Jul 12, 2013

Real life is messy

Over the last several weeks we have dealt with some pretty heavy issues at the Jesan Center.
Without going into much detail here is a short list of some of the issues:

Sickness
Stealing
Molestation 
Rape
Murder 


Our sweet 9-15 year old kids have witnessed, been a victim of, experienced or committed the above list. 

When we started this work about two years ago I just thought we would help get some kids fed and possibly into school. While those facts hold true, I failed to realize that when you invest in peoples/kids lives you invest in every part of their lives. You rejoice with them in the happy times. You mourn with them in the sad. You counsel them when things get hard. You love them when they do wrong. 
I was talking with a friend and he reminded me that without the Jesan Center a lot of these kids would be going through this messy thing called life alone. For that fact, I am thankful for this amazing and difficult journey God has put us on. 

We will press on. Even in the hard times. God is good. God will prevail. 

After this months events it is even more apparent that the Jesan Center needs to become a non-profit and open a children's home. This is a very expensive undertaking here in the Philippines and it will take all of us pulling together to make this a reality. 
With the opening of our children's home our precious kids will no longer suffer the harsh realities of street living; No longer witness murder, be victims of molestation and rape, no longer be tempted to steal and will have the proper care to ward of sickness. 

In order to make this vision a reality we need lots of prayers, money and help. 
Pray: Pray that God would continue to work in the Jesan Center and provide for all its needs
Money: We need a few thousand dollars in order to start this. 
Help: We need volunteers who can help us with all the legal stuff that comes with making a non-profit. We also need volunteers at the Center ... people who can help counsel the kids, people who can have fun with the kids, people who know the DSWD system here. 

Please consider partnering with us to make a positive difference in the lives of these children.

Love and Peace.