Here are some amazing people that have come and blessed the ranch with
their time, love, creativity, talents, gifts
and the list goes on.....
thank you! You are the missing pieces of the FHL puzzle that makes us complete!
November 25, 2010
Heaven on Earth – FHL TESTIMONY BY CAROL
What a wonderful 10 days I have had at the Faith, Hope
and Love Kid's Ranch. My heart has been so touched by the warmth, caring and
outpouring of love from the children, staff and visitors. How it thrilled my
heart to walk through the camp and hear "Amazing Grace" played on the
recorder-flutes, coming from the kid's room, or hear a child practicing a song
on the piano that I shared with them. The one-on-one time of working on art
projects, listening to their life stories, seeing their creativity, and hearing
their goals for their lives, was a great opportunity to bond with the children
in a way that I could not have imagined. I received so much more that I ever
expected or hope for.
I had such fun bringing snow to the Philippines and
seeing the kid's reaction. It did not stay cold long, but long enough to make
some great pictures. Whatever we did, where ever we went, we sang, laughed,
hugged and sometimes cried, as we praised God for healing, for opportunity and
for bringing us all together in this heaven on Earth.
How amazing that God orchestrated a group of
visitors/teachers, all with a New Mexico connection to FHL! It was such a joy
to see how everyone here worked together for a common goal of service to the
children. No one was competing for attention; no ego needed to be fed with some
special attention; just God's servants, loving, giving, praising, sharing our
relationship to Jesus, listening and learning from the children and from each
other.
To me it has been as close a model to heaven on Earth
that I've ever been privledged to see, to feel, to absorb, to carry with me for
the rest of life. God willing, next year I will get to come back for more!
Written by Carol __________________________________________________________________________________________
It’s been a very interesting month. Many
amazing things have happened. I guess you can call it a bitter-sweet month. I
really don’t know where to start with the bitter or the sweet.?? In our lives,
we need both to appreciate life and become the people God wants us to be.
The youth at the ranch went to a 3 day camp
in Bulacan about 5 hours from the ranch.
It was a good adventure for them. They experienced a little culture
shock getting out of the ranch and seeing how other young “Christians”
behave. It was a very fruitful time but
very challenging too.
We’ve had many visitors this month. Our
retired teachers are still with us since last month teaching and helping out.
They leave at the end of November. They make all kinds of art projects with the
kids and the kids love it. We had 2 Aussies come and spend a couple of weeks
with us with the heart to look for others to pick up after the kids are
finished with high school. Their burden is to help us find colleges, vocational
schools or on the job training for them when they leave the ranch. We have 2 ladies from the USA helping us with
the life books that we need for each of the children at the ranch.
August update
Picture this for a minute. 40 city kids that are abandoned, orphaned and neglected. Another 40 kids from the province that are abandoned, orphaned, neglected and abused. Put them together for 10 hours straight and what do you get??? A BLAST!!! There was no problems for the whole day. I can’t really describe it but it was amazing. We have made friends with another orphanage from Manila called, ”My Father’s House”.
Last month, we had a seminar at their place sharing with them our discipline system with bracelets and others parenting tips. It was their turn to visit us. They brought most of their kids (40 out of 60) to spend the whole day at the ranch. They arrived at 8AM (they left Manila at 5am) and went back to Manila at 6pm. They brought lunch for all our kids and we prepared dinner.
We had a program with music, teaching, testimonies and games. It was a full day.!! I lost my voice the next day. The kids bonded together with the love of Jesus.
All of their kids are ready to be adopted. They have mastered the process and are helping us to figure it out. I thank God for our new friendship with MFH.
Catherine volunteered last month to help with their homeschooling. It’s the same system we use. (ACE) After the month was over, they asked if she could stay and continue to help. She works half day Monday to Thursday. She does her school work in the afternoon. She takes a bus home Thursday afternoon all by herself. Not really! God is with her. She’s so much like me, it’s scary!! Hehehe Very independent but dependent on the Lord.
On the Job Training (Care Giving) 5th batch
It’s been a sweet time to spend with these young people that come to learn “care giving”. They join the kids in their chores, devotions, school, meal time and even when they sleep. They have shared how disciplined the children are and happy to be disciplined is what is most surprising to them. The FHL kids have been an incredible testimony to people that don’t know the bible. They are literally walking bibles. Who can say no or it’s not true after living with walking bibles for 10 days straight.? These young lives have been changed forever. After the 10 days are over and go home, they want to come back!
July update
Micah is our middle son. He turned 18 years old July 4. He is the kind of
person that can get along with anyone. It doesn’t matter how, horrible,
naughty, nasty, hot-headed, lazy …… you know what I’m trying to say!!! When he was a baby, I would try to imagine
how he would look when he got old. It
seems like yesterday I was trying to imagine and now before my very eyes, there
he is!! 18 years old ready to graduate high school in-between taping for a Filipino tv series, photo shoots
and recording music for their upcoming
album.
