Christmas

Hello everyone, since I've been lazy I have a lot to catch you guys up on. The week before last was pretty quiet, a little calm before the storm I guess you could say because we had 6 Christmas parties to attend this week. I got to do some manual labour which felt good. I helped a friend with some cementing, and a little 'framing'. You would understand the quotations if you saw what we were doing. I also helped build some game boards for our Church's Christmas party and I built a 'wheel of fortune' that I was pleasantly surprised with. On Friday 11th, we a evening service for our Church that very well and on Saturday 12th a youth event that went well too but could have been better if more kids showed up.

Then on Wednesday the YM Team went to a Christams party at a partner Church here in Metro Manila which went well. The Church had their own program and our team just added to it. With our skit, songs and gift giving. There were about 100 kids plus mothers. Then on Thursday we left the city again, which of course was awesome, for 2 parties. They were about 3 hours away. One was in the morning which was good, there was about 100 people all together at that one. They had their own program and we just added once again. The one in the afternoon was a little more special I thought. It was way out in the country, no building to see in any direction and the scenery was beautiful. Everything about the Christmas party was the same and there was about 150 kids plus others. The thing that made it special was that their Church building was destroyed in one of the Typhoons and now they are worshiping in a makeshift contraption at the moment. Besides all that 15 people were baptized in the river near by, very powerful experience. Then on Friday we had the Christmas Party for our Church and it was incredible. We had a normal service but then after we had 2 re-enactments of the Christmas Story. One by the workers of the Church and the other by the mothers in the Church. It was very encouraging to see everyone wanting to be involved. Then we played some games and gave out gift, just a great night altogether.

Then on Saturday we had 2 more parties, the one in the morning was for the children in our community put on by our Church and the YM team. We ran in the street and it was a little carnival with bean bag toss, mini putt, plinko, wheel of fortune, sack race, balloon darts, ring toss, ice cream, chocolate fountain, and cotton candy. So much fun. Then a group of kids put a dance routine for us and it was so sweet. Then the YM team did our thing of the skit, gift giving and food hand out. There was almost 300 kids plus the parents who came. It was so awesome. Then in the afternoon we had the party for the youth group of our Church, 25 of us were there. We took them to Mall of Asia, which I'm pretty sure is the biggest mall of all of Asia. It is so ridiculous. I'm pretty sure it was the first time for most of them to be there, so it was a pretty big deal and they had so much fun. The main thing we did was go to Mcdonalds and share a meal and it consisted of fried Chicken and spaghetti, yes they serve that at Mc Ds and the kids like it better then the burgers. Yes I don't believe them either.

It doesn't feel like Christmas here becasue I am sitting here sweating in my shorts and t-shirt and no chance of a white Christmas. Although the funniest part is that they have adopted the American Christmas songs such as jingle all the way, frosty the snow man, etc.. and there has never been snow in the county.

May God Bless you in the Christmas Season. Thank you again for all of the support you have given me, it is such a blessing. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Jared

Finally Got out Of The City

Well on saturday we had another youth event but the turn out wasn't very good but I feel it went really well. Other people in the Church have been doing some evangelizing with a group of boys just outside of their homes and hopefully they will start coming out to youth.

Sunday afternoon IT tender ministries took a group of 13 kids from the one squatter communities to the zoo. So I joined with them and helped out with not losing any of them. Also tried to give them the best time possible. That was a lot of fun.

This week we got to get out of the concrete jungle of Manila and it was very refreshing. You don't have to leave the city very far before you get into some beautiful landscapes. First we went to a place called Botolan, where it was devastated by one of the typhoons that happened this fall. The whole city had to be relocated and now are living in tents, it was pretty crazy to see. So Monday the youth mobilization team helped out with a medical mission that was happening, my job was to help the dentist. Only by cleaning their instruments and preparing the needles, sadly, I wish I could have done some root canals or something sweet like that. Although I did get to hold a few jaws in place when teeth were getting pulled which was a strange experience. Then the next day we held a small Christmas Party for the children. We sang some songs, put on a little skit, shared the Christmas story, gave out gifts, and a small meal. Just over 300 kids where there.

