The orphanage workers and children are cleaning up!

Life is precious and God is good!    We are very thankful life has been spared and everyone at Casa Esperanza of Angels is safe.    

We are saddened by the destruction Typhoon Rai (Odette) caused at the orphanage and all over the islands that were in the storm’s path.   It began as a Category 1 storm and quickly strengthened to a Category 5 by the time it hit the islands.   As the orphanage was directly in its path, sustained winds were over 100 mph for one entire night.  As Rai traveled west, it ripped down homes, trees and power cables, bringing with it heavy rain, widespread flooding and landslides.  Communities and villages were destroyed and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.  Over 4 million people were affected by Rai.  The death toll is reported to be 375 but many people are still missing.  

It is too soon for Ronald to estimate the cost of the damage.   The public road to the orphanage from the main highway has been washed out and cannot be traveled by vehicles.   It is not owned by the orphanage.   

Some areas have power but it has been almost two weeks since the storm and the orphanage still does not have electricity.   

The houses were flooded but their have finished the clean up inside.   The construction was good and the houses are not damaged.  The roofs held strongly.   The two vehicles are O.K. as they were parked on the highest part of the campus away from trees.  

The tent used for worship was torn apart.   The frame still stands and perhaps the canvas tent can be restored.    They had worship services there on Sunday and Bible class on Wednesday night.   During the week, it was used for school classes.  Due to the pandemic, public schools have been closed for two years.

The orchard that was producing a lot of fruit for the children was badly damaged.  

Their garden was destroyed. 

Part of the concrete block wall was blown down.  

 

Thank you for your support for this orphanage.   They are very grateful for the financial support but, most of all, for your prayers.  

Philippines, Thailand and Nepal News

The Philippines endured a super typhoon this week named Rai (aka Odette in the Philippines).  Today, I read where 169 lives have been lost in this Category 5 typhoon that hit on Thursday.   It started out as a Cat. 1 and increased to a Cat. 5 when it began to make landfall in the islands.   It was a direct hit for Casa Esperanza of Angels' orphanage.   

We had our first news from Gigi this morning saying they are all safe.  It has been hard to wait for news from them but we knew their power would be out.  A short video posted on Facebook shows water all around the houses.  There was flooding and much damage but I don't have a breakdown of what they lost at this time.    They are still without power as this island had some of the worst destruction.   We are thankful they are safe.    The last pictures I saw on the Facebook page before the short video shows Ronald meeting with the 25 children in the two houses to explain about the storm coming and giving instructions.    We are so relieved that everyone is safe.   Everything else can be replaced even though they have a long road ahead cleaning up and trying to restore everything. I will post pictures whenever I receive them.  Thank you for your prayers for their safety.  

Ranjit returned home from the hospital a couple of weeks ago but he is still not doing very well.   He has had a fever the last three days so they were taking him to the hospital today.   He is sitting down in the picture giving some clothing to one of the girls.    Please continue to pray for Ranjit.

 

  

This is the back entrance to the house.   You can see the nice neighborhood with expensive houses surrounding our safe house.    Just down the street is a nice resort.   The location is safe and an ideal place for the girls to enjoy.  The kitchen is small but I think girls can take turns cooking and  two can work together without difficulty. 

Ron has set up the office in the dry bar area so this is good utilization of this space.    

Ron has located a couple who wish to be the house parents for the new safe house in Chiang Mei.  He has been working as one of the ministers at a church of Christ about an hour away from the new house.  They have one son in college.   Neither speak much English but they are willing to study and learn.  Ron is having some basic English lessons with the minister.    I hope they will work out to be SAS's new house parents.    

He should be able to close on the purchase of the house soon.   Once that has been accomplished, house parents can move in and determine what other furnishing are needed.   Ron can begin to work with them to find girls and spend time instructing and training them.    I expect this process to take most of January.  

The border to Laos has recently opened and if Omicron does not spread to Asia quickly, Ron hopes to travel to Vientiane, Laos to meet with workers Hong and Phet who oversee the five safe houses in Laos.

