Barangay Arboretum, change in direction, trials

This morning I talked with a friend from home. There are family issues arising from work, sickness and stress rising from all of it. I quickly called him after reading an email. I was praying with Moina for them, crying, praying to God to intercede. In all of it though, I know God has it’s purpose for it. I was brought at ease knowing that he stays close with the Word and fellowship. I will continue to pray for the family and their health and love for each other. This exactly the time where people should not isolate themselves and it so fitting that God supplied me and friends with wisdom yesterday to stay in fellowship, to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and to turn to Him for everything. He’s teaching us of perseverance.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2 – 8

3rd week at Barangay Arboretum
I just got back from Philcoa, from the community we are going to begin developing and helping out at. We initially were going to do composting and solid waste management. It has changed as it takes too long to plan and that would be a project that would require so much approval. Instead, we will be concentrating initially for a smaller project that we can implement quickly. Zandro and I already discussed to provide activities for the kids from songs and learning about Jesus Christ, basic education like reading and writing, and for the older kids activities like sports or teaching them business skills. I really want to push some type of computer education or skills to them but I will have to figure out the logistics of bringing equipment and a table and canopy. The important thing to teach them all is love and kindness, and inspiration to learn; learn about their lives and purpose from God.

Some notes and events that happened since we last visited them:

• Person we met last week that was rounding up some dogs hanged and killed himself. He was charged for a prior rape
• A little girl of 6 years old got molested in the forest
• More people are smoking Shabu in the forest, this is methamphetamine.
• The representatives we met with are Ate Claire and Rolando
• They both expressed of more problems or needs:
  -people needing medicine and rabies shots-people stealing electric/phone cables for money -cases of dengue (infectious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes typically tropical regions. It is characterized by high fever and severe headaches and joints.)
  -people stealing neighbors things to use or to sell
  -there are 15 volunteers willing to go around the area to patrol the area to rid people of committing crime. But they need flashlights and walkie talkies. This was their biggest concern o they can minimize crime and potentially save some people from harm

I really wanted to take pictures of the people and the area we were in but it’s not a good idea right now as they may feel apprehensive or suspicious of what we are trying to do. I will begin doing a recap of the events at the locations outside of the area with video so friends and family can see roughly the surrounding neighborhood. We will convene with more friends from the foundation tomorrow and see what we shall do for next Saturday.

Here is how packed it always is in the skytrain called MRT.


I took a picture of a sign warning about pick-pockets. Yeah, I got pick-pocketed last week. I should have read this sign =)


Here is a video from the typhoon that hit today. The thunder is super loud and the rain and wind are crazy.