She

She came in today, the first time in a while.
She didn't want to take a bath.
She hadn't slept since Monday.
She just wanted to sleep.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So dirty little girl.

She said there were so many men in her house.
She was scared to fall asleep cause they might come to her.
She was unprotected.
She said, "He hurt me."
Please.
Sad eyes.
So broken little girl.

She said, "He hurt me."
She ran, torn open.
She came to us and all we could do was hold her.
She slept for hours.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So desperate little girl.

She has little cuts all over her wrist.
She tries to drain the pain.
She needs hope.
She's thirteen.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So little girl.

Today we will buy...

• 80 plates
• 80 forks
• 80 spoons
• 1 GIANT rice pot
• 1 GIANT wok
• 60 towels
• material to make 60 storage bags for kids' stuff (plate, fork, spoon, toothbrush, soap, washcloth)
• material to make aprons for our staff

so that we can OPEN this Friday!!

One Child**

I'd like to introduce my new friend, E...I met her a few weeks ago in the Plaza (town square). She was outside of a bank looking through the window and the guard came out to shoo her away, so she wouldn't disturb the customers by begging as they came out the door.

I happened to have a bag of sweet breads in my hands, so I called to her and got her attention. She crossed the street to where I was waiting and thankfully took the pieces of bread I offered. As she ate, I asked her about her life, with the help of my friend Dahlia, who translated.

E is 12 years old and was abandoned on the streets of Butuan, along with her siblings, by her mother when she was only six. Her father had all ready died. After some time, she was "adopted" by an American and his Filipina wife. Apparently she was well taken care of in that home and was happy. However, after the American died, she was thrown out of the house by the wife's mother, because of money issues. So she went back to life on the streets.

On the day I met her she asked me if she could come home with me. I can't explain what went through my mind at that point...but I knew I couldn't say yes. Praise the LORD, I all ready knew what hope I could give her. I told her about Project Destiny Drop-In Center. I told her about what kinds of things we'd do there...that we would feed her there...that she'd be safe there.

Before I left, with the help of Dahlia, I told her that I would look for her when I was in the city, and that she should look for me...that I would love to talk to her more.

The next day Teresa and I were doing errands in that part of the city, and we ate our lunch at Red Apple. (If you ever come to visit, I'll take you there...it's an interesting experience.:)) We had leftovers we were leaving the restaurant with, and Teresa was so excited about what I had told her about E. So we decided to look for her in the Plaza. She wasn't there, unfortunately, but we met some of her other friends...so we gave the chicken and rice (and brownie) to them and asked them to please tell E that Ate Susan would be back tomorrow around lunchtime to see her.

So I bought one loaf of bread, two cans of tuna, some sandwich spread and a can of juice. The next day, I made baggies of diluted juice (they probably don't drink enough water) and a bag of tuna sandwiches.

I looked at the small little pile of food on the table and wondered if it would be enough for the kids that might be there after it got around that an American was coming for lunch. But I just decided to trust that God knew who would be there and how much was needed, and that I was just going to be faithful with my "loaves and fish."

So off I went, alone. (We were having about 12 lunch guests in our house, so Teresa was needed there to serve them.) When I got to the Plaza, I was relieved to see that there weren't 50 kids waiting for me. The number was closer to 15... E was happy to see me, and a little bit shy, while she watched me the food away. I was amazed to see that there were more than enough sandwiches (one kid got 3!) and at the end, there was enough juice for every child there (plus the 2 adults), with one bag leftover.

I didn't preach, I didn't mention church or the Bible. I just simply passed out smiles, kind words and a bit of food. I remembered Jesus words about giving someone a drink of water...that it is like giving Him water. So I thanked Him that I was able to love these kids in His name. I told them about the center...and I hope to see them there one day. Relationship has been established.

I haven't seen E since that day. But I do look for her. I wonder if she's ok. I wonder if she ate today. I wonder if someone is hurting her. (It's well known in Butuan City that if you want sex with a child, you go to the Plaza.)

Please pray for E and her friends. She is one of more than 2,000 street kids in this city alone. Please pray for Butuan City. Please pray for the street kids all over the world today.

**edited to change her name, for her protection.

Fried Chicken with Friends

My friends, who also happen to be Project Destiny volunteers, Joice and Inday, were just here for dinner. We had fried chicken and rice...with a bit of chocolate for dessert, since it IS Valentine's Day... Joice was telling me that she would love to learn how to make a video on the computer, so I offered to show her how I've made the other PD videos. She thought that was a lovely idea, so we sat down together and made this video about the Christmas party we had last month.

Even though it was a month late, we were still in the Christmas season here in the Philippines, which lasts until February first. We invited the street kids who hang out in the bus terminal to come to the center on a Saturday afternoon. About 40 kids came and filled up the downstairs of our building. It was the first time we'd had kids in the center....what an amazing sight to see. We played games, sang songs, the New Caledonians performed some dances, and we ate.

At the end we were able to give each child a Christmas present in the form of a Ziploc bag full of amazing stuff. Each bag had: one washcloth, one pair of socks, one hairbrush (with hair ties for the girls), one toothbrush and toothpaste, a bar of soap and one toy. What treasures!!! The video shows the looks of glee and amazement on the faces of the kids...beautiful. Special thanks to Calvary Chapel Fremont for making the gift giving possible.:)

Hope you enjoy the video...
God bless you!:)

Project Destiny Drop-in Center

We're working on getting our new building ready for the opening of the Drop-in Center. This video shows the progress we've made so far....and leaves room for you in the end...:)

Blessings on your heads today.

Street Kids Outreach in Butuan

After 5 successful days of training in the evenings during the week, the volunteers all came back to our house on Saturday at 8am for a full day of training and practise followed by a two hour outreach in two locations in the city.

The video is just to give you an idea of what the ministry looks like and to see some of our fantastic volunteers in action.....:)

At the end is a photo of OUR NEW BUILDING!! We have been approved by leaders to sign the papers to rent the building for one year and then buy it....to use for our Drop-In Center.....

GO GOD!!!!

And We're Off!

Project Destiny has officially been launched. Last night we held our first night of training for 25 local church volunteers, who have been selected by their pastors. We will be having training every night this week from 6-9 and then all day Saturday we will have our first outreach. The training is being held right here in our sala (living room). In discussing the different venues for this time, we realized that we wanted to build relationship, so instead of a large, impersonal meeting hall, we chose to gather in our tiny sala.

Our scripture for the ministry is:

"HE lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. HE sets them among princes, even princes of his own people." Psalm 113:7-8

The next few paragraphs are part of the training manual... I just want you to know what our focus is....:)

Our theme for this training is "Knowing that HE is the God who does the work, HE has a plan and destiny for my life and HE wars on my behalf to see it come to pass." My job is to cooperate with Him in all that I do, keep my heart and motives right and continue to grow in Him, understanding that HE is the worker and I am onl a tool in His hand.

The training is not like other trainings, where the focus is achievement. This is a time of equipping and nurturing, and a time of revelation and tranformation in our lives. We believe that one of God's greatest purposes for us, as His children, is that we are increasingly transformed into His likeness. Our goal is that you would grow not only in understanding of street children and ministry, but most importantly you would grow in their relationship with God and continue to develop a godly character, resulting in changed lives.

So, please keep us in your prayers during this crucial time in our ministry... we expect that there will be more participants coming as the week goes on... and we are MORE than excited to see what God wants to do during this time...