Christmas Sunday Celebration

Hope for Tomorrow Sundays have become an anticipated tradition for our families.  Everyone loves the time of worship, wonderful fellowship, fun games for all ages, and a delicious lunch together.  Christmas Sunday was no different.  Because Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, I wanted to make this Hope for Tomorrow sunday extra special as we took time to celebrate Jesus birth!!

   

Because most of our families have lots of children, Sunday School is always at maximum capacity.  We have loved getting to know the siblings of all the children.  Christmas morning was no exception.  There were so many children in the Sunday School it was literally standing room only.  There was no room to even sit on the floor...only stand.  Luckily one of the young people from church, Criselle, had agreeded to help teach the kids!!

   

The children enjoyed celebrating Jesus' birth with a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party.  After sharing the story of "The Crippled Lamb" the children enjoyed fun games of Jesus Bingo, Place Baby Jesus in the Stable, and Pass the Present.  With each game the children won prizes.  They had so much fun choosing small toys (that had been donated by one of our sponsors) as their prizes.  What a special present these prizes were to the children.

   

While the children celebrated Jesus birth, the parents were reminded of the blessings we receive because God sent his Son.  Our families have a hard life, but we often remind them through the trials there are many blessings!  Its these reminders that we hope they take time to thank God for what they have been given and how God is working in their lives.

On this Sunday (thanks to a special donation from one of the sponsors), each of the families received a coupon for a "blessing".  After church, the families redeemed their coupons from Gepher for ten pounds of Rice.  The mothers faces were plastered with smiles as they would be able to use this to help feed their families.  What a special blessing this was for the families.

   

Thanks to a special donation ("blessing") one of our sponors gave us, we were able to surprise our families with a delicious Christmas lunch.  After service we shared in a special Christmas lunch of lechon (rosted pig), chicken adobo, rice, and fruit salad.  While everyone ate their lunch, we showed the movie "The Crippled Lamb".  The children gathered around closely to the laptop as they didn't want to miss a single second of the movie!

This Christmas is one we will never forget.  Christmas is suppose to be about Jesus and the promises, blessing, and hope His birth has brought to us.  This is exactly what this day was about for us and our families!!  We are so very greatful to have shared this special day with these special people...people who often are forgotten by society...but people that God loves (and we love too)!!

The Nativity Story Performance

The children did such a good job performing the Nativity Story for their parents and families that we wanted to share it with you.  Since you couldn't be there in person, we wanted you to share in the true meaning of the season with us.

Merry Christmas from the Hope for Tomorrow Children.  May God continue to bless you as you have shared your many blessings with these special children.

The Nativity Story

On Saturday, 12/17, the children performed for their parents the "Nativity Story".  They acted out the birth of Jesus as Gepher read an adaptation from Luke 2.  The children were so excited to wear their special costumes.  The children began the program by singing "Water from the Well" followed by our high school stdent, MC quoting John 3:16.

The parents beamed with pride as they watched their child perform their part.  The auditorium was full of parents and families  We were so blessed to be able to share the true meaning of Christmas through this special presentation.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

 

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

 


Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”


So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Then King Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.”  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.


On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

 

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means,…God With Us!


Following the very special presentation, the families were given  food basket to show them just how much we and the sponsors love and care for not just their children but the entire family. 

The families were so surprised to receive such a specal and unexpected gift.  They could not stop smiling and saying "Salamat" (which is Cebuano for Thank You).  This is truely one Christmas story these families will never forget!!

   

   

Student of the Week - Joan Manghila

Joan is a quiet but special little girl.  She has 5 brothers and sisters.  Her mother does not work but will sell fish occasionally to bring in extra income for the family.  Her father is a carpenter.

Joan is repeating the 3rd grade.  Before Hope for Tomorrow, she struggled in school.  This was evident in her confidence and the extra help she needed in the after school program.  Since Hope for Tomorrow she is reaching new heights in the classroom.  On her most recent report card, she received the highest grades she has ever achieved!  The teacher also gave raving remarks about her conduct and leadership in the classroom.

We are so excited to see Joan transform into the beautiful butterfly we always knew was deep inside of her.  She is smiling more and standing a little taller.  She is spreading her wings and beginning to soar in her studies, confidence, and self-esteem.

The Angels Are Rejoicing

On Saturday, one of our older Hope for Tomorrow students, Jenny Requieron, accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior through baptism.  Jenny has been coming to church for over a year.  For the past six months, she has been studying with Gepher along with our intern, Benjoseph.

Jenny is currently getting her high school degreen through the Accelerated Learning System. This program is designed for overaged students to finish their education.

We could not be more proud of the decision she has made. We are rejoicing with the angels over this new sister in Christ!

A Season of Thanksgiving

This morning in Bible class, we studied the story of Joshua "fighting" against Jericho so that God's people could enter into the Promised Land.  We talked about how we are to obey God (even when it sounds silly) and that when He delievers on His promises we should take time to give Him Thanks.

Even though Thanksgiving is not a Filipino holiday, I wanted to explain the meaning of Thanksgiving and use the story to help the children think of things they were thankful for.  As I passed out construction paper and crayons we began listing things we might be thankful for:  family, friends, church, school, food, clothing, etc.  Each child began to draw a picture of what they were thankful for.

The children were anxious to show me their pictures and share with me what they were thankful for.  I will never forget the picture Rica Chan drew this morning.  When she revealed her picture to me it was a picture of a school along with me and Gepher.  WOW!!  I never imagined that one of these precious children would draw a picture of us.

God used that picture this morning to remind me of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.  That picture reminded me of one of the many things we are thankful for this year.  Gepher and I are SO VERY THANKFUL for the support, prayers, and love for this ministry.  Without you, Rica would not be thankful for us and for school.  You are helping us make a difference and change these children's lives.  We are forever grateful for the money, gifts, school supplies, cothing, and prayers you are providing these children and this ministry.  On behalf of 28 special little children, Gepher and I say THANK YOU!

Happy Birthday Mrs. Marlene!!

Today we surprised the children at lunch time. As we pulled up, Jenelyn peaked in the passenger window and began to tell all the other children, "Its kuya Gepher and ate Andrea!!" We were greeted with smiles and hugs (as they did not expect to see us).

   

The surprise of our arrival was quickly overshadowed by the cake we unloaded from the backseat. Immediately the air was filled with "oh's and ah's". The children immediately ran into the building ahead of us and began to sing a spontaneous "Happy Birthday" to Mrs Marleen. Marleen cooks and serves lunch to the children three times a week. It was so much fun to surprise the children and give Marlene the special birthday celebration she deserved.