www.echildrenofpromise.org
October 8, 2009
3rd Relief Update from The Philippines
(Previous reports may be read in the news section of the Children of Promise website.)
$11,633 Given by Children of Promise Sponsors & Donors for The Philippines
The 731 Philippine children sponsored through Grace Family Helper Project (Children of Promise) will begin receiving financial support for much needed assistance following the disaster caused by Typhoon Ketsana. As of this date, sponsors and donors in the United States, Japan and Malawi have donated the initial amount of $11,633. These funds, along with a $5,000 gift from Church of God Ministries, will enable Church of God congregations and Grace Family Helper Project staff to alleviate suffering by giving food, water, medicines, building supplies, and household articles to help the children and church members begin rebuilding their lives.
”We would like to thank you for your immediate action regarding the needs of our typhoon victims. Just recently we received a report from our beneficiaries who were relocated from the railroad settlement to Bulacan, that the houses were flooded up to rooftop. Everything was destroyed; they have nothing left from their homes. They have not had a bath for four days because of they lack clean water since their places are still flooded up to this time. We planned to visit them today, but government officials asked us to wait. Apparently, the neighborhood is still unreachable. Tomorrow we will try our best to reach the area, and we will provide you with our report on the damages,” wrote Dr. Ofelia Viray, Director of Grace Family Helper Project (Children of Promise.)
Dr. Viray and her husband, Rev. Eddie Viray, the National Leader of the Church of God, are using every means possible to assess the damage and subsequent needs. In a brief email regarding a sponsored girl from Nueva Ecjia, which is a two-hour drive from Manila, Dr. Viray reports that while the family’s home and household goods are fine the family lost its rice crop in three-foot flood waters. The rice crop was the family’s only means of income for the coming year.
“We know that our leaders in The Philippines are doing everything humanly possible to make contact with the sponsored children and church members. We are patiently waiting for more details,” commented Dr. Paul Maxfield, who is visiting children in our Ecuador program before traveling to Colombia, Peru and Paraguay. He continued, “We are encouraged by the early contributions we have received. We hope many more people will join in this effort to help our brothers and sisters in The Philippines.”
Children of Promise, Church of God Ministries, and Women of the Church of God are appealing to our sponsors, donors, and churches for donations of funds for emergency relief for The Philippines immediately. Funds given through Children of Promise must be used for assistance to sponsored children and their families. (We are only able to receive monetary donations.)
Donations may be made through Children of Promise in the following ways:
a. Check sent to P. O. Box 2316, Anderson, IN 46018 indicating emergency relief for The Philippines.
b. Credit or debit card donation over the website: go to www.echildrenofpromise.org, click on the button that says "Donate Online"and fill out the form and submit. Under Fund, select Emergency Fund, and in the comment box, write “Emergency relief for The Philippines.”
c. Credit or debit card donations will also be accepted over the phone in our office:
Phones: 1-800-848-2464 (ext. 2190) or 1-765-648-2190.
Please join us in praying for and assisting the people of The Philippines.
As information arrives, periodic updates will be posted in the news section of the website: www.echildrenofpromise.org .
COP Staff and WCG in Ecuador
A few words from the Executive Director, Dr. Paul Maxfield:
I write to you today from Ecuador where Vicky Creamer (sponsorship associate at COP) and I, along with seven ladies from Women of the Church of God (WCG) are visiting, checking on, and interviewing the sponsored children in this South American country. Karen Lambert, COP director in Ecuador, and her husband, Jon, are hosting us and directing our visit.
We have met with committees and interviewed children and parents in the following churches: Comite del Pueblo, Tonsupa, Cangahua, Zabala, Santa Clara, Ofelia, and Roldos. In addition, the children from the mountain areas of Quevedo and Meridiano traveled to Quito to meet with us.
In addition to updating children’s records and checking on their health, the interview groups have also shared the salvation message with each child through the salvation bracelets.
Many of the children send greetings to their sponsors, which we pass along to you now, with their many thanks and expressions of appreciation.
Members of the WCG joining COP staff are Barbara and Emily Bennett (Missouri); Eddye Davis (Washington State); Janet Watson (Illinois); Ellen Ollinger (Indiana); Che-Che Mobley (national president of WCG, Florida); and Mary Stephens (ministry coordinator, WCG, Anderson, Indiana).
Mary Stephens, ministry coordinator for Women of the Church of God shares impressions of the Ecuador experience when she says, “All of us on this trip have experienced a true journey of the heart. We have seen ourselves, children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews in the children of Ecuador. We fell in love with the wisdom of the children in Santa Clara, the ruddy cheeks of the Cangahua children, the spiritual fervor in 24 de Julio, and the timid smiles in Tonsupa. We are taking renewed passion for the mission of God home with us, and leaving behind pieces of our hearts.”
Karen Lambert, director in Ecuador shares the following thoughts: “What a blessing to have Dr. Maxfield and Vicky Creamer from the COP office, and seven of my faithful sisters from Women of the Church of God here with us. We have visited 10 churches where Children of Promise is changing lives. It has been a joy to watch the children as they share their dreams of the future, a privilege to hear of their hurts and disappointments, and an honor to be able to pray with them. Because of your faithfulness, miracles are happening. Church leaders are being raised up, homes are being strengthened, and communities are being changed. God bless you all.”
Children of Promise expresses its deep appreciation to the ladies of Women of the Church of God for their love and concern for the children, their long hours traveling and interviewing, and their open hearts to the needs of the Ecuadorian children.
I will be traveling on to visit the children in Peru this evening, and then continue to Paraguay and Colombia later in the month. Your prayers for safety and effectiveness are greatly appreciated.
Dr. Paul Maxfield, Executive Director
Children of Promise