As in previous years, we were able to visit the Philippines in June/July this year also. During our time we dedicated much time to the work at the Kingdom Message Ministry (KMM) School. It was the second week into the students’ new school year so it was a very busy time for everyone. The first day was spent with giving health and hygienic teachings in each of the classes, conducting four interviews with the older students, and doing administrative work with Marissa, the principal, Cherry, our administrator, and Allan, our guidance counselor.
Overall, with each of our team members doing their assigned task, we had a very good and fruitful day of work. We marveled at the overall operation of the school and the dedication of our school staff. They are doing an excellent job and we do appreciate our administrator, Cherry, and our principal, Marissa, whose oversight has brought such an orderly and smooth running school operation to pass. To say the least we were/are very blessed. As an additional blessing we also had a wonderful time of lunch and fellowship with the staff during the noon time.
To those of you that have sponsored children, we want to encourage you as well as assure you that your children are getting the best education from the sacrifices and the offerings that you have given. These children (from the poorest of the poor) are being redeemed from lives that would otherwise put them on the street or, at best, would have fallen through the cracks of humanity that would have put their level of schooling on a sub-par level. In each of the grades a number of them are on the honor roll and the vast majority of our students maintain at least an 80 percentile level of achievement. That is almost unheard of when you realize that most of the students’ living conditions are, comparable to ours, often quite severe, both on the social level as well as their natural living environment. The school does not only focus upon the children, but it also produces a major change in the parents as well. Many of the parents have given their lives to the Lord and, as a result of that change, are actively involved with the school to see that their children excel in their attendance and studies. It is difficult for us to express to you how exceedingly blessed we are and how wonderful it is to see so many of these children grow up in the past 5 to 6 years – from kindergarten all the way up to the current level of 6th grade. They are maturing into many fine young men and women.
That following afternoon we went to the fellowship that meets at the KMM School on Sunday afternoon. The meeting was filled with many parents and children from the school. To our great surprise, in honor of our coming many of the parents brought gifts of all types of fruits. There was a presentation ceremony in which the parents and children presented these gifts of fruit to us as representing all the sponsors who have been supporting their children. The quantity of the gifts filled a long table. We were so blessed to see them give what little they had in their desire to bless those who have been supporting their children.
On a side note, every year the Parent’s Association volunteers a project as a way of saying thank you for the KMM School support for their children. This year they are planning to cement the rough dirt and rock floor that is in front of the stage area. It is quite a large area yet they want to supply not only the materials, but the labor for it as well. It will be quite an undertaking and we look forward to the finished project. It is a great blessing to see the parents contribute back to the school with this gift of appreciation.
In closing, we believe it has been a very fruitful and productive time here in the Philippines. We also want to thank each of you for your support. We are eternally grateful to each of you.