Starting the Year off with a BANG!

Filipinos love holidays. And New Years Eve is no exception! Although it isn't declared an "offical" holiday, there are many traditions, beliefs, and celebrations that occur annually on the last day of the year. Families usually spend all day cooking and setting up to prepare for a celebratory dinner and party.

But the main event is the FIREWORKS! For weeks leading up to the day, malls and street vendors can be seen selling all different kinds of fireworks and firecrackers to the masses. Even this past week leading up to New Years Eve, fireworks can be heard on the street all throughout the day! (And we can be seen jumping in our seats when we hear the loud POP). But on the actual night of New Years Eve, as soon as it gets dark, the show begins! Sitting atop a local hill provides access to firework shows all around the city! And the closer it gets to midnight, the crazier and more frequent the fireworks get.

At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes defeaning: churchbells ring, firecrackers rule the sky, kids gape in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky. The banging and booming rises to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricyle horns, and ambulances sound their sirens for one full minute as they countdown to the New Year.

To put it mildly, New Years Eve in Manila is like the 4th of July in America... on steroids!! Two years ago I was here in Manila over New Years and enjoyed the experience very much! It's a fun holiday and an amazing sight to see.

Wherever you are, and however you plan on ringing in the New Year, be safe and have fun, and start planning on spending your next New Years in Manila. We guarantee you will have a BLAST!

Faith

Faith can describe my year. In February I was told that the school where I was teaching would be closing and I needed to find a new job. I had faith that God would provide. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to go back to school and work on my Masters that I had been dreading. March came in and I had filled out all the paperwork and was pretty much accepted into the Masters program. Then I felt God telling me now was the time for me to go to the Philippines. I took a step of faith and contacted Jeff to see about going to the Philippines for 3 months and getting a feel for life there. He gave me two options A) 3 months at the Children’s Home or B) 1 year at Faith Academy. Surprisingly he was going to be in Kansas City the next week. While driving to meet Jeff I still didn’t know what I was going to do. I was pretty sure the 3 month option was the right choice for me. We met and were talking and it came to the point of the conversation where I had to choose. I told him that I would teach at Faith Academy for a year. At which point I was sure those could only be God’s words and I knew I could trust Him. I had faith that if God wanted me there I could raise the support to be there by August. By April I was accepted into Kids International Ministries and began raising support. The beginning of July I found out that my support was nowhere near where it needed to be. I began doubting if this is really what God wanted for me, but I had faith that if God wanted me to be there he would provide for my needs. The beginning of August I got the OK that my support was where it needed to be in order to go over. Now came the hard part of saying goodbye. I don’t do well with that but I knew God was there and I had faith that he would take care of me and those that I love. I boarded the plane on August 9th to come to the Philippines. I had a long time to think about my life and what it would be like. Each time I would get nervous I had faith that God was there and He would put the right people in my life to help me to adjust to this new foreign land. My first steps onto Manila soil where that of relief and a sense of belonging. I knew without a doubt this was the place where God wanted me to be. I had faith that no matter what happened, I was doing the right thing. My first day of teaching 2nd Grade was filled with excitement. We are just like any other classroom that you might find in the States. I did have some adjustments to make though. I have 14 students from 5 different countries. We bring different backgrounds but we all believe in the same God. I was a little nervous about teaching all these different children, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to communicate clearly what I needed them all to know. I had faith though that God would provide a way, and He did. We all understand one another most of the time. We are all learning new phrases and words in all sorts of different languages. God has been amazing. Teaching at Faith Academy is not like teaching at any other school. There is a sense of belonging. Since arriving I had faith that I was where God wanted me to be. As I look back on this year I am so glad I took that first step of faith and ended up at Faith.

Katy Herman

Three Trips in Six Months

Hi my name is Brittany, i’m an Aussie who lives in Hong Kong. i came over with my mum in the summer on a mission trip with my youth group. Whilst here we helped build the foundation for the new teenage wing in the mornings and then we ran a afternoon camp for both the children’s home kids and the kids from the streets. We had 16 hour days and every minute was busy, but i felt at home, like i belonged somewhere.

Before we got home, we were already planning our next visit.

So 2 weeks later we jumped on a plane and came back dragging my little brother and Dad along for the ride. The second time here we spent most of our time in the Nursery with all the little ones. We fell in love with them straight away. We ended up staying in the nursery each night. During the day we went out and visited some of our little buddies we had made during our previous visit. Jenny was one of them, I took my family down to visit her and while we were at her place we met her neighbor. A single alcoholic mother with a 4 & 5yr old boy and girl and a 6 month old baby named James. James was very malnourished he would lay in a hammock all day, not making eye contact, not making a sound. Not even urinating. He was a vegetable. His Mum picked him up and handed him to Mum and told us to take him. That he was better off with us. But as you know you can’t just take a baby. So we gave him back and went home.

We bought food, clothes, nappies, formula, soap, toys & many more things and took them up to the family. But they were all so dirty and had so many infected bites that we took them back to the guest house and bathed them, dressed them, fed them and treated their wounds. We did this everyday.

By the end of a week we could already see improvements in James, he was smiling, looking around and getting bigger. By the end of our visit he was laughing, lifting his head, and had a fat belly. We left enough formula to last him the rest of the year, but the Mother very well could have sold it to buy alcohol.

We also met many other families, one with a 16 year old blind girl Joanne, a 2 year old boy with TB, deaf, mute and crippled, and another girl with with fluid on her brain.

