Attitude determines Altitude!

WELCOME to our NEW Lifenet blog to keep our friends and supporters updated on the work here in Cagayan de Oro.

Thank you so much for being a partner with us and joining together on this journey of restoring and equipping vulnerable children!

HOUSE OF JOSHUA SEPTEMBER UPDATE:

With 23 kids with us in residential care, there is never a boring or dull day.

We have taken in 5 new children in the past few months and had to turn away referrals for 4 other children as we just don’t have enough funds to take in any more at this point. Our new kids are aged 3 – 10 years old which brings a different dynamic to the home, with energetic boys leaping and diving around and little girls singing Disney songs from the movie Moana’ at the top of their voices!

PICTURE: Elementary girls selected to compete in the volleyball team in the District competition.

Two of our younger boys were not able to enroll in school as there were no more places available at the local public schools which are over populated with 40+ students in each kindergarten class. They have instead joined nursery class as there is nothing else available locally for them

Our Alternative Learning System students have been disappointed and frustrated this year as their exam has been postponed multiple times. It was rescheduled for the 8th October and so we are waiting to hear if it will go ahead or be cancelled again. Their team work and positive attitudes have remained despite the challenges and they were rewarded 2 weeks ago as they won the district competition for cultural dance performance.

1 Elementary student also won first place for a poster making competition sponsored by the Barangay council as part of the Buwan ng Wika (Filipino Month) activities. He was awarded P1000 for his winning artwork which he is excited to spend on new jeans and shoes!.

PRAYERS FOR:

•  The court case hearing re-scheduled this month for one of our children who was abused before joining us at HOJ. Counselling is on-going and the hearing has been postponed last minute several times which has caused some disturbance and distress as the child has unfortunately had to face the perpetrators while waiting outside the court.

PLEASE PRAY that this will be the final hearing and that justice will be delivered so that the child can move forward with their healing and restoration process, particularly in the areas of self-acceptance, safe relational boundaries, personal value and forgiveness.

• ·         Improvement of self-esteem of several children from neglected backgrounds. This is an area that manifests through poor hygiene, self-neglect, lack of motivation to learn or try new things, resistance to change and emotional mood swings. It severely affects some children’s basic mental and emotional functioning, education and social skills.

PLEASE PRAY for healing of negative self-worth, painful memories and forgiveness towards parents who failed to care for them.

• Those who have been discharged from House of Joshua; Two transition care youth are now staying with local families but the transition into more independent living and changes to their personal, social and relational environment has been challenging as well as starting new schools and trying to learn how to be part of a new family.

PLEASE PRAY for their adjustment, development of maturity and stability of heart and mind.

• This month we have started our ‘Drop Box’ initiative to try to  enable local churches to practically help us at House of Joshua  by contributing small donations of simple items such as toiletries, dried food, rice, or school supplies into a provided box and commit to pray regularly too.  It is our hope and prayer that this opportunity will enable the local church community to connect with the needs of local children and the combined and sustained efforts of the church family will demonstrate love and care in a practical and measurable way for each one of them. 

PLEASE PRAY that the churches joining us will be able to effectively connect their members to the heart of the ministry and that this partnership development may strengthen our support.

Picture: Drop boxes ready for partner churches.

Lastly we would like to request prayers for our staff and volunteers as they continue to pour out their time, effort, and care into our children. It is not an easy job at all and so your ongoing prayers for refreshed vision, ideas, increased passion, patience and compassion are greatly appreciated!

PICTURE: Team training and development as part of our ongoing monthly staff training program.

Our attitudes to challenges and obstacles really determine the altitude height that can enable us to rise and soar to overcome them......great lessons as we keep focused on moving upwards!

THANK YOU so much for your prayers and support - we will be updating again next month!!