Yesterday was another great day here in Manila. Pastor Richard along with Mike Miller picked me up at my hotel in the afternoon and we headed for Malanday, a region where six Bryce Homes are located.  We were greeted by an afternoon heavy downpour on the way as well as the traffic that clogs the Pasig City streets almost twenty-four hours every day.

Finally after a full hour we arrived at our destination. The Malanday area is where Pastor Richard and his wife Bernadette have established a church among some of the poorest people in the Manila area. Most of the people that live in this region have been moved there by the government from shanty areas and given some assistance to construct shelters. Some of the shelters are acceptable by western standards but most are not. It is in this area that we have reached out to some of the poorest families attending Richard’s church for the purpose of establishing six more Bryce Homes.

As darkness was approaching quickly we only had time to visit four of the six homes. Later today when we return to the area for the Understand The Times Christmas Program which will be for all the poor children in the area we will visit the remaining two homes.

While the Philippine government provides free education for all children, the families in this area are so poor they are not able to send their children to school as they are not able to provide food and clothing. In some cases they will be able to send one child to school but the remaining children in the family must remain at home and work. The Bryce Homes Philippine Program comes along side families in situations like this and assists them financially on a monthly basis so the children can attend school.

While all children in Bryce Homes Program have benefited spiritually and physically over the three full years the program has been in place, there is one handicapped boy who touched my heart from the beginning that I want to mention. Initially when I met Russel and his mother he was very withdrawn and frightened. He did not want to communicate in any way with me. It was obvious that he needed special education and care because of his condition. Now after three years you would hardly know he is the same boy. While clearly stating a number of English words he hugged me expressing his appreciation. In fact, he did not want to leave my side and followed me everywhere I went. His mother told me he is improving every day and loves to attend his special education classes. She also hugged me with appreciation and with tears in her eyes.

Russel And Papa Roger

The children I visited in the remaining three homes we visited yesterday were also very grateful. One of the purposes of my trip here, this time, was to give the parents of each home a special Christmas gift from Understand The Times to assist their families at this special time of the year and to encourage them. These gifts were made possible by the generous donations we have received from donors through Understand The Times.

Christmas Cash from UTT

Several of our Bryce Homes are in dire need of physical reconstruction. While we do not have the funds to assist now we will look at this possibility in the future. As well, there are at least three other families who attend Richard’s church who are in great need of sending their children to school and would fit well into our program here. As our donors express their support we will pass these funds on to Pastor Richard who oversees our program here in the Philippines.

Bryce Home 2 Needs Repair

Later today we will be returning to Malanday for our Christmas Party. I brought, with me, several packages of Christmas candy which most of the children will have never experienced before. We will also provide bags of rice for their families so that many lives will be blessed.

Just before we left, Mike Miller felt upon his heart to provide a special cash donation to the lady who volunteers her time to help cook every week for the feeding program. This has become a community that has become united together because of the goodness they have seen distributed from others around the world who have expressed their love and concern. It is because of Mike Miller and his love for the Lord that God led me to this area.

For me, the progress that I have seen as the gospel of Jesus Christ is being spread in the Philippines, is very gratifying. I know that my son Bryce would be excited and grateful to see what has been accomplished here in the Philippines in his memory.

Tomorrow I will be reporting on the Christmas party for all the poor children in the Malanday region.