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Originally uploaded by lizzygray

Road Trip!!

The Eisner

So, gas is going down…. thank goodness! My first thought is ROAD TRIP! I stumbled across this museum in Milwaukee and I HAVE TO GO! I must be a nerd to think a business card exhibit sounds like fun, but I willing to accept that. Now I just have to convince someone to go with me… any other nerds out there? haha

Meet Hardcore Lizzy.

You know that feeling where you feel a little tickle on your arm and you’re just sure there’s something on you? Usually you look and there’s nothing there. Well, in the Philippines, that’s not the case. If you feel like there’s something on you, there always is.

I’m a girly girl. I don’t like dirt, or sweat, and I definitely don’t like bugs. The girly girl in me has had a very hard time surviving in the Philippines. There are spiders, lizards, and ants everywhere you look! I firmly believe that 25% of the world’s ants live in this country. I’ve been known to leave food out at times, but not here. I learned quickly that ants don’t waste anytime, and because of that, neither do I.

Since “Girly-Girl Lizzy” really doesn’t fit in well here, I’ve had to switch gears a little. Meet “Hardcore Lizzy”. She sweats a lot. She takes showers out of a bucket and sleeps on the floor. She’s been known to wear the same shirt several days in a row. She is woken up several times during the night to the feeling of things crawling on her… she flicks whatever it may be off and goes back to sleep. She tries new food and wakes up early. It’s funny, but I think I like her better.

Since I’ve been in the Philippines I’ve:

•    Traveled by every possible type of transportation: boat, canoe, jeepney, car, motorcycle, tricycle, and bus.
•    Slept in a tent in the pouring rain.
•    Survived a typhoon. (hehe)
•    Eaten rice every single day.
•    Went to the “CR” in a hole in the dirt.
•    Improved my chaco tan line.
•    Worn the same shirt three days in a row.
•    Harvested corn.
•    Fallen in love with mangos.
•    Developed a hatred for chickens. (the animal, not the food!)
•    Eaten gross pizza and liked it.
•    Had several marriage proposals.
•    Gotten to love on over 75 orphans.
•    Gone scuba diving.
•    Gotten a mosquito bite in my belly button.
•    Turned a year older.
•    Accidentally killed a hermit crab.
•    Had a lizard fall on me while I was asleep.
•    Eaten pig ears.
•    Heard the song “Apple Bottom Jeans” about eleventy-billion times (including the cebuano version!)

Hi, My Name is JoJo.

When I was 4 years old my father was unable to take care of me so he gave me to a friend of his. That friend gave me to another friend. That friend gave me to a government agency which referred me to Love the Children. Since I’ve been here, I have been given food, clothes, house to live in, and lots of people that love me. I have learned about God and I’ve learned how to to study His word and worship Him. Someday I’d love to become a missionary, if that is what God wants me to do.
I’m 13 years old now and continuing to learn new things. One thing is learning how to use my talents. Me and some of the other boys here at the orphanage started a praise band. It all started with a dream. Now we are able to lead music at church every Sunday!

Interested in making a donation to Love the Children Foundation?

“We are funded by very few donors and partners. We appreciate every single help that we receive, but it’s not quite enough to defray the needs of the growing number of our children. We need you in making a difference in their lives.”

Account Name: Love The Children Foundation, Inc.
Bank Name: Philippine National Bank (PNB)
Bank Address: PNB, Toril Branch, Davao City, Philippines 8025
Type of Account: Dollar Savings Account
Savings Account No.: 387-700424-3

For more information:
E-mail address: lovethechildrenfoundation@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax: (63) (82) 291-4645
Mobile Number: +63916-3012295 or +63917-7444919
Website: www.lovethechildrenfoundation.com

Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider!

Almost ten years ago, a lady we now know as Mama Cindy, began having dreams she couldn’t get off her mind. In the dream she saw the faces of ragged and helpless children. Over and over she would dream about these homeless, uncared for children and began to pray about what she should do.