Thank you again for following our work and for your support and prayers.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Progress Made

December is half over and Ron has been gone 43 days.    Even though it was difficult for both of us to be in separate places, we are managing to accomplish our goals.   Ron has moved into the safe house pictured in the previous posting.    He is still waiting for the closing due to the governor signing off on the purchase.   The lady that owns the house told Ron to go ahead and move in all the things he has purchased and gave him permission to stay in the house.   He does not have internet service at the house so I am receiving only short emails sent from his phone.    He said he has gotten the kitchen in order and he is now cooking for himself.    He was happy to leave the hotel for several reasons.   He only had a small fridge and it was limited what food he could buy.   He didn't like the hotel restaurant but he found a Chinese restaurant where he had some good meals.    When he arrived, no one else was in the hotel but now tourists are arriving and the hotel is noisy.     

Ron will send me pictures to post of the inside of the house when he get the internet connected.

Ronald and Gigi have moved into the family cottage they have been constructing.   

Gigi spent her own money on the decorations so it looks festive for the upcoming holidays. They are really happy to be there to enjoy the house for the holidays.   This cottage has two bedrooms.  They have their office in the second bedroom.   Now they are complying with the government regulations to have the office for the foundation in a separate building from the children.

They will eventually build 2-3 more family cottages in the future to accommodate other staff members or visitors as the work grows in future years.    The complete plan includes a separate administration building, a multi-purpose building to serve as a place of worship and a school for the children.  They are presently using a tent for worship, schooling and other activities.   It serves their needs very well but it is not durable to last indefinitely and would certainly not survive a hurricane.

Laundry house on left.

Inside of the laundry house below.

The one room, laundry house has been their home for more than two years to allow space for the children.  You can see how small that space is by looking at the picture of Ronald sitting at the table with Brenda, Gigi's mom.   

Good news from Nepal.    Ranjit, our worker who has been so sick with COVID is finally at home.   I don't know what complications he has or how he is feeling but we are pleased that he is able to go home.

Wishing our family, friends and supporter/sponsors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Search for house parents underway - baptisms in Nepal

Ron met with a church of Christ minister and this congregation is very interested in helping find a couple willing to work as the house parents for the new safe house in Chiang Mei, Thailand.   This congregation has three ministers.   It would be ideal if one of these ministers decided to take this job.  The safe house is about an hour from this large congregation so a new congregation could begin with the girls in this area.  

Ron paid $20 for a taxi to take him to this congregation so it will be too far for the girls to attend this congregation each Sunday.    

Three of our girls were baptized in Nepal yesterday.   I am sure the water is very cold there now. 

If you want to see what life is like in Nepal (especially in the Himalayan Mountains) search YouTube for NEPAL - SNOWLAND CHILDREN.     It tells the story of a school established by a Monk and it takes you with three students returning home to visit relatives after completing high school and being away from relatives for 10 years or more.   After a long trip, they find out what life is like for their relatives and understand why their relatives sent them away at a very young age so they can get an education and have hope for a better life.    

We are very thankful for our supporters/sponsors who provide the opportunity for a better life for the girls we care for at our safe houses.   We care for girls in Nepal, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines.

Property found - closing delayed

Ron was hoping to close on the property for the new safe house in Chiang Mei, Thailand.   Since the property is being purchased by a Christian foundation, it must be approved by the governor.   It is the law but no one told Ron this prior to the time to close.   It will take a minimum of one month (not sooner than December 24) but not later than January 24th.    It is a 5-bedroom house with large rooms.  There is space (I think on the right of the photo) for a large garden.    

Ron is searching now for house parents.  He will visit a second congregation on Sunday to make known our need for a couple to oversee the girls.   If he can find a couple to hire, he will begin training them for the work while he waits for the governor's approval to close on the property.    Good house parents are the most important aspect of the success of the work in this location.    

Ron is doing fine and moving ahead with the purchasing of the furnishings for the house that will be held by the companies but delivered to the house at closing.    I will post any new developments as they happen.