Questions
Three weeks ago I held a fat and chubby one month old baby in my arms………she was beautiful,the baby seemed quiet and content, the mother said she was sick with asthma. We all prayed for her and told her to go for her checkup as she had not as yet…the baby was born at home in the slums with no qualified midwife, no proper medical care and no after baby care…..
The NEXT day this sweet baby was dead
Words are not sufficient,
The tide of helplessness is shocking, what really am I doing to bring change to this community…..is it lasting?
Not that I am despairing NO not all
BUT you have to evaluate and examine what you do and if it really matters!!
Long term change, not a short term fix!
I walked past a shelter a week ago, there were men and women doing a feeding program (a bowl of porridge I think), now in itself that is ok, but I question the LONG TERM profit of such practices……..a full belly for a day yes BUT tomorrow hungry again!
Better to give a man a fishing rod and teaching him how to fish than giving a fish, well that is what I think anyway!
Pedicabs provide income on a long term, the families involved here in the program live better and have a more positive outlook on life (Christian or non), they are changed and they are lifted higher……self esteem and will to live improve. To me the contract between a bowl of porridge and a pedicab is obvious!!
Think about where your money and time and money are spent, look and examine the spiritual and long term impact, you do not have to be in a developing country to make an impact, just question longevity and impact!!
Mother to the Motherless
This Post is dedicated to the Spiritual and Physical Mother of the Baseco church Nani-Christine…..she is an unsung hero to this community……she counsels, advises, cares for, patches up and bandages, she administers money, milk and medicines, she loves and hugs, chastises and teaches, she really is a Nana to this motherless people………I have tasted a little of her responsibilities for 2 -3 weeks and I can only stand in awe of her and say Thank you God for this women Chris the Mother to the Mothers and Fathers in Baseco……
The Bible says that Teachers (and Preachers I may add) are in abundance…….but Fathers are few, Fathers and Mothers in the Lord are rare, people who actually take the time and yards to be with the people, live amongst the flock and nurture and care for them, model and train the younger generation…..not only physically but spiritually.
Simply the people love her because she loves them, this is what the church is about, this is a true model.
Love ya Chris…enjoy the photos of Prince Gabriel…….
PS This baby was a long awaited for baby of Irene and Bonovic, Irene is a leader in the church and Bonovic is a pedicab driver. Chris and Irene were waiting for this baby!! Irene also gave her baby the name that Chris coined for him during pregnancy Prince!!!
Enjoy the photos Chris, she is such a sweet mum Chris you would be proud of her……..she is breastfeeding perfectly and he is already bigger……he is going to be chubby!! A child and mother of promise!!
PPS Please note the Mozzie COT!!! and Sarah and I bought the swing for the washing days as Vic calls it!!
PPPS Not that she is washing much everytime I see Bonovic he is scrubbing!!! Hee hee
Action for Communities
Here is a photo of James and co building a shelter for washing sitting and playing……simple but useful, it is opposite the Prayer House
Our House
Our House In The Middle of Our Street…….I am a Madness Fan from years ago.
Well technically it is not OUR house but we are borrowing it from Mark and Chris, bless em
It is simple but a palace compared to the houses 5 min way……we have cool tiles, a shower, a toilet and one air conditioned room……bliss
We are ON TOP of each other, only 2 bedrooms BUT we have survived and adjusted after LOTS of attitude changes and give and take. Simple living, no TV, we have a computer and watch some videos but we are really doing it simple compared with home……..
I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT MY GORGEOUS WOOD KITCHEN AGAIN!!!
- Our kitchen, fridge and gas hot plates…..all important fan!
- The door on the left is our BIG hmmmm bathroom with a shower and toilet in one shower next to the loo with no curtain etc. But great shower, cold and refreshing!!
- Our study (the table) and our bedroom on the living room floor!!
- Our Living room, seats on left and a SOFA BED literally on the right
- Stairs up, the curtain on the left is the storage sys, medicines mainly , we have a bout 1/3 of it for food books for school etc…..our front door and barred entrance area very safe and secure. We padlock each night etc
- Sarah and Esther’s room, only very small and fits bunkbeds that is all, Sarah stashed her posters and photos and decorated immediately!! The 4 boys are all in one room but they have air conditioner…..it does not have windows. Sarah has a window and a nice breeze.
- Our blessed balcony, cool and refreshing breezes…..we watch the world pass by…..
- The views from our balcony
- Our extended view with Manila City in the background through the wires!!
Aussie Flood Relief
Hi Folks just a quick post to show you the Video fro ACC about the floods, great footage and shows what sort of change we can make if we put our minds and hearts to it!! Blessings Cath
Why We Do What We Do?
- You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for others – something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.
- Albert Schweitzer
French philosopher & physician (1875 – 1965)
Flood Updates
Here are some images Mark and James took of the flood victems in Manila recently, scary considering the flood was 3 weeks ago, still dead animals, rubbish and rubble and people with nothing…………Mark wrote this a week ago
These pictures were taken today, Friday the 1st of October, five days after the floods in Manila. This is is one small area that was severely effected. Cement buildings were completely destroyed, lives were lost and devastated, animals killed and left to rot in the river, which is itself jammed up with rubbish and various other refuse. Hundreds are still missing. Basketball courts have been turned into refuge centres and in some places they are even morgues with coffins lined up.
Some aids has come into this area, but not alot (it could never be enough), some people literally lost everything. Rich and poor were both effected, but the rich will simply rebuy and pay others to clean up for them…the poor will work it out for themselves, they have to.
Check out some of these photos. There are photos that if you look into the trees you will see rubbish, giving you an idea of the height of the water in this area. Other pictures contain dozens of dead animals in the river (you have to look for them, they are not easy to spot, but once you see one, you will be able to find heaps), 100m from this watery tomb, there are mothers washing and kids swimming in water that will soon be incredibly diseased. Some photos just look like a mass of rubble and rubbish, they were actually houses before the flood.
Look at the pictures, pray for the people…what are the needs…everything…
JUST AN UPDATE ON THIS SITUATION THE AOG IN AUST IS DOING A BIG FUNDRAISER FOR TYPHOON ONDOY VICTIMS JN 14:12, WILL BE HELPING THE AOG DISTRIBUTE AND COORDINATE……THAT IS US!!! SO CONTACT YOUR AOG MISSIONS OR STATE OFFICE AND DONATE NOW>>>100% OF YOUR MONEY WILL GET TO THE FLOOD SURVIVORS.
Some More New Friends
- Christine looking glam, Pst Marovic and her husband Marco and their son Andrew.
Here are some of the people in the church………..amazing loving worshipping full on and the happiest people I know!! It is an honour to know them!!
- Precy and Henry……sweet friends
- Pst Mark and Marco
New Look
Here is the new Troup form of transport……however we are so big we cannot fit more than 2 adults on it……our new friends thought we looked hilarious as a couple on the bike……laughing at how we made the wheels sink in the mud and how much the shock absorbers were squeezed when both James and I were on it…………………Thanks guys……..as for Mark………..hmmmmm you wait I will get you back!!!
- What a look……ahhhhhh…..fat joes!!!!
We find the scooter is so handy for scooting into town and getting supplies…….especially if it is rainy etc. James was a great motorbike rider in Australia I am sure his caution and experience will help here…..!!!