We left knowing we would be back for Christmas. Boy that was a long 3 months.

So now we’re back, our third trip in 6 months. This time we headed up to Malaybalay children’s home for a week before coming back to Manila. Whilst in Malaybalay we helped with a big christmas party for needy families. Over 600 people came. Overall it was a very good day. We got to meet lots of people and spend time in fellowship with them.

A couple days into our visit in Malaybalay we got two new additions to the home a little boy John Carlo (1) and a little girl Mary-Grace (2). They came in very late at night and poor Mary-Grace couldn’t get to sleep. She was tired and im sure very scared. So i sat with her for an hour or so until about midnight. Went to bed and got up 5 hours later to be there when she woke up. She and i got very attached. She is such a sweet girl who is lots of fun to be around even if she wouldn’t let me put her down without her screaming. I did not want to leave her.

Right now we’re in Manila. We were here for Christmas and helped with a community christmas gift giving and also spending time with the Children’s home kids. Were also involved with going to feeding programs where we take 2 big containers full of a rice and meat substitute where we feed over 100 people.

I just love it here. Everyone is friendly and the kids are gorgeous. I don’t want to go home. Im trying to figure out ways to stay. No matter what i will be back. There is no way to keep this aussie away.

-Brittany.

The Worst Thing About K.I.M.

The worst part about Kids International Ministries and the Philippines is very easy to tag down: leaving. This was my wife Jessica and my first Christmas in this wonderful country and the first that we didn’t focus on ourselves and what the next wrapped box had in store for us.

That’s the beauty of KIM and serving alongside it’s mission- you don’t have time to get selfish. There are ample opportunities to give of yourself, to dig in and sacrifice your time, energy, and money.

This being our third trip to the PI, we were able to solidify friendships, learn more, and really get to know the kids at the Children’s Home. We had the opportunity to smile with them as they opened many Christmas presents from friends around the world. We also got to see them learning how to bless others as they gave away one of their gifts to the kids living in utter poverty right outside the gate- most of the time, being cheerful, sacrificial givers.

We also got to meet a family of 11 kids who live off of $20 a week, sleep on concrete floors, and barely get enough food to eat, yet smile their dirty little smiles just because we showed them attention. We saw children and adults lining up for Christmas presents, listening eagerly to the Christmas story, and going away happy that they would have food to eat that night.

The best thing we saw, though, was Jesus’ love being poured out of overflowing hearts. People from all over giving their time and energy to bless these Filipino people. It’s awesome, and it’s how we should be living all of the time, not just at Christmas. It’s hard to leave this place, and we will anticipate our return next Christmas. Until then, Lord, help us be thankful for the many blessings you’ve given us and help us strive to be a blessing to others.

-Russell Phillips

Every Tribe, Tongue, and Nation

One of the many ways we are blessed at K.I.M is by the various teams, families, and individuals that come to our children's homes in Manila and Malaybalay. They come throughout the year, for days, weeks, months, or even years at a time, to be a part of the ministry here and use the gifts that God has given them to bless the Filipino people.

Our long term volunteers hail from Canada and the United States (North Carolina, Colorado, Kansas, and California). Our short term volunteers come from all over the world! Just during the nine months that I have been here, I have met people from Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, Guam, England, Switzerland, Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, Finland, and probably a lot more countries that I am forgetting!

In fact, on Christmas morning we were talking about Christmas cultural traditions when we realized that we had SEVEN cultures represented by all the people there.... people who had willingly traded in their familiar traditions and family Christmas to instead share Christmas with the New Faith Family Children.

We could not do what we do without YOU

A bold and honest statement! Everything that happens here at K.I.M is possible because of people who come from all over the world to be a part of this ministry... because of people who take the time to collect donations and send them halfway across the world... because of people who are focused on sharing their wealth and joy with others instead of keeping it all for themselves...because of people who every month send money to provide for the needs of our kids/staff/volunteers...

2009 was a blessed year for the K.I.M. family. Thank you for your generous and compassionate hearts for the Filipino people. We are so thankful to all our volunteers all around the world!

Christie Albaugh

Define Necessity

In the Manila area or outside the children’s home there are hundreds of families, that are living off less than a few dollars a day. There are thousands in evacuation centers that don’t have running water and living in filth. Showers are taken on the street out of a bin, if there is water. Children are caring for children if there are no parents or adults.

If things such as water, food, and families for orphans are not indispensable but are needed then why are not all these and other needs being filled? I see families and children begging for money while I know that back in the United States people are driving $70,000 escalades. Ruby Payne in her book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, says that wealth and poverty are relative. I see that everything is relative unless it can be compared with something that is greater or less. Is that escalade a necessity even if there is greater poverty that trumps it?

In a previous blog, it was mentioned how here at K.I.M. we are moving as the body of Christ and that we are Christ to others. I believe this to be evident by watching the efforts done by many to help or care for families and orphans. I see teams and staff loving on the children in the community and in the children’s home. I see rice given to families on Christmas. I see also that everyday there still is more to be done here. There is more and more love to be given. This disparity is real but it is hard to understand when poverty has only been in a picture.

My eyes have been opened while being here in Manila to how much work does need to be done by God with our hands and feet. Psalm 54:4 says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” I encourage those that are reading this blog to look around. What do you consider a necessity? What wealth of yours is dispensable to those who need it more?