Micah and his older brother,
dj have an awesome relationship. They
have always been close since they were little. If Micah didn’t have the
personality that he has, they would be like other brothers, full of jealousy,
power trips, competition & other struggles. I would call him a
peacemaker.
;)
Hi! My name
is Micah. I grew up in a Christian family.
I truly believed & received Christ when I was
6 years old . Some parents think if they
raise their children in a Christian way, they will turn out Okay.
Most “Christian” Teens struggles with their
parents & worlds expectations of having to be different. So they begin to
think it’s impossible to be a real teenage Christian that loves and follows
Christ daily. It wasn’t
easy for me
either but it is not impossible.
The
strange thing is that my parents never forced us to have devotions and read the
bible. They were just the example for us to see and we follow that example.
EXAMPLE IS EVERYTHING! I am who I am not because my
parents want me to be this way but because I love God and I love my
parents.
Now that my brother and I are
in the entertainment industry, there are a lot of temptations. We are proud to be different than the others
because we would rather be admired for our character & standards than our
looks & talents. (my mom added the last part. hehehe)
I would like to encourage all
the teens that read this that you can live for Jesus! Don’t be ashamed! Our
reward can’t compare to the
persecution you might face.
We might not be “liked” but we will be respected & it will bring
honor and glory to God !! That’s what our purpose is in life anyway, right?.
BUILDING
IS 90% DONE!
We
received a letter from the government
stating that they will check our
place in August for Accreditation. I guess that means if they see that we are
following the adoption/foster care program and other policies, we are in! We just want to help children have
a fair chance at life.
After the building was built, I was discouraged
thinking that it wouldn’t be used because we need to send kids back with their
families if they wouldn’t sign them out for adoption. Looks like the building will be used for
those older kids “independent living” above 15 yrs old. They will study Mon–
Fri and go home on the weekends. At least they will be able to finish their
education. Lord willing, we will be able to finish what we started in some of
the kids. Our goal is to help them
finish high school and hopefully even college. We will do whatever it takes to
help them.
Answer to prayer
· Dj and Micah finally found a
house in Manila. Since they started paying rent, they haven’t had any shootings
or recordings. “Weird”!
· We’ve had 2 great weeks with
Dj and Micah. They made a new video with the kids.
· An orphanage from Manila
came to visit us to check out our home school . They know all the ropes in
foster care/adoption and will help us
learn the process (since it is required now) and we will help them get their
home school going.
Prayer Request
· Learning the process of
adoption/foster care
· Mary Rose and her baby
· The children that return
back to their families.
· Catherine is in Manila for a
month helping another orphanage.
“Choices”
This
is our focus this month. The children come up with songs, verses and skits
about making good and bad choices. They
acted out Daniel and the lions den. Lots of choices in that story. For the
king, Daniel and the lions. Choices are
something we have to deal with everyday from waking up in the morning to when we go to bed at night. It’s crucial for
kids to know their purpose in life. It’s
makes all the difference in their daily choices. Children learn from watching
their parents, teachers and other adults make choices. We are the greatest
teacher on how they will make choices in their future by watching us. This is what the FHL kids came up with
encourage making right choices.
C- Choose with common sense
H- Honestly & humbly
O- Obey with a happy heart
I- Impact the world by your
example
C- Carefully weigh your every
move
E- Eternal life is the reward
for right choices
S– Stand firm against pier pressure
JUNE 2010
Prayer Request
· The children
that have to go back to their families as recommended by the government.
· The children
up for adoption as recommended by the government.
· Our Social
Worker is due to have her baby this month. (Mary Rose)
· On the Job
Training students—to be able to minister to them during the 10 days at the
ranch.
· Raising up
leaders in the FHL Fellowship. (Neill, Andro & Dick)
· We need
rain!!!!
Praises
“answers to our prayers”!
1. Uncle John’s 10th trip here to be with the kids for 14 precious
days.
2. All of the kids have had their
yearly medical and dental checkup and all happy and healthy.
3. The donations are over and above
our needs. We don’t even ask anyone!
God is a Faithful Father to the
fatherless.
DENTAL MISSION
10 FHL kids got their teeth
pulled and the rest got a yearly checkup right at the ranch. Thanks to Mrs. Marie from Manila who offered
her services.