At the time, Cindy and her husband, Tony, owned a very successful cosmetics company. Shortly after praying about what God wanted them to do with their lives, they decided to give up their business and dedicate their lives to helping street children.

They began going out and helping these children by doing simple things such as feeding and clothing them. It wasn’t long before she started taking children into her own home. Before she knew it, she had so many she could barely house them all! She and her husband were beginning to run out of money, so they began to pray that God would provide them with the means to house all the children. In no time at all, a local gas company donated a large amount for their efforts! They were now able to build a house for all the children and supply their needs.

This isn’t the only instance in which God has provided for Love the Children Foundation. On July 1st, 2008 Mama Cindy found out that there weren’t enough funds to pay the bills this month. She immediately started praying and by July 3rd an anonymous donor gave the exact amount they needed!

Let this be a reminder that our God is able to do things that we sometimes feel are impossible. We serve the same God who parted the Red Sea. We serve the same God that saved Daniel from the lions. We serve the same God who created the earth and everything in it! Surely He is big enough to provide our needs!

Meet PJ

Since he was only a few days old, PJ has lived here at Palm Haven. He is now six years old and has cerebral palsy. He is unable to speak, but is very smart.

Kaycee was assigned to PJ, and since she has been working with him he has learned to recognize letters “A”-”D”. “He has the most precious laugh you’ve ever heard”, Kaycee said.

Everyday he goes to therapy, which she attends with him.”Ate Mercy, the housemother, is wonderful with working with him,” Kaycee stated. He is learning to become more independent. PJ is beginning to feed himself.

The ultimate goal for PJ is learning how to read and type. He loves to play with the leapfrog lead pad toys. It is the hope that one day he will learn to speak; with time and therapy, this is a realistic goal.

Pray that God would continue to use Kaycee as an encouragement to PJ and to the staff. Pray that PJ would be receptive. Praise God for all the progress he has already made!

Sean Sean

Meet Sean. He is the most loving three year old boy you could ever meet! He loves to give hugs and kisses. When he was younger he was diagnosed with severe hearing loss and speech delays. The older he has gotten they have realized his hearing loss isn’t quite as bad as they first thought.

Sara was assigned to Sean and has been working with him one on one since they arrived in early June. “I know he can hear more than they think he can. Whenever I’m behind him and I whisper his name he turns around and gives me his attention”, Sara explained. He’s learning to makes sounds and make syllables. The words he knows are “mud”, “airplane”, and “Ate” (Sister in Cebuano).

Since Sara arrived Sean is much more verbal. He’s not saying words most of the time, but he is trying. He is also learning to watch Sara’s lips and imitate the position her mouth is in to make certain sounds.

Sean has made so much progress in this past month. In general, he seems much happier. He laughs out loud constantly; it’s precious. Sara has even taught him how to say “I love you”. Please pray that he would continue to make progress and that he wouldn’t get discouraged. Pray also for Sara that she would know the best way to help him. Pray that he would see the love of Christ through her!

Meet our friend Joy…

Six years ago a Canadian Missionary brought a young girl named Joy, who had been abandoned, to Palm Haven Orphanage. They were not sure about her age, but guessed that she was about three years old. It is believed that she had been severely abused before coming to Palm Haven.

Because of the abuse Joy suffered, she is developmentally delayed. She is now supposedly nine years old, possibly a little older, but is very behind intellectually and socially. She is unable to read, write, or recognize numbers. She doesn’t know how to interact with other people and shows little to no emotion.
At the beginning of the summer the Nehemiah Nanny Team arrived at Palm Haven to help the staff and to give some one on one attention to the children. Stephanie was assigned to Joy.

Since Stephanie’s arrival, Joy has learned to recognize letters “A”-“J” as well as put them in order. She now is much more expressive and shows more emotion. At times it is negative emotion, but it is progress that she is showing any at all.

One of Joy’s strengths is her sense of responsibility. She is very maternal towards the other children. Pray that God would continue to use Stephanie as a positive influence in Joy’s life. Even though Joy has been through a lot, our God is big and there is nothing too hard for Him!