Samantha Heacock

Christmas with 33 Kids!

I grew up in a family of four. Dad, mom, sister (Sarah), and me (Christie). We also have a pretty small extended family, most of which lived far away when we were growing up. So on holidays it was usually only five of us, since Grandma would never miss spending a holiday with us! And every now and then some of the other grandparents would make it; but I never remember a holiday with more than seven of us.

So this year was definitely a new experience for me, spending my Christmas with 33 kids and over twenty volunteers!! Excited kids on Christmas morning takes on a whole new meaning when you're dealing with that many kids! We almost had to hire a guard just to keep the kids from ripping into their gifts before it was time!!

With a little help (from two locked doors), we managed to keep the kids away from the tree until nine in the morning. Around that time Uncle Jeff and the Long family, along with a bunch of out-of-town volunteers headed up to the children's home and we all piled into the Christmas tree/present room!

We sang Christmas carols, shared holiday tradition stories, and remembered the birth of Jesus together as one big family! We prayed and thanked God for all the many gifts donated and then began passing the out to the kids, with a few of our men volunteers jumping into the "Santa" roll.

On behalf of Kids International Ministries and all the kids, thank you to everyone who donated clothes, toys, candies, games, stuffed animals, and many other Christmas gifts. It is a blessing for these kids to have gifts to open on Christmas morning! We hope that your Christmas was as blessed as ours!

Christmas for Cuatro

As mentioned in the previous blog, we at K.I.M. are always looking for ways to reach out and bless the Cuatro Community that we live in, always with the goal of sharing the love of Christ!


So for Christmas this year we decided to welcome those in the community to the Yun Jun Ministry Center where we had some Christmas gifts prepared and bagged to be handed out (thanks to many donations sent our way over the Christmas season!).



We started the event off by bringing the two hundred or so people into the gates of the YMC and taking a few moments to share the real meaning of Christmas and to pray to God to speak to these people and to thank Him for his many blessings!



After Pastor Nick finished sharing the message, we had them line up and everyone was given a Christmas gift! Clothes, candies, stuffed animals, toys, shoes, rice, etc. were handed out.



"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

This is Normal

Meet Anthony. Anthony is one of our fifth grade students at Cuatro Christian School. Anthony is a great kid. I can honestly say I've never had any problems with him in class. He is completely obedient, a hard worker, loves to laugh and have fun, a little bit shy, and is always kind to all the other kids.

His mother works at the school/church cleaning and cooking, so even when school is out, you can often find Anthony hanging around the building. I also see him walking/wandering around the street a lot.

A few months ago I saw Anthony wearing his school shoes on the weekend (a dressier black pair of shoes). I asked him where his tschinelas (flip flops) were. Shaking his hand (wala) to signal that he didn't have any, he smiled and moved on. The next day I brought him to the chilren's home storage unit and found him a pair of bright green tschinelas that fit just right.

Anthony's dad isn't in the picture (typical for many Filipinos), his mother works hard to feed and support the family, while living in a squatters home in the community.

Maybe it's due in part to his sober demeanor, but I always get a little sad for Anthony. I'm sad that he has no dad around, especially in his teenage years. I'm sad that he doesn't get to go home and play in his backyard with his friends. I'm sad that odds are he doesn't have any running water at his home, sleeps on a mat on the floor, and his toilet is a hole in the ground.


But Anthony's situation isn't an isolated one. The Metro Manila area is packed full of 3 million squatters. People whose lives closely resemble that of Anthony's... struggling just to get by.

Right outside our door, 5,000 squatters live in the area that we call home: Cuatro Community. We may not be able to feed/help all 5,000 at once. But a tschinela here, a meal there, some clothes thrown in, vitamins distributed daily, a smile and wave to the half naked little boy sitting on the curb... and we can be Jesus to all those who God places in our path each and every day.

CCS Christmas Program

The last day of classes before winter break were on Thursday, December 17th. The following day, Friday the 18th, all the students and parents gathered for a Christmas Program!

Pastor Ray started the day off by blessing us with a short message on the meaning of Christmas. Afterwards, the different grades took turns performing skits, songs, and dances for all those in attendance! From preschool all the way up to fifth grade, our students shared the joy of Christmas and the love of a Savior with their families and the Cuatro Community--the teachers even sang a Christmas carol a cappella!





And what Christmas program would be complete without food?!? To wrap up the morning program, pancit, spaghetti, rice, and juice boxes were handed out to all in attendance!



A Very Merry Christmas indeed!

He Makes Amazing Things Happen

The school made an announcement that text cards (small playing cards) are no longer allowed in the school. I had a small talk with the grade two students about it. I explained that I know how important these things are for them because they invested their money and time in order to have them. However, I made a great emphasis that these things are not going to do them good. I told them that they need to trust us (their teachers) about matters like these. I assured them that we love them so much that is why we would do our best to guide them towards their growth in their relationship with the Lord. These cards have with them images that do not promote the beauty of God’s creation. I encouraged them to invest on things that are eternal rather than temporal. We ended our small talk and agreed that they would no longer bring them in school and I told them that I would not force them to give them all to me because I want them to make a decision regarding this matter.