On Tuesday afternoon we left for Kanawan which is a small village that is a 15 min hike from the closest road. So that was a really awesome experience, and the people there are so amazing. We had brought some things along and all the kids helped us carry the supplies up the hill, they were all so eager to help. So in the morning we put on the same program as the day before and there were about 150 kids that day. Then after they put on some tribal garb and showed us some traditional dances, which was real cool.

So now I am back in Manila and Christmas is all the talk. Filipinos take Christmas to the extreme so December is going to be a crazy month. With everyone wanting to have Christmas Parties. This Saturday we are attending the IT Tender Christmas Party, the 16 we have one, the 17th we have 2, the 18th is our Church's, the 19th we have a kids one (300 is our target) in the morning and the youth one in the afternoon. Then a YM one on the 23rd and a get together on the 24th. Also for the next 2 Fridays our Church is going to be putting on a night service because of Christmas.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support. take care and God Bless

Jared

More

Hello again.

My ministries with the youth and daycare are still going well, besides that there really isn't anything to report.

There are a few more things that I have gotten involved with. On Tuesday and Thursday night I went to IT Tender Ministries and helped out with their night life ministry. IT Tender Ministries is a drop-in center and sometimes is almost a community center, they run many different programs out of their building. For example a nutrient seminar for mother on how to feed their children (which is going on right now and will be all week), and Feeding My Starving Children which happens Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays for supper, I'll be helping out tonight. They feed about 75 each time and most of them are malnourished. But the night life, the one I'm going to be apart of is set up for the street people. Which most of them are addicted to sniffing solvent. IT Tender Ministries opens their doors for them on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to give them something to eat, facilities to bath, bible lessons, songs, games and fellowship. This Tuesday I will be bringing some of the youth from my Church to this program for a exposure trip. It's about a 20 minute ride from where I live and the Church is.

On Sunday I had an outing with one of the squatter communities that IT Tender Ministries helps out with. We went to the pool, which was totally awesome and this coming Thursday we're going to take the same group of people to play some basketball. I'm obviously I'm going to take them all to school, because you all know I got hoop dreams.

One more ministry that I am apart of is the Batang Crayola. It's on Saturday mornings and we bring kids from 2 different squatter communities to our church and run a small program for them.

One of the partner Churches that we have is helping some of the victims of the typhoons. So I was taken along to the area for a look and it is unbelievable that there are still places that are flooded. Some people are still not back in their houses because the water is thigh deep. Others can be in their houses but the streets are flooded so they have made makeshift bridges to get to their houses. I am so surprised that I didn't break the bridge, it was so shady, not made for 200 lbs white boys. Also the water is the most rancid water I have ever seen. So I ask for your prayers that they can recover quickly.

Last but not least, starting next week the Christmas parties will be starting and we still need more funds so I ask for your donations to give the people affected by the typhoons a joyful Christmas.

Keep praying for all the ministries and thank you so much for all of your prayers, love and support. May God Bless you richly

Jared

Here we go

Well now I have settled in a bit and things are going well and I'm feeling good. I have started some of the ministries that I will be apart of. The Church (JKK) that I am helping at just started a kids program (day care) that runs from 9-12 on Tuesday-Fridays. Right now it is a little chaotic but our goal is to give kids a head start for school. We have about 20 kids at the moment which are split into 2 group 2-4 year olds and 5-7 year olds. Some of them should be in school but aren't so they come here. The program that we want to run is singing, games, a small school type lesson, a small bible lesson, and a feeding to give them a healthy meal. All the kids come from very poor homes or are squatters. I ask for your prayers for us to figure out how to run this program to it's full potential.

I also ran my first youth night on saturday and about 20 kids showed up so that was very encouraging, (about half are regular attenders of the Church). I feel it went very well. It's a little tough because I don't speak Tagalog (they can understand a fair bit of English, but I can't understand Tagalog). So I ask for you prayers in quickly learning Tagalog.

