Isaiah
58:6-7"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish... sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and homeless,
clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own."
God's
word truly bears abundant fruit! In response to this Word,
and in observance of the Lenten season, some members of the
Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (Joy
of the Lord) community, wished to become channels of God's blessings
to our brothers and sisters in the Erap City, Montalban.
They
celebrated the Easter season with them last April 25, 2006.
Targetting only 60 families, they were able to reach out to
70 (!!!) 'adopting' and praying for them over Easter time.
How
wonderful was the 'He Cares community' welcome on that day!
They provided the guests with
entertainment in their brightly decorated clustered homes
(like a fiesta) with the bandaritas, signs and
the children were all smiles as always.
The
event was blessed at the start with a charismatic mass.
After which there was a heart-rending sharing from a sis. Ester
from He Cares.
Sis.
Ester's home was in the squatters area and after a while it
was demolished. She and her 9 children had nowhere to
live. They would wander around and sometimes sleep beside
the chapel she would clean during the day to earn a living.
Once
she was even about to give birth but no one would take her in.
She recalled how ashamed she was to admit that at night, she
would not even know where her children would be, calling out
to them to find them. Then she noticed that when they
would arrive they were well fed and clean. She asked them
where they had been. That's when she first learned about
He Cares. Now they
have a home
to call their own.
Afterwards,
each family home was prayed for and presented with a Filipino
bible and a crucifix for them to constantly enthrone God in
their midst.
Then
came the sumptious potluck lunch -
fried chicken, spaghetti, pancit molo, hotdogs
and ice cream enough for more than 400 people!
They
were also able to distribute 120 lootbags to the children.
A special thank you to Therese Hong and Colgate Palmolive for
the boxes and boxes of toothpaste, shampoo and soap they were
able to distribute in the loot bags.
Many thanks to
those who prayed for their adopted families and extended material
blessings in cash and in kind as the answers to their prayers
(a la "Wish ko Lang"). Many of the families
received all they asked for (even a colored TV!) and even more!
He Cares Foundation will distribute all the donations so that
everyone will benefit
Your generosity
will help build their homes as well as their hearts with the
knowledge of God's provision.
*If
your club or organization would like to hold a similar activity
for He Cares kids or families, simply call us up at the foundation.