Days passed by. Then one day I went to the class 2 room and saw these cards. I felt awful inside and I must admit that I was very uncomfortable knowing that dealing with an issue like this would take much time and might lead to uncontrollable emotional expressions coming from specific students. I must say that dealing with whatever kind of issues is never easy for a young teacher who just started teaching 7 months ago. For the past months, I encountered issues that made me realize how hard it is to deal with them. I am, in a way, aware of the possible outcomes of dealing with issues like shouting, crying, and other stuffs alike. But I know that issues should never left unsettled especially that the goal of our school is to make sure that the children would know Christ more in their daily lives.

To be honest, I had no idea what to do (like I always do). I was very silent. I took a chair and sat at the front as I try to earnestly seek God. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to minister to these children. Back in my school, our teacher in counseling always reminded us that we can rely on God in moments like these – that we can seek Him and He will meet us right where we ought to be. I know that the Lord would help me like what He has been doing for the past 7 months of my teaching. I sat there, very silent, and talked less about the agreement that we had. I sat there wondering what might happen, waiting for what the Lord has to do.

Then a student came up to me, gave me a handful of these cards. I slowly took the box of trash and tore them one by one. As I did that, I feel awful inside knowing that these things are important for them. But I would never be prepared for what happened next. Another student came up to me and out from his pocket came a great amount of text cards. All the more my heart cried as I held in my hands more. I took time tearing everything. I thought it was over. I was still not finished with the second batch of playing cards when another student came up and gave every card he has. I was so shocked to see so much. And I felt worse inside. I was holding my tears as I try to think how hard it is for them to do this.

But the Lord even more surprised me that day, my students came up to me and helped me tear the texts cards, their text cards and it was really funny because they started laughing (like what they love to do). As I try to look at them, I realized how powerful God is in the lives of these students. Once again, I found myself in a position wherein I was the one being ministered with instead of me ministering to them. That day, the Lord made me realize the reality of laying down what’s important for His glory.

I am privileged to be there at that point and see them respond in a very positive way. Up until now, that event still brings tears in my eyes and joy in my heart.

I am not sure if they would stop playing and collecting playing cards, what I am sure of is the reality of God working in their lives progressively. They might not be that perfectly consistent in their daily application of God’s truth, but I have faith that our God is alive and He has amazing ways to show His glory to us and also to these young hearts.

That day marked as an important event in my life as a teacher. The Lord reminded me that life is beautiful and life is worth living for His glory. He reminded me that He is amazing; thus, He can make amazing things happen. He showed me the impossible in so many ways. He taught me all the more about life. I went to this school to be an instrument by God, but most of the time, I found myself being ministered more by these children. Indeed, everything in life when lived for Him will never be predictable and boring – To God be the Glory!

Teacher Kim Aranas

Oh Night Divine, the Night when Christ was Born

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the Christmas music. I just love Christmas carols! In all honesty, without Christmas carols, I don't think it would feel very much like Christmas to me at all. It's kind of a package deal!

So for over a month I've been listening to and thinking about some popular Christmas songs. Other than a few I had to cut out of my playlist this year (I'll be home for Christmas, Home for the Holidays, etc) I've been enjoying some of the classics, such as: Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, and many other favorites.

And today I was looking at the words a little more closely than usual. I think people often don't even realize what they are singing when it comes to Christmas music. Because let's be honest... if they did, they probably wouldn't be singing it! Most of the popular Christmas Carols are about JESUS. What a concept! Christmas music about Christ?!? Check out some of the words below from some popular Christmas Carols. Notice the words in green from each song... notice a trend?

Away in a Manger: "Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head..."

Mary's Boy Child: "...and in a manger cold and dark, Mary's little boy was born..."

What Child is this?: "Why lies he in such a mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?

Gentle Mary Laid her Child: "Gentle Mary laid her child, lowly in a manger..."

Do you Hear what I Hear?: "A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold..."

This Christmas is my first Christmas away from family, which can be a little sad at times (hence the banning of certain Christmas songs)... but it does me good to stop and think of these songs. We celebrate Christmas because it is the day that Christ came into the world. But the first Christmas, the honored guest (Christ) was in a cold, dark, lowly manger suitable for the animals.... not very honorable at all!

This Christmas, I am thankful for those that I do get to spend Christmas with. I'm thankful for the kids, who don't get to spend ANY day with their families, let alone Christmas! I'm thankful that they are my family in Christ, and that we can celebrate His birth together. And I'm thankful for the other volunteers here at K.I.M. who are spending their Christmas with the kids as well.

Wherever you are this Christmas, and whoever you are with this Christmas, I pray that our minds would be focused on the perfect, holy, gracious Christ... who came into this frustrating, dirty, sin-infested world to be born into a cold, dirty, smelly manger, so that one day you and I could have HOPE, JOY, and a FUTURE. Remember this as you enjoy some lovely Christmas carols this season!

OH HOLY NIGHT:
Oh Holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Christie Albaugh

Kaibigan Ko

"Kaibigan Ko" translates to "my friend." And whenever I see this young man I greet him with these words!

His name is Manny, and he lives in Cuatro, the squatters area right outside our door. I've never been to his home, but through talking to Manny and to others, I've been able to find out some information about him and his family. Manny lives at home with his father and his older sister-- technically speaking. In all reality, he is his own caregiver. His mother left the family, his father is rarely around (and usually drunk when he is there), and his older sister isn't much help either.

Manny lives on the street. He wears grungy, dirty, ripped clothes. He has no place to shower. He has no one looking out for him. He stays out late at night. And he only eats when given food from others.