Also the youth come from a much different background then I do. Most of the people in the Church have been victims of many forms of abuse and I can't relate to them so pray for me to have the right words and the actions when I hear things that beak my heart.

I have also been put in the role of Pastor of Labour, it's either becasue of my rugid good looks or my huge bulging frame. The thing they need was a roof type deal becasue part of the Church is a porch like area. So i put up a retractable roof (a tarp), very similar to the Sky Dome. So my roofing skills are getting put to good use, thank you Brubacher Industrial.

Upcoming things that I need Prayers and financial support for: Christmas Parties, the Filipinos are nuts about Christmas so the Youth Mobilization Team (a branch of International Teams) is putting on 5 parties for 5 different areas, some in the city and some outside. We are targeting the places that were most affected by the Typhoons. I have directed the money that I have raised so far for these parties but we still need more. The money will be used to feed them, buy them hygene products and toys for the kids.

Thank you so much for all the love, prayers and support.

May God Bless each and everyone of you richly.

Jared

I'm here

well i made it here safe and sound. funny story though, John, the guy i flew over here with and am living and working with, made friends with an air traffic man for Air Canada. So on our 13 hour flight on Air Canada from Toronto to Japan John and I got to fly first class because John's friend was able to bump us up. it was incredible, such a blessing from God.

I'm living in an apartment that has an amazing view of the city's skyline. I am living with John, Brett and a filipino named Toph. we've split the room into two, the bed room and a multi-purpose room. i would show you some pictures but im having some problems with my camera so when i figure that out i'll put some pictures up. the part of the city i am in doesn't really have any lingering affects from the floods that happened but i heard we might be helping some of those affected soon.

some of my roles have already changed like I have been put in charge of the youth in the church that i thought i would be doing children's ministry. so i guess for a lack of a better word i would be called the youth pastor. the chruch is of about 40 people but still i'm a little nervous. their youth ministries have fallen off recently so i really want to grow their youth again. there is also a day care the church is setting up this coming week from tuesday to friday so i want to help out with that. i will hopefully get involved with more ministries as well.

thanks again for all the prayers, love, and support. May God Bless you

Jared

Date is set

I finally have a flight now. It is November 4.
Please keep praying for all the people who were affected by the Typhoons in the Philippines.

Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you already know, I will be going to the Philippines with International Teams for a year-long internship. I will be leaving early November and will be working under the umbrella of Youth Mobilization in urban poor ministries in Manila (the capital of the Philippines). Some things I will be doing include: helping with children’s programs at a young Church, Vacation Bible Schools, medical and hygiene ministries, and volunteering at a drop-in center for street youth and children of which come from broken homes and struggle with various addictions mainly sniffing glue.

I will need your help in this upcoming journey of mine. Financially, I have been very blessed and am committed to covering my own expenses. It’s your prayers that I need. Prayers of strength and courage while I’m living in a new setting and spreading the Gospel of Jesus. I need prayers of wisdom and knowledge to know where and how to serve the Lord best within the IT ministries and prayers to use my gifts to their full potential for the Glory of God. Most of all I need prayers for the gift of being able to speak the language, Tagalog (the language of the Philippines) so I can communicate with the people I will be working with and serving.

Even though my financial needs are taken care of, I would still really like to invite you to be part of my ministry financially. My goal is $20 000. Because my needs are taken care of, your financial support will go directly to the ministries that so desperately need your help. They will include the ministries that I have mentioned above. As well, at the moment, my ministry colleagues are preparing for Christmas parties. The parties will be held in early December in various squatter communities that we serve. You can donate on the Internet at iteams.ca or send cheques to International teams at 1 Union Street, Elmira, ON, N3B 3J9 (unless you have an USA address then go to iteams.org and the physical address is 411 W. River Road Elgin, IL 60123)

Thank you very much. May God Bless you richly