Our Updates

Time flies! and yes we've all been very busy! with work... with school... etc
but we have not forgotten the mission.

Have been working to get the scholarship going. we have 3 more kids on the list in need of sponsors. and 4 scholarships to be renewed.

Our scholars did pretty well! So Congrats to Joannie, Nic, Mary Jane and Angela! Joannie moves up to Year 2 high school. Nic and Mary Jane to Grade 3 elementary and Angela to Grade 2 elementary.

For May and us here too, our hearts broke many times this past year 2009/2010. We're very to say we've come to the end of the road and we have decided that there's really not much else we can do for Pepito aka JP. JP didn't quite go along with the rules and expectations we had for him. which were study, go to school everyday and be home by 6pm (cos it's dark then). Even Tita couldn't help him come to his senses. But seriously I don't blame him. Sad to say, Payatas is not a place for a kid to grow up in esp where role models are few. So Pepito cut classes, went to work in a junk shop... dyed his hair... etc... The most heart-breaking thing of all was his sister couldn't take him in to her home. We know what he really wants. That is to live with the sister or at least live next to her. hence his shift tot he junkshop beside her home. The sister asked for help too. So we thought the best thing for a hardened child like Pepito was to send him away to rehab. i think of the lyrics "tried to make me go to rehab but I say no no no" Well, when all was finally decided, the sister adds a little info she never told us before. JP had a granny and an aunt who would never allow him to be sent to a rehab home! WHAT??? She didnt tell us he had relatives who would have a say in managing him before??? so that was when we decided ok!!!! we can't go on. She, the granny or the aunt has to take over not us. It's just not fair for JP who will always be bitter and ask why not his own family? Well, I miss JP...

Our problems didn't end there. There was Nic too! at one point he wasnt coming hom for a few days. The one year deal we had with the kids was almost up. The Malaras kids did keep to their end of the deal. Jovelyn kept the place clean and did the housework. Joannie and Nic did go to school daily if not almost everyday. And despite Nic's nonsense (which I can sum up as entering teenage rebelliousness and also a cry for a family), he was studying. So that was the deal. they kept it and we decided do or die it was time they moved! Thanks to the quick work of May, the kids moved into Erap City in May.. hehe Seems now they've adjusted. Nic likes it. Has made new friends. Ate Terry is living with them, supervising Nic and they are going to church too! yeah!!! 3 cheers for Ate Terry....

Another Sad thing.. but yet for the better... I believe. May has moved on :)... She's no longer "working" with acts29.. but still very much apart of acts29. still meeting the kids on saturdays and seeing to their budget and needs. We'll leave May a space here to tell us more about her new adventures. :)

acts29 has the intention of buying a place in Erap and extending our project.. expanding the scholarship program... and recruiting volunteers for at least 6 months to serve there. Anyone interested.. with a heart for mission can shout out to us here on our blog or email us.