Thankfully, Manny has found love and care through a local church which we call the JCCV (Jesus Christ Church in the Valley). This church, which is next door to our guest house, a partner in ministry with K.I.M., and location of our elementary school (CCS), has stepped up and done exactly what the church is called to do-- help those in need!

Manny has been enrolled in our CCS school in the preschool class (a morning program). And in the afternoons, he comes to the elementary school and hangs out there. He also comes to church and attends Sunday school every week. And can often be seen visiting the YMC guesthouse many days of the week.

Manny's story is not a rare one. There are hundreds, even thousands of kids in the Cuatro community and surrounding areas that live life just like Manny... kids with parents who don't do their job as parents, eating one meal a day, no toothbrush, no showers, no shoes, and worst of all-- no one to show them love.

What a wonderful opportunity and blessing we have been given to reach out to little ones like Manny. As the church, as individuals, as members of the body of Christ.... who else could we be reaching out to today in the name of Jesus?

"let the little ones come unto me..."

Matthew 19:14

Christie Albaugh

Nanny Number Two

i had the great opportunity of being able to come to K.I.M. this summer and being a "nanny" for the nursery kids for a couple of months. When i left in July i was not sure if i would ever get to make the big trip back over to see the kids and staff that i had gotten to know during the summer. After talking with my parents we decided this a trip back to Manila would be a great Christmas present!

As I landed in the Manila airport i became really anxious because I didnt know if anybody would really even remember that i was here just a few months ago. Walking up to the orphanage for the first time again was exciting though! When i walked into the nursery one of the little girls ran up to me and hugged me. The older kids knew exactly who I was and even though some of the nursery kids did not know exactly who i was, it did not take long to pick right back up from where we left off and start having fun together again.

Even though it made me happy that they had not all forgotten me, it was sort of a sad realization that these kids really do understand their circumstances. They understand when people come and go and they understand that i went home to my family while they stayed in the exact same setting at the childrens home. Coming back again really just made me realize that the people that do spend time with these children really are influencing the kids life whether they realize it or not. Everybody on staff and every volunteer truly does influence the children in the home!

Volunteering in Malaybalay

Maayong buntag (which means good morning in Cebuano).

This is one of the many phrases the kids at KIM Malaybalay have taught us. We have been at the home as volunteers for a month now and expect to be here for two more months. Primarily we take care of the two babies, three toddlers, and three girls. This does not mean that we can’t play with the other kids, all of which happen to be boys! This gender imbalance can sometimes be a bit tough on the few girls, so they enjoy having us around.

We “work” at the orphanage four days a week, which is very nice. That way we also have some time to “explore” the town and meet with friends.

When we first came to the orphanage we got a nice, big welcome from the kids and staff, which straight away helped us to feel a part of the family. We were surprised to see how happy and friendly the kids are. They enjoy us playing games or reading stories with them and are very thankful for just being pushed on the swings.

Asides from all the fun and endearing times, there are of course some hectic moments… when, for example, both babies are crying and needing diapers changed, which starts the little kids to crying as well. And as some of these are not yet potty trained, there can be quite a bit of cleaning up to do.

Then again this is just the way it is with helping kids, and without some hectic moments, where would be the challenge?

However, we have given up playing soccer with the older boys as the game typically turns into laughter as they watch Ate (Tagalog for older sister) run after the ball. We must say they are quite good at that game.

Just recently a friend of the orphanage had his birthday and decided to celebrate it with the kids by inviting them to a Jollibee party (the Filipino version of McDonalds). Apart from the ones who got scared of the big mascot bee, the kids really enjoyed playing games with Jollibee.

So far volunteering at the orphanage has been a wonderful experience, and we are looking forward to the remaining two months of our time here.

Lea and Sina

Who's the Biggest Turkey?

We at K.I.M have so much to be thankful for that we couldn't help but have a nice big "family" Thanksgiving Dinner!

So on December 1st (better late than never), families and individual missionaries from around Manila spent hours in the kitchen preparing food for over fifty people! Over 40lbs of potatoes were peeled, cooked, mashed and mixed. Four big bowls of sweet potatoes were made. 2 big pots of stuffing were prepared. Gravy overflowed. A green bean casserole graced the table. Cranberries and rolls filled in the cracks. And 7 pumpkin pies, 2 apple pies, brownies, ice cream, chocolate cake, cherry coffee cake, and whipped cream made the meal complete.

And of course, no thanksgiving would be complete--or even count as Thanksgiving--without THE TURKEY! So in preparation for this day, Jeff and myself sought out the perfect turkeys, weeks in advance. While each visiting the states in early November, Jeff and I did the unthinkable... we loaded a frozen turkey into our carry-ons and brought Thanksgiving dinner back to the Philippines!

I was the first to bring a turkey back. I was told to bring the biggest I could find. I ended up with a 21 pound turkey. It was a long travel day carrying that turkey from Los Angeles to Taiwan to Manila, but we made it safe and sound! A couple weeks later, it was Jeff's turn. Before going he told me that he would beat my 21 pound turkey and take home the biggest turkey crown. Though he claims no responsibility for the choosing of the turkey (or sharing of the contest details with others), he was given a 22 pound turkey to bring back to the Philippines from a supporting team in Minnesota.


Therefore, it is only fair to admit (in a public setting) that Jeff Long has won the crown of the biggest turkey. Congratulations!

And a Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!
Christie Albaugh

Mt. Moriah Saturday fellowship Christmas party, will you help?