It’s been 2 weeks already
since we started the construction of the 3rd house for another batch of 20
kids. Two of construction workers are my
brother-in-laws. One is our part time cook. The younger boys are the sons of
our Caregivers. The others are our neighbors that attend church with us. They
have devotions in the morning with the FHL staff at 7:00am to 7:30. They are
studying through the book of Proverbs with Celing.(My husband)
So far, we already have 2
duplexes with 20 each living in them. We
now have a total of 40 kids.
The Awesome Aussies will be
coming April 5 to 14 to help complete the building. They have already helped us to build the
office a few years ago. This will be their 2nd project at the Ranch.
Answered
Prayer & Prayer Request
J More rain! It rained for the first time in months. We
need more!!!!
J Rochelle—One of the young girls wants to be transferred
to a place with no rules. I don’t
exactly know where that is. Please pray for her!
J The FHL church is growing in number because of the
children ‘s outreaches to the schools.
J Outreaches to the school! We have done 4 already and
the fruit is amazing.
J Vacation Bible School is coming up this summer. April
14, 15 & 16.
J Awesome Aussies coming to build April 5-14
J Jessa, our first girl at the ranch in 2004. She will be
18 next month and is living out of the
ranch. She is still finishing up
high-school with us. She works as a caregiver fri, sat & sun nights. The government calls it “independent living”.
Prep for the real world!
MARCH UPDATE
It’s been 2 weeks already
since we started the construction of the 3rd house for another batch of 20
kids. Two of construction workers are my
brother-in-laws. One is our part time cook. The younger boys are the sons of
our Caregivers. The others are our neighbors that attend church with us. They
have devotions in the morning with the FHL staff at 7:00am to 7:30. They are
studying through the book of Proverbs with Celing.(My husband)
So far, we already have 2
duplexes with 20 each living in them. We
now have a total of 40 kids.
The Awesome Aussies will be
coming April 5 to 14 to help complete the building. They have already helped us to build the
office a few years ago. This will be their 2nd project at the Ranch.
Answered
Prayer & Prayer Request
J More rain! It rained for the first time in months. We
need more!!!!
J Rochelle—One of the young girls wants to be transferred
to a place with no rules. I don’t
exactly know where that is. Please pray for her!
J The FHL church is growing in number because of the
children ‘s outreaches to the schools.
J Outreaches to the school! We have done 4 already and
the fruit is amazing.
J Vacation Bible School is coming up this summer. April
14, 15 & 16.
J Awesome Aussies coming to build April 5-14
J Jessa, our first girl at the ranch in 2004. She will be
18 next month and is living out of the
ranch. She is still finishing up
high-school with us. She works as a caregiver fri, sat & sun nights. The government calls it “independent living”.
Prep for the real world!
FEBRUARY UPDATE 2010
It started when my daughter, Catherine, talked to one of her teachers about the FHL kids going into the local schools to share their lives through song, dance, skits, and testimonies. When the ranch supervisor talked to the principal in our neighborhood about doing a one hour program, we were accepted with open arms.
The first school we visited had 545 elementary students. They all sat on the cement floor outside their classroom, where a stage had been set up. The FHL kids were a little nervous; but when it was over, the joy they had was worth all the butter-flies.
There are three more schools set up for the kids to share again over the next month.
Christians know by experience that when you start reaching out and sharing what God is doing in your life, the enemy will always attack. Of course, we know that “greater is He who is in us than He that is in the world.” When you understand why the attack is coming, and who the attack is coming from, you see the purpose for it and are strengthened by it instead of weakened by it. Everything has a purpose, even trials!
The challenges in life keep us trusting and growing in our walks with Jesus. It is important that the kids see how we handle trials, because we are their living example of how to handle trials in their own lives. It’s one thing to talk about handling trials, but it’s another to live it out.
It’s almost like the Lord is weeding His FHL garden. We are complying with the government by visiting all the kids’ families to see if they can now care for their kids. To reunite them with their families is success in the government’s eyes. The people in authority actually see the kids being reunited with their family as the ultimate goal, but we would like to see them finish their High School and even college studies under our care. Since 2009, five kids have been reunited with their families. We were sad to see them go, because we will never know if they will finish their education or not. I have to keep re-minding myself that God is their Father and loves them more than I ever will.
God sees and understand the BIG picture. We just have to do our part and let them go.
MINISTRY
REPORT for January 2010
Date: January 15, 2010
The FHL Kids went out on Dec. 21
– Jan 3 to different family and friends for the holidays. It was a time for
them to see how other people live. It’s their time to share what they’ve
learned about Jesus with their relatives through the changes in their new life
style. We receive many compliments on
how much they’ve grown not only physically but also emotionally and
physically. It gets them out of their
comfort zone and causes them to stretch their wings a bit little by little.
One relative took in 3 of their
nieces and nephew for a week before returning to the ranch. They have only been
here for 7 months. She was amazed at the changes she saw in such a short time.
