A quick snapshot...

Wow so much has happened in the last few days, it has been crazy busy and it's hard to know where to start. To be honest I really smell gross so I think I will have to be quick and just post some pictures so that I can have a shower and hit the hay!

So here is a snapshot of the last 48 or so hours....

I spent a night at the Jazz Home. It's a home for teenage girls who can not live at home due to abuse. The home only began in July and houses 26 girls aged 9-17. It's slightly different from the children's home as these girls come to the home straight from the community rather than through the welfare system. The girls are all so joyful, chatty, and so fun to be around. While only 26 'Josie's angels' live at the home, there are about 100 Josie's angels girls in the community who are linked in and participate in special events and youth groups.

As with most days, I spent some time in the children's home, we're all going on the motto that it's holidays therefore we'll be a little lax with the rules. Therefore we've had water-fights most days, very fun.

Community Feedings
There is just so much that happens here at Kids International Ministries. Everyday day at 10am and 4pm several people head out with two big plastic tubs full of a rice and vegetable stew and feed those who are need. The food is prepared here at the YMC (Ministry Centre) and is taken to a different area at every time-slot. It has been a privilege to be able to help out at these feedings and interact with the women and children in the different communities.

This morning we went to an area called 'tent city'. It is about 20 kilometers away near an area called Teresa. It is called 'tent city' because the 1000 families who now live there lost their homes during the 2009 Typhoon and flooding and the government re-located them to this area and they lived in tents for many months. The government then demolished what was left of their homes and built shacks for them in this new area implying that they would be able to start a fresh here. Because the area is quite isolated there are few opportunities for work and while each family a small shelter, there are often over 8 children in each family and therefore significant poverty. Today we were able to give out the food, which ran out very quickly, but also adults and children's clothes (thanks Mon, Meeya and Lozz). It was a little crazy and the clothes also ran out quickly.



Auntie Rona giving out medicines... (more on amazing Auntie Rona later)

 Also in the last few days...

It's only just starting up but once a week they hold a pre-natal clinic here at the YMC, where pregnant soon to be mums come and receive a general check with a foetal hart monitor, get weighed and receive a healthy meal and some pre-natal vitamins. It is such a great way to impact a community and I loved being able to hang out with the ladies, some as young as 15 and chat with them as they waited for their check-ups. They are such beautiful women.

So much happening!! Really love seeing and hearing about the impact the ministry here is having on people's lives in so many ways and that people are experiencing a hope and love that is only because of the love that God has for us.

More soon. xox