Back in the UK

As you may have guessed we are back in the UK, safe and mostly well.

I went directly along to the organ marathon to show my support to John Alexander in his fund raising. It was great to have a quick chat with Jane and family.

Whilst we have been away there was a documentary on BBC2 about a bus driver who goes to Manila to try his hand at being a jeepney driver, we've not watched it yet, but it has been recommended to me by the Alexanders who have seen this for themselves first hand, watch it if you want a more in depth understanding of life living in Manila:

Toughest place to be a bus driver

Thursday afternoon

We spent talking with the team and saying goodbye. It is such a sad time. These people who do so much for their neighbours really lack self confidence and self esteem. We tried to encourage them by trying to get them to see how we see them. From our point of view they are an extremely committed and talented group of people.

We said our goodbyes in dribs and drabs as the team went back to their respective homes and were left with a small group of the team members and Sally and Joey. It was hard to say goodbye especially with all that is going on in the Escotos lives at the moment. I would like to thank Joey for spending so much of his time with us taking us around the communities:

Another visit

We visited another family after the small group on Thursday, this is some of the de la Cruz family with Carol and the girls, and look who has made appearance behind them Kay:

Organ marathon

Here is a message from David Alexander vicar of St Thomas' church in Stopsley, John is David's son:

Dear Friends,

I am writing this to all friends of St Thomas's whose email address I have.

This Friday (25th Feb) our organist John is performing a marathon of hymns on our church organ. A hymnathon? Or orgathon? Not sure, what it should be called, but he is going to play all the hymns in our hymn book (533 in all!). He will be starting at 5pm and keep playing till he finishes - which he estimates will be about 5am on Saturday morning.

This is in aid of Sally Escoto, the Director of Hands of Mercy - the charity we support in the Philippines. Unfortunately she urgently needs an important operation and as there is no NHS in the Philippines that will cost money - money she does not have, nor any of the workers of Hands of Mercy who all live in poor communities in the massive slum areas of Manila. She does so much work amongst the poor and we want to help her at her hour of need - and by helping her help many others also.

Would you be able to pop in for a time to the organ marathon and support this cause? You can stay as long as you like. You can even sing along if you wish! And please sponsor John with a gift to help pay for Sally's urgent medical care in the Philippines.

Thank you in anticipation of your support.

God bless
David

Small group

After the feeding we held a small group, Carol led us despite feeling unwell (she has a cold) and spoke on the Psalms:

Feeding at Hilaga

We went to another feeding this morning, this time at Hilaga, here is Sarah helping once more:



The centre at Hilaga is rented and has an upstairs where a lot of children go to eat, fortunately it was cloudy today so it was not too hot, last time we were here it was stifling:

Last day

We fly out early tomorrow morning (that's Friday for us) and have quite a busy schedule today so I might not get many more posts done here (I've just got up and am waiting for the girls to get ready). If I don't get stuff posted I will update finally once we are back in the UK and have had some sleep.

Being out here really brings into focus the challenges the people of the communities face on a day to day basis. I could say that being here gives me an understanding of the problems the people here face, but I think that would be facile as you can only really appreciate what someone else's life is like if you live it yourself. Frankly there are situations that on the face of it seem hopeless, but then there are the faithful team members getting alongside their neighbours and helping them as best they can with the resources we provide from the UK and sometimes from their own pockets. It is humbling to behold. As our charity's strapline says "Restoring hope to the needy through love and compassion".

I come away with mixed emotions, I am sad to say goodbye to the team, I am worried for them because of the uncertainty that they face and I feel determined that we should do more to help. May God guide the team here, the UK and Filipino trustees and our supporters to do just that.

Thank you all for the messages of support and encouragement we have received whilst we have been out here.