In the very heart of the capital region of Manila, Philippines, many struggle with poverty, little access to a good education, economic insecurity, drug addictions, and other difficulties.
In response to this need, I work in Pandi, Bulacan, an area just outside of Manila, where many families struggle to just survive. The government has forcefully moved these families due to over population and many of them living in illegal settlers’ areas in Manila.
I mainly help a small but mighty Pentecostal church plant, founded eight years ago, that acts as a beacon of hope for the 10,000 people living in Pandi. I work alongside local Filipino pastor, Pastor Eric, his daughter, and church volunteers to help impoverished students stay in school.
I work with the administration and teachers at the local public school, assisting children whose parents are unable to support them financially. I help to provide them school lunches, supplies, uniforms, etc. In addition, in Cainta, Rizal, I volunteer three days a week in the Health office at Faith Academy, an international Christian school serving a multicultural community from around the world.
My ultimate goal is to assist Filipino young people to become educated and put their faith in Jesus. I want them to be life-long learners of God’s Word as they help advance the Great Commission.
For 31 years, I worked in the healthcare sector in Newfoundland. During that time, I had the opportunity to take short-term missions trips and become involved in various ministries in Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Romania, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Upon retiring in 2007, I volunteered for three years in Manila, Philippines until 2010. I worked mostly with the informal settlers, the homeless, the abandoned, the neglected, the abused, and marginalized families.
