MEANS Development Goal: Why do we do what we do? “The goal is to see people transformed to be what God created them to be; people who understand that they are created in the image of God with the gifts, abilities, and capacities to make decisions and to effect change in the world around them; people who steward their lives, communities, resources, and relationships in order to bring glory to God.” Steve Corbett –When Helping Hurts

These are the year-end MEANS ministry projects in the Philippines. We collaborate with our local ministry partners because they have the information, network, capacity and volunteers.

1. Care of Creation – We plant fruit trees native to the local community. The trees will help in greening, clean the air, prevent erosion and flooding in the community.

a. Bohol – Cortes, Bohol – 200 fire tree seedlings were planted in the forest preserve (this project is completed)

b. Cebu – Barangay Busay, Cebu City – to plant fruit trees in the forest preserve

b. San Carlos City, Negros Occidental – bamboo seedlings will be planted along the river banks. In the future, the community can harvest the bamboo for bamboo by-products.

c. Under His Wings – Cagayan De Oro – fruit trees will be planted in the campsite

2. Prison Visit – Our goal is creativity in reaching out to the inmates by sharing Christ’s compassion and bringing the true spirit of Christmas. There will be a Christmas program, distribution of flip-flops, goodies and Christian literature.

a. Burauen Distrck Jail – Burauen, Leyte

b. San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

c. Social Development Center – Taculing, Bacolod

3. Work for a Cause – Send one student. Serve one Community. What is work for a cause? MEANS believes that helping students financially to attend student training seminars should not be a dole out but something that the students will have to earn by cleaning or painting school toilets.

a. Negros Oriental University, Sta Catalina Campus – Dumaguete City

b. Cebu Technical School, Cebu City

4. Protect Children. Child Advocacy – Partnering with local ministry organizations engaging in advocacy that typically seek to protect children’s rights. Posters – we want to reproduce these and distribute to schools in Bacolod.

a. Human trafficking Awareness Program, Bacolod City. MEANS will sponsor local teachers, church leaders and school administrators to attend this seminar.

5. Youth Day – There will be gift giving so the youth will experience the compassion of Christ through this event. Youth day camp is a memorable experience in a child’s life. The opportunity to play games, make new friends, and learn about God’s love in a fun environment is a rare experience for the children we serve. Youth day. Agents of change.

a. Badjao community, Cebu City

b. Daga Elementary School, Cadiz, Negros Occidental

c. Cabunao Elementary School – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

d. Seguinon National High School, Ormoc City, Leyte

e. Tumalaong, Bukidnon – a community of indigent families Under His Wings – serving urban poor communities in Cagayan De Oro

f. Precious Jewel Ministries – ministering to families affected by HIV in Metro Manila

6. Education Scholarship – Our goal is to develop Christian leaders, enabling young men and women to bring change to their families, communities and the nation. These young people are actively involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) programs, attend IVCF leadership training and exercise leadership in their school. The school tuition fees are being provided by the Philippine government for free. So, we supplement their other expenses like school supplies and housing rental. This year we have 5 students from Philippine Normal University, Cadiz, Negros Occidental. This Christmas we will have the opportunity to invite their parents for lunch and give gift baskets with Christmas goodies to these families. Philippine Normal University – Cadiz, Negros Occidental

Greetings in Jesus!  Just want to get in touch with you to inquire how you are doing.    We have been thinking about you and your family and hoping all is well with you.

We have just finished our MEANS Annual Retreat last September 1-3, 2018.  The retreat helped us to refocus our eyes again on the legacy of serving the Lord Jesus Christ in the ministry of MEANS.  We had more time to sit and think about where we stand in terms of our commitment in building God’S kingdom here on earth.

Thank you very much for praying with and for us and the partnership with you in the ministry of MEANS. We would like to pray for you also, so please feel free to share with us your prayer requests.

If you are on Facebook, please send me a private message if you have some prayer requests and I can assure you that we will include you in our prayers every MEANS workday.

Thank you very much and all God’s blessings and best to you.

Lina Padilla

MEANS Board Chair

Interview with the Del Carmen family 

The retreat gave us an opportunity to get to know our newest MEANS volunteers who have been volunteering for one and a half years together with their parents:  the Del Carmen Family.  Edwin and Jerelyn del Carmen, their two children, Elizabeth and Emmanuel and their parents, Boyet and Remy Otinguey Labrador joined the retreat for the first time.  Edwin and Jerelyn are registered nurses in the State of Illinois.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living?

Ed and Jerelyn:  We  are blessed to be RNs, have 2 kids, and new to MEANS.

Remy:  I am a stay at home mother all my life, a master in household chores.

How did you come to know about MEANS?

Kuya Rampi (a MEANS volunteer) is a church mate at Willow Creek Huntley. In February 2017, he asked us if we have Filipino friends in the area, since we just moved to Huntley in December 2015 and my parents just arrived in November 2016. He invited us to come to their house every third Saturday of the month as there is an “activity” in their basement. We got curious and first came in March 2017.

Why do you want to volunteer at MEANS?

Good food for good people with good talk/fellowship!  As we came month by month, we learned to love the mission and the core values of MEANS. We want to be individuals that spread the Gospel, help the needy, and partner with missionaries. We want to become channels of blessings by contributing our time and skills.

Looking at long-time volunteers, it made us amazed at the commitment they have to the group. Their kids grew up in a community of believers and so we hope the same for our kids too. We long to be surrounded by wise people, who could mold, guide, and encourage us to use the  God-given talents that we have. The MEANS Prayer Link helps a lot too, making us confident that a group of people is praying to God on our behalf.

Remy:  I contribute a dish each workday. I feel happy whenever the food that I bring is appreciated.

What is your impression on your first workday at MEANS?

Overwhelmed and confused but felt welcomed! Though we did not understand fully the process or system at first, we felt that we belonged and decided to come again to learn more about the group and its projects.

This is your first year with MEANS. What have you learned as a volunteer?

We have learned that there are still selfless people from all walks of life, gifted individuals that come together every month, generous human beings who are willing to share their time, talents and treasures to expand and further God’s kingdom. In addition, we’ve learned that God will pour joy in your heart as you let Him use you as channels of blessings to reach out to people and His ministries.

What is your dream for MEANS?

That God will continue to use MEANS to bless people in East Asia through the many projects, that He will encourage donors to give more and keep their trust in the ministry.