Adding Thailand to the list.......

More than four weeks have passed since the destructive typhoons hit Manila and K.I.M. became involved in relief efforts here. During this time, people from New Zealand, Taiwan, United States and the Philippines have made huge efforts in sharing the love of Jesus with suffering people.

This week we added Thailand to the list. A group of ambitious students and staff from Grace International School in Chang Mai, Thailand, who were visiting nearby Faith Academy for a volleyball tournament, wanted to get in on the relief effort.

Here’s a report from Jessica Williams, one of our K.I.M. staff members, who joined in with the Thailand contingent:

“Earlier this week students from Grace International School joined us on our morning feeding program. Half of the group went to an evacuation center where flood victims have been living for over a month now as their homes are still waist-deep in water. Upon our arrival at the crowded gymnasium that has been converted to a living area for about 300 families, children and mothers came running up with their bowls, lining the steps waiting for their food. As soon as you walk past these steps you see rows and rows of sheets hanging up to provide some sort of living space for these families. It is a lot for anyone to take in, and these high school kids who had just arrived that morning responded with such amazing love and enthusiasm! They were so eager to serve and to connect with this Filipino community. It was also an encouragement to look out over the evacuation center from the bleachers and see the bright colors of our K.I.M. shirts all over the gymnasium. There were groups of people passing out food, taking pictures, praying, talking, and even playing chess. I was so blessed to see the willing and compassionate hearts of these students. It's easy to get caught up in the routine of what we are doing here, but the response of the Grace students to those they saw hurting was a refreshing reminder of God's heart for the Filipino people.” (Jessica Williams)

Wow! What an outstanding group of young people. As the students toured the community, schools, the Children’s Home and ministry centers, questions abounded as they realized the potential within themselves to come back some day to impact the people or to do the same right there in Chang Mai. In fact, this visit might result in a double-edged sword as we consider partnering with Carl and Laurie Ralston of Remembernhu who are actively involved in building several Children's Homes in their home region, including Chang Mail, Thailand.

It is very rewarding to see so many people from around the world joining the effort to keep kids out of harm’s way.

Wowed again after another great day,
Jeff

The Ref Blessing

A number of months ago, Sarah and I moved into a wonderful house in Malaybalay and I came furnished. Included in that was a older small refrigerator, functional, but it needed to be defrosted a couple times a week. A friend was over one day as the defrosting process began, and they said we really needed a new ref, and they would be willing to help purchase it. So we were given 20,000 pesos toward new one. At that point, they also said why don't I pitch in 10K myself and make sure to get a good one. Although I had the 10,000, that's all of our "extra" money for the month of November. Spending it all at the beginning of the month and having nothing for just in case was a little hard. But, we figured it was worth it, how else could we get a 30K ref for 10k? A few days later another friend, Rory, and I went to CDO to go shopping. At the first mall we found a couple that were what we were shopping for, and almost went ahead and bought one for 32K. We then decided we should go ahead and go to the other mall just to be diligent in looking for all our options. Upon walking to the ref section there, a sales guys said come here, 50% off on this ref. We had a look, and it was a Panasonic 14 CF priced at 35,000. Half of made it 17,500. It was sitting next to the new model that had just come in and was at the same price point, but slightly larger, so they were selling off their last few at half off, and having just marked them down in the last few hours, now there was only one left. It more than met our needs, and with the "extra" few pesos, I also purchased a microwave and pressure cooker for Sarah, both things she had said she wanted whenever we had extra money. For me, it was just a blessing from God saying, don't worry about tomorrow, follow in faith and I will provide beyond what you could have imagined. So thanks guys for blessing us and helping me step into the windows of blessing from Him.

Be encouraged,

Jeremy

Rebuilding

Typhoons come and go…, international news headlines come and go…, the suffering continues. Kids International Ministries has never before been involved with extended relief work. In the past, in the aftermath of such storms, we were accustomed to the problems of flooding in a big city of congested canals, rivers, and streets: people need help, roads need cleaned off, the river banks that were hours before overflowing recede, and the ebb and flow of living in this country goes on. Normally we just help pick up the pieces and allow folks to move on with their lives. Not this time… The typhoons left a path of destruction that will not soon be forgotten. Why? The water remains and will for several more weeks; people, friends, strangers, kids, and old folks are left in stagnant, disease-ridden water that won't leave their homes, streets, and back yards. People are hurting, suffering, dying. This is not something you can turn your back on and hope they will come out ok. We are sharing devotions, food, supplies, vitamins, and medicines, and imploring people to continue to help. Help is coming…another food container is on its way as the one we received in August, which usually lasts our efforts for 9-10 months, will be depleted in a few weeks. Servers are coming. Some we know, some only God knows. One such case was a Filipina Christian nurse who, after seeing our province under water and the people in pain, Googled and found our website, emailed, and WOW—God gave us a volunteer nurse for the next 4 months! Other God-sent people have arrived from Canada, Taiwan, New Zealand, and of course Filipinos helping Filipinos. Old friends from the U.S., Hong Kong, and Korea are returning to lend additional help. God is good and is drawing people to His Son who suffered the most by dying for us on the cross. Our message of hope remains, and so we continue to bring God's restoring relief plan. Jeff for the countless people who are helping

Pastor Ray

A favorite word of mine for years in raising our kids was the idea of “balance.” Today my kids often hear me talk about “doing their part.” Short-term teams or missionaries who arrive in the Philippines typically hear the same theme as I joke with them about exploiting their God-given talents during their time of service. The truth is that all of us have passions and gifts God has given us to use for His kingdom.

