the Island for the purpose of developing our up and coming artists! All materials, etc would be sponsored by Hope for the Island.


Once pieces of art are produced we would coordinate with the Resorts to display the art at the resorts for purpose of selling them. Another option that has been discussed is that the Resorts would offer tours to their guests and one stop would be to visit Hope for the Island gallery where all the art would be displayed and for sale.

There is already a market here with tourism growing in Siargao. There is also the potential of selling the art online. We excitingly anticipate what God is going to do through this. This very well could be a big open door that will help break the cycle and spirit of poverty that oppresses the people of our island. An even greater motivation is that youth will be drawn closer to the Lord and discover their God given purpose in life. Identity and confidence will be birthed in their hearts. They will be contributing to their families and society rather than being one more statistic! Our staff is very aware of the opportunities that will arise to disciple these young people in the process! PTL! We need you to join us in praying for this Art program. The awarding and picking potential talent will be on March 29.

Other prayers items:

With rainy season behind us we will start building the mission house for our family this April! The site has been cleared, electricity installed and permits prepared. This project will provide many local people with much needed work. Thank you for all who have donated funds thus far to help us with this project. Please continue to pray for the outstanding needs for material and labor costs.

As mentioned in February update, we are in need of constructing a new preschool building for our upcoming June school year. Check out the Preschool Building Fundraiser for more information.

Mid January Report

Mark Anthony's New Home

Since Mark Anthony's release from the hospital we have been praying and considering what options were available for him to get the best care physically and emotionally. Though he has come a long way, his body is still fragile and chances of reinfection are very high. Within the day it became clear and we felt God's peace to receive Mark Anthony at Hope For The Island. All of the staff understanding the responsibility and special care involved in accepting him at HIF, joyfully and unanimously agreed. When sharing this option to those close to Mark Anthony, they all felt it was in his best interest as well. Mark Anthony interjected in his excitement saying that "Hope For The Island is where I want to live!" He soon had all his belongings packed in a small bag and we picked him up to bring him home!

Despite being afraid and crying at times, he has adjusted well to being in an environment filled with love. He has quite the personality and has a great sense of humor! He enjoys conversing with anyone who will sit down and give him an ear. Mentally he is very alert and has a gift of drawing and coloring pictures. Seeing the sparkle in his eye when he is affirmed, stirs my heart with unspeakable joy. I am so thankful to God for allowing us to be a part of bringing life back to an orphan who had no hope. Continue to pray for God's protection and complete healing over Mark Anthony!

San Mateo - HIF Extension Ministry!

HIF has been conducting monthly outreaches within the barangay (village) of San Mateo for the past year. During
our first medical mission in San Mateo we encountered people of all ages with many sicknesses and diseases. It is hard to believe that this barangay only 5 km from HIF is considered one of the most destitute and impoverished areas within the Philippines. People have been dying in the face of disease all the time with no one sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them! Despite warnings to avoid this area especially known for the disease Schistosomiasis (this is the disease that almost took Mark Anthony's life), we pursued God's heart to bring light to an area oppressed in darkness. Each visit HIF made drew curious crowds. They were amazed that HIF even visited the area never mind with a desire to serve them. With medical kits in hand, our staff made their way around cleaning wounds, skin diseases and cutting children's dirty finger nails. Our staff distributed soap and taught on proper hygiene and disease prevention.

Through prayer and persistence we saw a great change and a progressive decrease in infections during each follow up visit. Our monthly visits turned into bi-weekly visits because of the responsiveness to the gospel. As the people gathered, we shared the word of God with children, youth and adults who attentively listened. Many have been saved, yet still follow a number of different pagan practices. After reaching out to this neglected area for some time, God started stirring Ben and Grace's heart with a heavy burden for the people and needs of San Mateo. Not wanting to ignore what God was doing in their hearts, they prayed and asked God for direction. After our HIF prayer intercession one afternoon, Ben said that he had something to share. He looked up with tears welling up in his eyes and said, "God is calling me to move to San Mateo!" It was as though I was hearing myself speaking back when God gave us the vision for HIF. Ben went on to explain how this all doesn't make sense to him, but he knows without a doubt that this is God's leading! As shocked as we all were with this news, we rejoiced at how God was calling Ben and Grace out in faith to carry the vision of bringing God's hope to the hopeless! As Ben and Grace's friend and leader, I am excited to look back at these past few years to see how God has prepared and developed them for such a time as this. Even looking at the circumstances of doors closing for them to return to Canada makes sense viewing it from the perspective of this new calling.

God recently provided a small lot and the funds needed for them to build a mission house in San Mateo. With the help of the visiting YWAM team, construction has now began! Men, women and children all lend a helping hand to get the project underway.

Please continue to pray for Ben and Grace during this time of transition.

Pray for God's protection against injury and disease for all involved during the process of building.
Pray that relationships would strengthen with people in the community.
Pray for HIF goals of helping establish a safe drinking water station to help reduce risk of disease and a Community Garden to encourage proper nutrition.
Pray for the ongoing children's, youth and adults ministry.

Pray for God to fill the void that will be left with Ben and Grace being in San

Mateo.
Pray for the God of the harvest to send more workers into the
harvest field