What two years?! How did that happen?

I can hardly believe that TWO years has already passed since we first opened the doors of the Jesan Center in a tiny little two bedroom apartment. We didn’t know what it was going to look like, we didn’t have a solid plan as to what we were doing and we had no idea how God was going to bless this work. The only single thing we did know was that God gave us the vision to open a center for 20 children ... so we did. 

Two years later ... the joys: 

-We are no longer crammed in a small apartment 

-We have a wonderful new location with lots of space 

-We have 6 kids (all siblings) in school and back in their home with their father 

-We now have four team members -- Eva our cook, Nova our teacher, Cheryl our social worker and Noel our intern. 

-We as a team (including you our supporters) are impacting the lives of more that 20 kids on a daily basis 

- We feed 60 plus kids on a weekly basis 

- We have started working with parents of the children we serve 

We have also experienced:

-Death. Since meeting the kids nearly three years ago we have had two children die. 

-Pregnancy. One of our 13 year old girls is pregnant and due in July. She will be giving her baby for adoption, please be praying for her.

-Murder. Many of our children have been witness to and an accessory in murder. 

-Gang activity. Many of the kids that visit the Jesan Center are involved in gangs and sometimes bring the rival to the center. 

There has been much joy and much sadness over the last two years. This is the hardest, most difficult work (besides being a mom) that I have ever done. At times I want to give up, throw in the towel and be done with this stressful job. You want to know what keeps me going?! Here are some reasons. 

Every time someone has to go to the hospital, someone mourns the loss of a friend, someone reads for the first time, every time I see one of my kids sleeping on the street,  every time someone realizes how much love the Jesan Center team has for them, I am encouraged to continue. This work simply can not stop. 

We are so blessed that God gave us this vision and we will continue taking comfort in the fact that anything God does is for good. 

We are a part of His good plan. What an honor and a privilege to know that fact. 

In the next two years we will be making BIG changes with 818 Ministry and the Jesan Center. We have a goal of being a registered non-profit in the States by the end of the year and a goal of being a registered non-profit in Cebu by December 2015. We also have the goal of opening our children’s home by December 2015. 

Lots of big goals ... It might be intimidating and daunting to look at some times but if we look back we are reminded of how we started and know that the future is limitless!! 

Pray with us friends for the future of 818 Ministry and the Jesan Center. 

Thank you for your support and love over the last two years, friends! 

-Caidy 

Relationship

Over the last three years we have meet a precious set of siblings. Two of them are currently in school at Lilias Place and four more of them come to the Jesan Center on a regular basis. Recently we have been able to put the oldest of the 10 siblings (we will call him ‘J.R.’) in an accelerated learning program that is conducted by Lilias Place School. 

We are so excited to be able to help this young 16 year old as we have only been able to give opportunities to his younger siblings since we have known them. A few weeks ago J.R. went to school with his younger brother, J, for the first time. We witnessed an incredible interaction between the two that we have never seen before. 

Lets start with a little background. 

Both boys live mostly on the streets. When we meet them 3 years ago J idolized his older brother J.R. and hung on his every word! However over the last two years J has moved away from his idol and has gone off on his own, spending time with a different group of kids on the streets. These said kids are some what of rival groups, quarreling and stealing from each other. The two groups only get along when at the Jesan Center. 

J and J.R. are part of two different groups now. They no longer act as brothers, they act as rivals. We see it every time they are together with their groups of friends. They put up the ‘tough guy’ act.  

However that one day a few weeks ago changed everything. Ronald and I noticed it right away. The guards were down, there was no tough guy act to hold up and the two that were once enemies instantly became brothers again! Seeing them smile, laugh and joke together it nearly brought tears to my eyes knowing that it is because of the Jesan Center that we see restoration in their relationship. 

It is our hope that they will continue to be brothers. 

Praise God for his amazing work!

Newest 818 ministry team member

# 1 excuse for not blogging in February and March

BabyQ #2 has arrived! Josiah Ben Amaral Quilaton arrived February 26th at 809pm after 12 hours of labor. We are incredibly blessed by our sweet surprise baby! 

Meet the team

Meet the people that keep the Jesan Center going! Without these lovely ladies we would not get anything done, ever. They are a true blessing to 818 Ministry, the Jesan Center and mostly to the kids! 

Eva

Our first team member at the Jesan Center! Eva started in January 2013. She is the cook, grounds keeper and cleaner. She is full of joy and always happy to serve. The kids love her delicious food and she keeps everyone smiling! We are blessed to have her a part of our team. 