While we have many friends around these islands, one of my favorite groups of people are the Provincial Pastors. These guys live on nothing. It’s flat out amazing to see their homes, churches, empty pockets, and empty cupboards. The people they serve usually have little "materially" as well, and yet they are very content, very happy people. I guess that’s why I love hanging with them.

As an example, Pastor Ray travels over 12 hours from the north to visit us each month. He comes to serve and share God's word with our construction guys, encourage me, go to my son Kirk's games, and teach our children's home kids how to garden. A few months ago our “Magnificent Seven” construction crew was able to bless Pastor Ray and his family by building them a new home in about seven days. It was our way of thanking him for what he does faithfully each month as he shares God’s word and disciples our men and our kids.

Pastor Ray is definitely doing his part and playing a key role.

World Compassion Network

Partnering with great people and organizations yields great results. Please help Joe, Josh, and Clark help more people around the world.

World Compassion Network

Typhoon Ondoy Stats........

Many people have been asking about the people in our area that have been impacted by the recent typhoons to hit the Philippines....

Our organization, family and friends have established six feeding/medical stations for the purpose of on going relief work. Many experts are saying the water in the flooded areas will not recede until January. We are committed to helping these areas all the while working with local Pastors, churches and govt offices to insure they get the credit and God gets the glory... Even through suffering God can bring Jesus to the hearts of people...

Thanks for praying,

Jeff

Here are a few things I found from this article: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173548/ndcc-puts-ondoy-damage-at-p48-b-death-toll-at-277

Tropical storm "Ondoy" (international name Ketsana) caused an estimated P4.8 billion in damage across the Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Thursday.

In its latest report, the NDCC also pegged the number of fatalities to 277. The death toll is expected to rise pending reports from local government officials.

According to the NDCC, more than half a million people - or 686,699 persons to be exact - were affected and are now staying at 726 evacuation centers.

The extent of damage was broken down as follows: P1.59 billion for infrastructure and P3.216 billion for agriculture.

A total of 4,644 houses were damaged, more than half of them totally destroyed.

Last Saturday, Ondoy brought unprecedented rainfall in the metropolis of 341 millimeters in the first six hours alone, breaking the record for the highest 24-hour rainfall of 334 mm in Metro Manila in June 1967.




Missionaries Marilyn and Jessica are meeting the needs of lots of kids and adults.... Keep praying for their strength as they lead the charge.

Short Term Missions Matter!

It’s been over a week now since the typhoon hit and left unthinkable numbers of people flooded out, displaced or dead. These are not easy times for these people. These are not easy times for relief efforts either—not that we have anything to complain about. God saw fit months ago to line up a team from New Zealand to arrive a day after the storm, and as they transition on to help another ministry, a group from Taiwan has arrived for a week's worth of work.



Short-term teams continue to play a huge role in what Kids International Ministries is able to do in the Philippines. We see passionate people using their God-given abilities to impact our Children's Homes, schools, and the surrounding communities; now the circle of love has increased as we give out water, food, vitamins, clothes, etc. in Jesus’ name.

Had it not been for these two teams, our efforts would have been minimal. We simply did not have the human resources to sustain what these folks have accomplished and will yet accomplish. God's timing was perfect months ago as we planned the dates for these arrivals.



God's plans for your adventure to the Philippines is perfect also. If you have the time, we have the cause. People need help in Manila today and in the days and weeks to come.

Won't you join us?
Jeff

The Flood

As you may already know, last weekend brought one of the worst floods in the history of the Philippines. More rain fell in metro Manila and surrounding regions in nine hours on Saturday than the entire amount Hurricane Katrina dumped on New Orleans in 2005. In fact, the nine hours of rain exceeded Manila's usual rainfall in the entire month of September! In just NINE hours!

One of the worst hit areas in Manila was Cainta, where Kids International Ministries is located. Thankfully, no one at our organization was hurt or severely affected by the flood. We have been able to recover fairly quick and instead are focusing our time on helping those who were hit hard by the flooding. The Philippines is already one of the poorest countries in the world, making relief efforts even more difficult as hundreds of thousands of families have lost everything they own.



We at KIM have begun our relief efforts right in our community, which is called Cuatro Community (named for the golf course that borders it). Tuesday morning, over thirty people joined in at KIM to help those in need. A diverse group of people, foreign volunteers, some of our older kids from the home, the Long family, other local missionaries displaced from their homes, and several of our Filipino staff members all worked together with one goal: to help those who needed it most. To be the hands and the feet of Christ! What a beautiful picture it was, to see so many different people unified by a purpose: to feed the hungry.

We went out in groups, handing out 500 meal tickets to women and children around the community. Then we spent most of the morning preparing the food... cutting, peeling, and chopping vegetables, mixing, rolling, and baking meatballs, and cooking tons and tons of rice! Then between 12 noon and 1:30pm, we fed these people, gave vitamins out to all the kids, and along with the help of Marilyn, our nurse, offered medical help as well.



As with any major disaster, such as this, it will take time to rebuild. Hundreds of thousands of people need to rebuild their homes, cars have been completely filled with water and are not working, people's belongings have floated away and disappeared, trash and mud line the streets, and hundreds of people have lost their loved ones.

