Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Project Pillowcase 2012

It is time again for Project Pillowcase!

The original April 2012 trip has been moved to July 2012.  This gives us more time to prepare and pray.  Thanks to those who have so graciously joined me in the past.  I hope you will join me again and continue spreading the word to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers about this project.

Project Pillowcase is changing a little.  While we (The Rescue Ministries and Offer Them Christ) are still solely focused on the children in the dumpsites and streets of Cebu, Philippines God is broadening the borders of Project Pillowcase!  Some of our dresses during this round will be going to Nicaragua and Guatemala!

Giving a dress in Jesus' name, July 2011

I am excited and aprehensive at the same time!  While I want to share with others our overflow of dresses I also don't want anyone to lose sight of my precious ones in the Philippines.  But HOW can we turn down the opportunity to spread God's love??  We CAN'T!

I know that God is the God of ALL THINGS and He's GOT THIS!


Jabez prayed for God to expand his territory.  And the Word says, "God granted his request."  When we pray that God will let us reach people, He gives us avenues, opportunities and resources that we don't even have the capacity of which to dream.  It is up to us to take advantage of the open doors and walk through.  God has blessed this Project with people wanting to be involved and we are going to spread the Good News as far as we can!

Please check back often for updates.

Thankful, Sheryl
1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Aris


Meet Aris!  This precious eleven year old boy with expressive eyes and a smile that melts your heart joined WHY just after Christmas 2011.  He is a very respectful boy.  His positive attitude, adventurous ideas and life dreams are endearing to anyone who meets him.




Aris is the fifth of seven children in his family and is currently in grade five.  The family's home is a one room structure near the dumpsite.  Because of having only a third grade education, Aris' father earns a meager income as a laborer and his mother as a scavenger.  This causes a severe financial strain on the family.


Aris is happy to be a new member of the Wesley Home and is need of committed monthly sponsors.  


Can you help this child?  
Give $1 a day to support his education? 
Give $25 a month to support his medical needs?  
What can you do?


Click here to donate to Aris or any other WHY kid.


Thankful, Sheryl

Friday, February 24, 2012

Word

Proverbs 3:27-28

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— 
when you already have it with you.


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Sharon

Twelve year old Sharon is tall with dark skin.  She is a shy girl but very smart and loves to study her subjects. Sharon is 
responsible with her household chores and likes to work in the kitchen. She is friendly with others and is always willing to help her house-siblings.


Before coming to Wesley Home for Youth, Sharon lived with her mother and five siblings beside the lake in the dumpsite.  Their house is made up of wood and not in good condition.

Sharon's father passed away nine years ago leaving her mother as the sole provider.  Most days they can only afford one meal per day which makes education low on the priority list.

Sharon came to Wesley in October 2011 and is happy and thankful to be at Wesley Home. She is adjusting well to the Wesley family and her responsibilities and is thrilled to continue her education.


Sharon is in need of committed monthly sponsors.  I pray you will consider giving financially to support her education, physical and spiritual health needs.  Please click here to give electronically or here for information on how to contact us.


Thankful, Sheryl

Monday, February 13, 2012

Dbelinda

Dbelinda joined Wesley Home for Youth in the fall of 2011.  She is a sociable and happy young girl.  She quickly won the confidence of others when she arrived at Wesley Home and is thrilled with this new opportunity.  


Dbelinda is helpful in the kitchen and is very responsible with her other household chores. She loves to choose vegetables from the garden.  Dbelinda is also active during Bible studies and prepares in advance.  


At only fourteen years of age Dbelinda harbors a great bitterness toward her mother.  After being abandoned by her mother Dbelinda holds her father in very high regard and respects him greatly for all the sacrifice he has made for her and her younger brother, Dan Joel.  Dbelinda prays for her family often, especially during the rain because of the poor conditions of their meager shack in the dumpsite.


Dbelinda maintains good grades in school and really gives a good effort in her studies. She dreams of completing her education so that she can help her elderly father have a good life.

Dbelinda IS IN NEED of committed monthly sponsors.  Please consider giving here to support her nutrition, education, physical needs or spiritual needs.

Thankful, Sheryl

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Have you met Ronilo?

Fifteen year old Ronilo joined Wesley Home for Youth in October 2010.  He is an extremely shy young man, but he is respectful and dependable.  He is faithful in completing his daily chores as well as doing chores that are not assigned to him.  Each day when he leaves for school or returns home he is sure to greet the WHY staff with respect.


Ronilo is currently attending his second year of high school. His favorite subject is Filipino. He is enjoying learning to play guitar from his house-siblings and also enjoys boxing.  He desires to be part of activities but is often held back by his own timid nature.

Ronilo's parents live with their nine children in one of the worst areas inside the dumpsite and his father earns very little as a scavenger.  Because of this Ronilo's mother was eager for him to accept the opportunity to come to Wesley Home for Youth so that he could have 3 nutritious meals each day, attend school daily and live in a safe environment.

Since being at WHY Ronilo has been participating in Bible studies and began a personal relationship with God.  We were blessed to see him be part of the Baptism in July!


When his studies are complete, Ronilo wants to be a policeman. He hopes that he will be able to support himself and his family financially and aid them in getting out of poverty.

Ronilo is in need of committed monthly sponsors!  If you would like to offer support for Ronilo or any other child at Wesley Home for Youth please click here. Your prayers and financial support are essential for these young children. Thank YOU!

Thankful, Sheryl

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Worth

What on this Earth makes you worthy of anything?

How do you measure what you are worth?  How do you find value in yourself?
Cars.
Family.
Relationships.
Job.
Home.
Education.

When I was young, my parents made me feel like a worthy son when I did well at school and went to church. But I struggled with my faith and belief because I wondered if I believed what I said I believed just to please my parents and feel that worth.

As far back to Adam and Eve the human race has been trying to restore our worth and value. 

Over the years, I have learned to find my worth in God… and put my hope in God.  I think that I have been able to make that transition and grow spiritually where I understand and accept. Where I fully embrace the fact that there is nothing good in me. But God fills me up with his Spirit. His grace and mercy have offered me an abundant life.

But then I start to think how I treat others and how I communicate to others about what I value.  Because I want my kids to do well in school, I want them to go to church, I want them to have manners.  I want my employees to work hard, be ethical and turn their work in on time.  But as I reward, as I praise, as I incentivize positive behavior...I am afraid I am communicating that this is their value and worth. Which would be the wrong thing to communicate.

Something I struggle with is saying.. you should do your school work as if you are doing it for God…because He has given us our minds and ability to learn. And by doing well in school and giving God credit for His goodness it is an act of praise. But rarely do I communicate it in this way.    

Colossians 3:22-24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

I hardly ever say, stop hitting and arguing with your brother/sister… honor your family members because they are a gift from God. It almost sounds hokey… and awkward to say something like that.  But it is the truth. And to communicate otherwise, is to miscommunicate to friends, children, co-workers that you value something about them that is outside of God.

And there is nothing good in any of us apart from God.

When I see myself through God’s lens I truly know that God thought of me to lay His life down so that I may have eternal life through Him.

And man does that give me a sense of worth.

Peace, Dustin

Friday, February 3, 2012

Word

Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.