Beverly Hills Philippines Merry Christmas 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN BEVERLY HILLS, PHILIPPINES !

Merry Christmas for the poor in the Philippines means "Pamasko", going from house-to-house asking for a "Merry Christmas" on Christmas morning, a practice going back to Spanish times. This is our 21st Merry Christmas, partnering with many other missionaries, most of whom also live in the Beverly Hills Subdivision, to give as nice a Merry Christmas to as many as we can. This year the missionary community contributed over $1,000 to give out more than 1 ton of rice as well as sardines, corned beef, and noodles. Other donors gave in kind; toys, candy canes, clothes, and balloons! The problem was....easily more than 1,000 people showed up! We had hoped to be able to prepare for 1,000 this year, but...next year, for sure!

On the 23rd we sacked up the food bags.

Blew up balloons








Ready for Christmas Morning! This year we had many, many of our neighbors and friends helping us with the crowd control and "bibigay" the giving out. You'll see the red-shirted, Santa-hatted "elves" everywhere (all their own idea).

















In an hour, it was all over. More than 600 bags of food, toys, and balloons were given away.

What great fun!

HELP Staff Christmas Celebration 2008

December 20th. An exuberant staff gathered for our Annual Staff Christmas Party; an event eagerly anticipated for weeks in advance. Responsibility for the organizing and the hosting of the party rotates between the little children's home and Shiphrah Birthing Home. This year was Shiphrah's turn. This was another event that could not have happened if it had not been for wonderful help from many friends of the ministry. Our deep thank you to everyone who was part of this.

An amazing gift was a 50 kg. sack of rice for each of our staff. There is nothing so appreciated by our people, outside of their well-earned salaries, than rice! Truly!

We began at 1 and celebrated until after 6. There is nothing that folk here like to do more than celebrate, and celebrate we did. There was plenty of food, an incredible gift basket of juices, spaghetti, and other goodies, and games, games, games; most of them relay races.


A Sunday School class in Australia had sent up beautiful decorations for the party. They were turned into a creative game, the construction of a Christmas wreath. Tables competed with one another for the most beautiful as well as individually for the best wreath. Darren performed the unfortunate task of having to judge the winners.They were all so good!



Good food and plenty of it is essential to the success of any party anywhere. By anyone's measure, this party was a success! A number of the staff had done the cooking, delicious chicken, hot and spicy Bicol

Express, superb sinagang, and ice cream.


And then there were the raffles and gifts.




It was after dark when all the gifts were given, all the food eaten, and everyone ready to start the well-laden journey home. Thank you, everyone who gave so generously so that our staff could have such a wonderful celebration! May God bless you all!

Kid's Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The children of HELP ministry staff and their extended families were the center of the action on December 6 at the annual HELP International Children's Christmas Party. As has been the case the last several years, the U.S. Embassy Club members were a huge part of the party. A local friend was behind the gifts and food, and another local friend sponsored the ice cream. This wonderful party could not have happened without many friends generously pitching in.

There's something special about tops and bubbles!




















And Ice Cream!

And presents and Santa!

Thank you, Everyone!

It was a wonderful day!

Catching Up: Forever Families

It has been a woefully long absence from the Firesides Blog, an absence it will take several entries to rectify. Since the last entry, we've said "Hello-Goodbye" several times, each time a "high-five", YES! This is why the little children's home exists. It's about being a link to fulfill the longing for a child and the longing for a mom and dad. The longing goes both ways.

October was Goodbye to Nicala as she joined her forever family. Nicala is the curly-haired live wire sitting next to her mum.
December was the best early Christmas ever for Liezel and her new mum and dad.

And, in a serendipitous moment, two forever families meet one another. Janrey's and Liezel Joy's papers were both at Region IV at the same time. And now, they meet again, this time both with their forever families.