Negros Orphan Outreach

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Happiness is not a goal, but a by product of an action." This statement could have been specifically written for the outreach work Lilia's Place did this week on Negros Island.

Doug, Lilia, Richard and I left Monday morning at 8:30 AM for Negros Island. Our journey included a three hour drive to the ferry, a forty minute ferry ride and then another two hour drive to the home of Richard and Becky in Calag Calag where we rested for the night before traveling up the mountain to minister to the orphans. Doug and I were so excited about the work that we were going to be doing that it was difficult to sleep.

We were awakened at dawn by the crowing of roosters and anxiously began preparing for our journey. Because traveling up the mountain was going to be rough terrain, we leased the mayor's four wheel drive jeepney and driver for the day. We loaded up the supplies; 2 kilos of dry milk, 100 kilos of rice, canned sardines, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, body soap, laundry soap, clothing and deworming medication for each family and roofing materials for one of the families and off we went.

I cannot even begin describing the trek up the mountain. We drove through potholes and mud trenches that I thought were surely going to swallow up our vehicle. Never again will I complain about American highways and streets! After enduring almost two hours of torture and the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, we arrived at our first destination, the village of Bago, the home of Lida and her two grandsons, Samboy and Mamart.

They were in the cornfields when we first arrived gathering corn to grind for their daily use. Lida is a sprite 78 year old widow caring for her two grandsons after the deaths of their parents from tuberculosis earlier this year. She was extremely happy to be receiving roofing materials but after our poor attempt at removing the old roof she quickly informed us that it would be easier for her to do it herself than try teaching us. We protested but she aptly demonstrated her expertise and so we conceded. After all, we were there to help and not to be a burden. Samboy (9 years old) and Mamart (7 years old) were a little shy about meeting Americans but were very curious about the items we brought, especially the toothbrushes! Samboy was very outgoing and smiled continuously, Mamart was a little more reserved. However, Lilia did get a few laughs out him, especially when she rode the motorcycle for the first time. Like all children, neither boy was thrilled to be taking medicine. Due to poor sanitary conditions children can often become infected with hook worms and other intestinal parasites which can interfere with proper nutritional digestion. Bago is a small village and many of Lida's neighbors came to see us. They also wanted deworming medication for their children. Our goal for our next visit to Bago is to bring deworming medication for the children and a 50 kilo bag of rice for the village.

As we were preparing to leave we were introduced to Wenyljane. Wenyljane is a beautiful 14 year old girl whose mother died almost 3 years ago. Her father has since remarried and the new wife will not allow Winyljane to live with them. Until recently she had been living with relatives but now they are unable to provide for her and so she is living on her own in the house where she lived with her mother. It is so hard for me to imagine the loneliness this child must be experiencing. We are so thankful that God has placed her in our path and that Lilia's Place will have the blessing of caring for this lovely girl. Winyljane was an unexpected surprise and so we sent Bebe, a local health care provider and fellow MOSES team worker, to purchase supplies for Wenyljane. We will be visiting Wenyljane in her home next month and bringing her more supplies.

We next headed for the province of Nabilog, which is about another 45 minutes away. Here we were greeted by Adie and Perla Luisa. They are two of the most amazing and humble people I have ever met. A little over a year ago their lives were forever changed when God brought the 10 orphaned Dolino children to their doorstep. The Dolino's father had died about 3 years ago and Mrs. Dolino and her 10 children were farming the land. Some of the men in the village became extremely jealous of the crops that were being produced and decided to kill the family. The intruders broke into the Dolino home. The mother was killed, but during the struggle, Roselle (14), was able to stab and kill one of the intruders allowing the children to escape from the house. Even though she saved the lives of her siblings, she still feels very guilty over the death of the intruder. Please keep Roselle in your prayers. Perla and Adie, the great aunt and uncle of the children, never hesitated in taking the children into their home. They knew God would provide.

At the Luisa home, Doug and I had one of our most humbling experiences ever. This family who had nothing, had prepared a feast for us. They had made for us the best of what they had and had even borrowed rice from a neighbor to feed their guests. We were honored and humbled at the sacrifice this family had made for us. We knew they would be going without meat for several meals because they had prepared so much for us.

The Dolino children; Nelly(20), Nenitle(18), Reselle(15), Junivel(14), Rosbil(13), Jenly(10), Jessa(7), and Charlyn(6), were beautiful children. There was none of the anger that you would have expected but instead a genuine love and contentedness that came from being together and being loved by Adie and Perla. Two of the daughters, Jane (21) and Roselle (16), are now living and working in Cebu City.

We enjoyed great fellowship with the Luisas and Dolinos while we waited for the tropical rain storm to pass. Lilia loved her new friends and I'm not sure, but I think she may actually have picked up some of the Cebuano language...

Please keep these beautiful children and the relatives that are doing their best to provide for them in your daily prayers. By providing them with food and clothing, Lilia's Place is allowing these children to stay in loving homes. Without this support these families could not care for the children and they would have to be placed in orphanages, government homes and possibly even separated. This orphan outreach is a ministry that we hope to grow and expand as Lilia's Place begins making a difference in the lives of Filipino children. Your support is very important.

As we were driving back down the mountain, my heart was so full of joy. All I could think was that I wished everyone that I loved could share in this experience with me. True happiness does come from an action, the action of serving others and glorifying God! Doug and I look forward to going back next month and building a relationship with these families. Though next time, I won't just be the medicine woman, I'll also be the cookie lady:)