A closer look: Nicole

I'd like to introduce you to one of the children of EMC Dagpuan. The beautiful child you see in the pictures is Nicole. She is 12 years old and will turn 13 this year. Nicole is one of "kids leaders" who helped out in the kid's camp at EMC Dagupan.

Nicole

Our mission team had the privilege of meeting her and her siblings during our 2010 mission to the Philippines. Nicole was actually first child I met in the Philippines. When I first met her, she was really shy but continuously smiling. As the mission trip went on, one could often see her taking care of and carrying her younger brother Matt Gabriel who's often called Kamandag. Eventually she became attached to one of our missionaries JP and he refers to her affectionately as "his daughter". And the night right before we left, she wrote some us little notes on colored paper that to this day, I still have.


With such glowing memories and a beautiful testimony of her faithfulness to Christ and the ministry, one would hope that her life outside of the ministry and the church is just as wonderful. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Sadly, Nicole has been forced to stop her schooling due to her parent's economic situation. In the Philippines, high school begins immediately after sixth grade thus at 12 years old, Nicole would've been a freshman in high school. Her sister Madison, aged 14, went through the same thing, however it her turn to go back to school. Nicole must now wait until Madison finishes high school before she can start high school as her parents are able to pay for the tuition of one child at a time. (Public high school is not free in the Philippines)

Nicole and Kamandag

Nicole is one of seven other children in her entire household. She currently spends her days helping her mother who is jobless with chores and taking care of her brother Kamandag who is also malnourished. Nicole's father works to make dentures but demand for his work is often inconsistent.  And although we are doing our best to support the Philippines, there simply just isn't enough funds to send her back to school.

Left: Kamandag, Center: Nicole Right: Sister Janel

I would like to say that this is an isolated case and that Nicole's story is a rare one. But sadly, that isn't true and in fact, it is quite the opposite. Nicole's story is one shared by many children in the Philippines. Too many children are unable to obtain a proper education. Sadly the vicious cycle of poverty, ignorance and hunger is repeated over and over. And each time innocent children lose the chance to become educated and the opportunity to better themselves.


But it doesn't have to be this way for all the children. Nicole's story doesn't have to be like others; empty, sad and unchanged. God can do great things and He can use anyone to bring hope to children like Nicole. If you are challenged to help out. Please feel free to do so and/or contact us.


Every soul is precious. Nicole is previous to Christ and therefore she is previous to us.


Thank you,
Melissa M.

Children's ministry at EMC Dagupan: Sidewalk Sunday School & Feeding

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."

Children are magical. Really, they are. They have an innate ability to steal your heart when you're not looking. Their innocence takes you back to a time when the world was an open frontier full of endless possibilities and the smallest smile can melt your heart no matter how hardened or frozen your heart is.

Mimi teaching the children

Every week EMC Dagupan ministers to about 75-80 children ages 4-12, via feeding programs and Sidewalk Sunday school. Sidewalk Sunday school takes place (you guessed it) on sidewalks and side roads and provides children with knowledge of who God is. In our last mission, our missionaries had the opportunity to evangelize and teach children during sidewalk Sunday school.

Today one the biggest problems the children of Lasip chico face is malnutrition. As I've mentioned before, Lasip chico-pantalan is a poverty stricken barangay. The parents here cannot afford to consistently feed their children. If they are able to provide meals, often they are very small and insufficient to provide proper nutrition. For many of the children, breakfast (if available) is composed of just rice mixed with coffee to provide flavor. If the parents can provide some money, the children can then buy lunch school. But many times, that is not the case. It is difficult to tell how many times a child eats a day or worse yet, if he/she eats at all on a daily basis.

Alfred preparing the food

Each child gets ONE. JUST ONE

When Pastor Ferdinand and Tita Hannah first began their ministry in Lasip chico-pantalan, they saw how malnutrition ran rampant in the surrounding barangay and began a weekly feeding program. As of today, almost all the children who attend Sidewalk Sunday also receive food from our feeding program. EMC Dagupan does its best to provide nutritious meals to every child. The children are fed porridge, champorado (rice porridge with chocolate), lugao (plain rice porridge), and arozcaldo (chicken soup). However some months, there isn't enough funds to provide food and sometimes EMC Dagupan can only afford to provide the children with biscuits.

Most of us live in places where food is at our fingertips. Many of us have been blessed with the kind of life where we never have to wonder where and when will we get our next meal. These children do not have such a life. Many of them have never even seen the inside of a fast food place like Burger King or McDonalds. EMC International and EMC Dagupan struggles to provide nutrition to children trapped in an endless cycle of poverty and malnutrition. I am confident that God is with us and will continue to be with us as we reach out to the children. God will not only do miraculous things, but we will use us to change lives and help break this cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Will you answer God's call and help us break this cycle?

-Melissa M