Please keep praying for the Philippines during this trying time! Pray for those who were severely affected by the floods and pray for opportunities for us to reach out and help our community! Also pray that the next 2 storms that are supposed to come in this weekend are SMALL and do not further damage people's homes.

To see pictures of the floods and our relief efforts, please check out the website!

1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

By land and by sea: The Road trip

It all started with a casual conversation with Jeff Long, the director of K.I.M. It went something like this; “Monday we’ve got a truckload of supplies headed down to Mindanao. It is a 3 day drive through beautiful countryside…”
“Really? 3 days through the Philippines?”
A nod.
“Is there any way I can get involved with that?”
Another nod.
“Alright, sign me up.”
58 hours, three major Islands, over 1,700 Kilometers, two ferry rides—all nonstop—altogether amount to the road trip of a lifetime.

Jun, Jesse and myself just spent 58 hours traveling from Manila to Malaybalay city. We transported a truckload of supplies from the YunJin Ministry center in Manila to the Children’s home in Malaybalay. We got off to a slow start Monday night, but once the alternator was fixed (it powers the lights) there was no looking back. We then spent the next three days venturing through beautiful countryside. Winding through village after village, jungle after jungle, I experienced the Philippines first hand. We only stopped a few times to eat in make shift restaurants, which were really people serving and selling food out of their homes. We would eat our “cinigan” or “adobo” with a plate of rice and a glass of coca-cola while we left the truck running. Besides that we did stop one morning to take a shower, or more like paid a woman to use her hose and bucket. However, amidst the mad-dash there were some enjoyable moments of pause. One night on our second ferry I stood on the top deck against the railing admiring a partly cloudy sky, bright stars, lightning in the distance and I remember thinking to myself “do you realize where you are?”—moments were all you can do is stand in awe (ps. 46:10).




58hrs later we arrived at 6am to Pal-ing, Malaybalay. The trip was one for the books.


(Continued series from Joe who spent the summer volunteering in Manila)

Isabella: Trip to the North of Luzon

I never intended to travel to the Northern Province of Isabella. I did not even know about Isabella. But when I met Pastor Rey at the YunJin Ministry Center in Manila, I could not turn down his invitation to see his Province. A plane ride later I found myself in the province of Isabella, the most rural place I had traveled to in the Philippines. I stayed with Pastor Rey in his home. During the four days I was there I traveled to four different churches speaking and sharing my testimony of how Christ came into my life. The four days in the rural farmlands can be summarized in one word: unforgettable. Here is a little bit from my experience....


I slept all night to the drizzle of rain on the sheet metal roof. The rain cooled the air down, making it fresh. I woke up early and had a quick breakfast. I drew water from the well for my shower and added boiled water to warm it up a bit. The service was not until 9am but left around 8am to be sure we had enough time to catch a ferry across the other river to Santa Maria, even though it is only 10 miles from the house to the church. The bridge we had crossed just 2 days earlier was no longer visible...the ferry was interesting. All 25 passengers loaded on, motor bikes and all into the 30ft motor boat. We chugged along about a foot above water. I learned firsthand why locals do not swim in the river during rainy season. I think the 5+ mile an hour current and slimy foam would make me second guess as well. The motor almost gave out a few times, which didn't seem to bother the man emptying out buckets of water that had leaked into the boat. We got to the bank, jumped out and jumped into the next mode of transportation--a trike. Rey, his family, myself, about three other people and the driver piled onto the scooter with re-bar side car then we arrived to the concrete chapel in Santa Maria 15 after 9. Worship was a mix of English and the local dialect. I shared what I had prepared; speaking as clearly as I possibly could. After the service we gathered behind the chapel at the Pastors make-shift living area and enjoyed lunch. We finished our lunch and then gathered back in the chapel to close for the day. The congregation of Living Springs Community Church demonstrated their appreciation for my visit when they asked to pray for me before I left. So, the pastor and his deacons gathered around me and we prayed. We embraced and said our farewells. Isabella how can I forget you!?

(Continued series from Joe who spent the summer volunteering in Manila)

The Boys: Daily Life in Manila

Meet the Boys. When I have not been spending time in the Provinces, or road trippin', I have been in Manila pulling 8-to-5's with the Boy's. I have become good friends with the construction workers in Manila. K.I.M. has done an excellent job in ministering to the needs of the local squatter community in many ways, and one has been to create jobs for some of the Filipino men in the area--the construction workers. Witnessing these 20+ men in action has been a privilege. They are skilled carpenters, electricians, and masons. Their work ethic is incredible. Every morning they arrive at 8am and leave at 5pm. They work Monday through Saturday. I have not seen one guy miss a day, and they all seemingly enjoy what they do.

Being able to work side-by-side with this group of guys has been an honor to me, and much fun. The day never goes without a joke and a laugh. We come together with humor. We usually admonish each other sarcastically yelling "Malupiton!" (This can mean champion or a kid who needs to be disciplined). We also pass time by singing. It starts with one guy softly singing a Beatles song or Michael Jackson then it builds into three to four guys belting out the chorus.

We laugh together, we work together, and we take time to read together. Beginning in the middle of July we began to have bible study everyday for a half an hour after lunch. Around 1pm we gather around, they read the selected verses in Tagalog and I use Tag-lish. After each trip upon my return they have always asked me, "Joe. Bible study today?" These are my boys.



(Continued series from Joe who spent the summer volunteering in Manila)