Nova

Nova was the next to join our team. She comes to us from Leyte Christian College in Tacloban, Leyte. Nova is the director of the drop in program and she started in August 2013. She prepares and executes the daily activities to fit the specific needs of each child. Along with planning the activities Nova mentors the children and is a great example of what it is like to be Christ. Her silent service is an encouragement to us all. 

Cheryl 

Although Cheryl has volunteered and worked with us since we started the drop in program in August 2013, she is officially part of our team as of January 2014! Cheryl is currently finishing her social work program at one of the local universities. She has a heart for the broken and neglected and it is evident in the way she selflessly serves each and every child that comes through our doors. God blessed us when He guided her to the center!

Matthew 9:37

Have you eaten a meal today?  Changed your clothes and showered? Did you go to school/work? Did you rest your head on a bed last night? Chances are that your answer is yes to most or all of these questions.
For our children at the Jesan Center however the answer is more than likely no. 

Our children have never even been given the opportunity to attend school because of the poverty they were born into. Public schools in the Philippines are not free. Our children, like thousands of others in Cebu will grow up without the basic life essentials such as school.  Sadly, society has shunned them, leaving them no place to fit in except a harsh street life. Thus when they grow, they raise families in the same way.  It’s a vicious cycle, and the children are the victims.  Over the past year, with your help, we were all able to quickly meet the needs of some of these children: giving them a safe place to go, a place to eat, to shower, and to learn basic skills of life.  We continue to use your donations to help many children at the Jesan Center.  We strive to provide them with emotional, spiritual and physical needs as well.  We  provide three meals a week, for 30 kids; and we are currently in an ongoing effort to raise more funds to be able to be open more than just three days.  The need is growing now that the children are positively responding to this outreach .  Unfortunately,  we have to turn away some children daily because we simply do not have enough money to provide for all that come to our door.

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” - Matt. 9:37

 It takes time. 

Time to get into the lives of these children, and to work with them daily. Time to be willing to go and sit on the side of a dirty street with a lonely child. Time to bring a child to the center and show him how to wash his clothes. Time to cook a meal and to feed a hunger pain. Time to give a hug and listen to their young and innocent hearts. Time to show love. It takes time. 

It takes prayer.  

The power of prayer is the biggest way to help.  Please consider using your prayer time to bless this ministry.  God is doing AMAZING things through this work and through YOUR PRAYERS, which gives us strength!

It takes money.

 Under the leadership of Ronald and Caidy Quilaton and with Gods direction, 818 Ministry is fully supported and funded by friends, family, church organizations, and anonymous donors from all over the United States. At the Jesan Center we continue to provide a safe place for these children to escape street life--away from gang violence, drugs, and human trafficking. If they are not being fed, they will go where the food is, which isn't always a safe place.  Meeting their needs has a financial burden. Praise God for our supporters!

At the cost of only $250.00/mo. we are able to feed up to 30 kids three meals a week. The need is bigger than we ever imagined and the financial burden had been difficult to meet to be able to continue this feeding program.   

"ADOPT A MONTH" in the new year!

Won’t you consider gathering your family,  church, or local organization to join together to "ADOPT A MONTH FEEDING" in the new year?

  It is our prayer to be able to feed these children on a continuous basis in the year 2014! But we need your help. 

This is a small way to help in order to make the biggest difference!  818 ministry is willing to be the workers, but this work would have to stop if not for your financial contributions. 

Please take 10 minutes to  watch our video on youtube (search Jesan Center 2013) and consider how you might be able to help assist the work in this part of the mission field. We know that "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST..."  so we press on with planning for our goals for the future of these children.

To donate:

Paypal. You can find the link entitled 'Donate' to the right 

Mail. You can send your check or money order to our sponsor church:

   818 MINISTRY

 C/O  S. 14TH ST. CHURCH OF CHRIST

         1506 S. 14TH ST.

         LEESBURG, FL  34748

         ATTN: JOE RICHMOND

With love and peace.

Ronald and Caidy Quilaton 

What do you want to be?

Remember when you were little and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? 

A teacher. An astronaut. A farmer. A police officer. A mom. A dad. A carpenter. 

We recently asked our kids what they wanted to be. Here are some of their answers:

15 year old Clark wants to be a civil engineer 

13 year old Ariel wants to be a police officer 

9 year old Jerome wants to be on a SWAT team 

Some others include, teacher, vet, military, pilot, and nurse. 

 These are such attainable goals but sadly so, society's lies have robbed our kids of ever believing they can become more than a 'street' person. 

The Jesan Center recognizes that these dreams are very obtainable. We have hope that every child will grow up to be what they want to be, not what society deems them to be.

One child at a time, we are and will continue to make positive change.

Video Link

The Jesan Center has some great things happening! 

Check out our newest promotional video to see how you can be a part of the growth. 

Jesan Center 2013