She was so thankful that her nieces and nephew were in a safe, disciplined and
loving environment. Without God, this wouldn’t be possible because it’s very
hard to change the heart of a child that has just lost their mother, their dad
hurts them (to the point of now being wanted by the police) and then put in the
government facility.
My sister and 2 kids along with
my parents are still here and are leaving Jan 22. They were here through the
holidays. It was a great time with family and just relaxing. No pressure of
having to keep up with Christmas shopping and doing all that traditional stuff
that causes extra pressure and stress. WE just kicked back and enjoyed God’s
presences in our lives as we celebrated Jesus birth in a simple stress-free
environment.
We were able to bless our staff
& neighbors that have been attending church with a bag of goodies and some
rice after a dinner together. We gave each family a bible and a daily bread
tagalog devotional.
We celebrated our 7th
Anniversary at the ranch this Jan 17.
It was a day to bringing Glory to the
King for His amazing grace, provision and wisdom this 09.
Prayer Requests:
1. Kids went out (Dec. 21-Jan 3) all had a good report except 2.
2. My brother-in-law arrived safe
and returned safe 2 weeks later.
3. The upcoming paper work and
renewal of many requirements for 2010.
4. To know Gods plan for the Bible
School this year.
(It’s now being used to hold groups that come for team building, outing
and Sunday school. )
5.
To be able to transfer CM’s sister from another center to be with him.
6.
Looking for a house in Manila for dj and Micah to rent while they start
recording.
Praises!
1.
Jholo has fully recovered and has a new outlook on life and others! Expensive
lesson.
2. The spiritual growth of the church will be
strong.
3. Aussies
changed their plans till March and have enough to build another house
for more angels.
4. Dj and Micah will
be getting voice lessons to strength and
improve their voice !!!!!
They will start recording this month. They
need to move to manila so we need a place to rent for them. (Protection in
Manila)
5. Had an awesome celebration for
our 7th Anniversary of the ranch!
Bhaby Ruth Surio Kiddo of the Year
Hi my name is Bhaby Ruth. I have been
here at the ranch for four years. I’m now 12 years old. Before, I lived with my
parents but they could not take care of me. So I lived with my grandmother.
Santos & Leanne Tapia
Santos, Seth,
Sierra, Leanne
The
Tapia family testimony
My parents have gone to the ranch every year,
and every year they come back talking about how the kids changed there life.I
decided last year to come with my family for 21 days and see for myself. After
the 21 days was over my kids didn’t want to go home. My children weren’t
the same when we got back to the states, all we could talk about was the kids
at the ranch.
A few months later we decided to book
tickets and go for two months.
You think in your mind how you are going to
help these kids but as time goes by you see how they impact your life and how
you think. They have been through so much at such a young age, but to see them
bloom in such a
short time with the love of Christ and discipline with love is amazing. The
peace, joy and love they give when you are their is incredible. You would
never think there is 43 kids there. I have been around 5 kids that felt
like 50. You walk away being the one to be helped. Don’t wait till you have
time or money, the blessing is too great to miss out on. It is a place where
you can step back and slow down enough to reflect what it is we are really here
for.
Don’t wait .....life is too short....
Tapia family
Staff of the Year
Neil
Tolentino
I’m Neill C. Tolentino, 22 years of
age. I’ve been at the ranch since
January 2008. I was a dedicated Catholic before, I joined a lot of Catholic organizations because I thought that those
things will help me to be close to God. I was a member of Knights of the Altar
for six-seven years, I stayed at the church in Sariaya with the priests and I
just went home once a week. When I was an altar boy, I realized that I wanted
to serve God, so after high school I planned to be a priest. I even went to a
seminary in Quezon City for 1 week because I thought that was my calling.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out well so I decided to change my plan. I
took BS Accountancy & after graduation, I went to Singapore. I met a lot of
Christians in Singapore, but I refused to listen because I thought I am a
Catholic, why should I change my religion. They’re just disturbing me so why
should I listen to them.
After six months, I went home &
God guided me to be here. I still remember the first time I went to Mommy
Lorraine when my mother & I applied as volunteers. She’s so kind, and I
respect her a lot, she’s a blessing. God is so great to show me the true meaning
of a Christian. At first, it was hard for me to listen, because that’s not what
the priests have told me. But everyday in our devotion , God used Daddy Celing
to open my heart & follow it. And that is to accept Christ. Since then,
everyday was a blessing. Lamar family, the kids, they’re great because they
made me realized that God loves each one of us. FHL is a blessing to our
family, my father & my family changed because of FHL. I’m thankful because
God showed me the reason why I’m here, why God put me to this place. God is
always in control, so follow your heart, follow GOD. Neil
