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2005 Stories
Updates, Sharings, Articles
Balik-Diyos (back to God):
Balik-Bahay (back to home):
Balik-Hanapbuhay (back to work):
Balik-Aral (back to school):
Volunteer
Sharings:
9 Years of
Blessing! A Special Lord's Day Celebration
August 13, 2005, Mt. Carmel Parish
Covered Courts
Prayers, God's Word, a lit
candle, bread, grape juice, flowers and cheese graced each table as  children,
parents, families celebrated 9 years of God's provision through a
Lord's Day celebration.
This is a Christianized Jewish
passover ceremony which draws everyone into a spirit of thanksgiving.
Bright beautiful blue table
settings and catering services were shared generously by the Quijano
family, making the event truly special.
Everyone was in high
spirits! The kids loved having their pictures taken and squealed
in delight when they viewed themselves on the volunteers' digital cams. They could hardly stay on their seats with
all the excitement going on!
Meanwhile, the Lingkod ng
Panginoon, a single young professionals community, provided the upbeat
Christian music.
The volunteers were also in a
joyful mood. I met Joanna Raganit, 26, one of the faithful
volunteers since 2001. She heard about He Cares from her sister
Weng who has been serving in the center for quite some time
already.
She says, "Fulfilling
mag-volunteer, masaya". She recounted a time when they were
feeding the kids with rice and meat. One child finished up all
his rice and went back for a refill. Joanna noticed he didn't
touch his meat. When he finished his second helping of rice (with
a bit of ketchup for flavor), he wrappe d up his meat to give
to his father. Joanna has learned to appreciate so many things
she takes for granted because of her experiences with these kids.
Sometimes she says, they have
to partition the softdrinks so they could taste it as this was already
a treat for them.
During the past summer, she
and other volunteers, her sister Weng, Debbie, Melanie, Anna and
others, would go to the He Cares village in Montalban to tutor the kids
there. The hardest part was getting there as it was so far but
this was something they did in shifts to help the scholars of He Cares.
My anniversary would not be
complete if I had not met Aling Letty and her 5 children. Her
kids names all starte d with "J". Joyce Ann, Joanna Marie and
John Carl (picture at right) were all hoping to have sponsors so they
could do well in school.
Specially touching to my
spirit was the photos of the different events and programs by Dr. Mae
that have been steadily gaining support and growing little by little
through the struggles and efforts of the He Cares team (and of course
by God's grace).
Music and riotous raffles and
presentations lasted on through the night, making it one of the most
memorable anniversaries of the foundation ever! Thank You Lord
for 9 years of your provision to the He Cares Foundation!
by Christina Alejandro,
volunteer
*If you
like writing and have time to do articles for the He Cares website and
e-mail newsletter, please
contact us so more people can be inspired by the great stories of
faith that happen daily at He Cares Foundation.
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