Rehoboth Children's Home Rehoboth Clinic
Rehoboth Early Learning Center
God has made a place for us. Genesis 26:22
July/August/September/October 2017 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
July and August brought strong winds to Sampaloc - typhoon season ! The staff were preparing for some big storms to come through with many having to ensure their homes were secure to withstand the weather. September has seen lots of visitors onsite and October brought many events both onsite and on behalf of Rehoboth.
The MOST exciting news is that after 6 years at Rehoboth Wennielyn and Wendlyn have been adopted in to a loving forever family ! They are now living in Germany with their forever Mum and Dad. We are so excited for them. Please pray for this new family as they get to know each other, learn each others language and get used to being a family.
We are also overjoyed that some Rehoboth kids have been reunified with their birth parents. This takes a huge effort on the part of our social worker to work with parents on a plan to provide a healthy and safe environment for their children. Before child/ren can be reunified with the birth parents a parenting capability assessment is sought from a municipal level and if the assessment is positive then the Baranggay Child Protection Committee becomes involved for future assessment to ensure that the child should protected by the parents and the community leaders. Rehoboth is always working in the best interest of each child under it's care and we are thankful for adoption to forever families and reunification when it is possible.
Rehoboth has a new sibling group of two who were admitted a couple of weeks ago. Please pray for these little ones as they settle in to living at Rehoboth. Please also pray for the social workers as they work on the best family situation for these children.
The playground was relocated across the road to the side where the bigger kids play. This has been a great addition to the kids who reside in the Morris and Reufer houses.
The Papas tested the swings to ensure that they were ready for the kids to play on.
If you've been onsite at Rehoboth you will know one of our kids has been there for a significant period of time and his development progress may make it very difficult to find an adoptive family. J loves doing the washing and helps Mama Beth with that task. He has recently begun to attend classes at a local school for kids with developmental delay. He is writing his name and learning so many things. This is a fantastic step for him.
We have a new social worker ! Please join me in welcoming Mae our new social worker. Rehoboth is so happy we have another pair of hands to work with Pauline on social work cases. It also means that Rehoboth can admit more children for care. The capacity of Rehoboth is 48 and we currently have 32 children. The roof repairs and need for a social worker have delayed admitting more children. While our greatest hope is that Rehoboth would not need to exist, we are so thankful that the work of Rehoboth can now benefit more children and families.
VIDEOS ! The kids recently celebrated their annual United Nations day Ailyn sent me this beautiful video of their United Nations day performance of "We are the World". Truthfully, my eyes started leaking a little during this one.
For something a little less tear inducing, The kids dance to "Can't stop the Feeling" at their recent small halloween party
In September Rehoboth had many visitors including Jan and Craig Druckenmiller and Fe and Ken Phillips. It was wonderful to have both these couples on site. During their time at Rehoboth they worked on administrative tasks, some decorating and also staff training sessions - but most importantly spent time with the kids. Rehoboth is blessed by their commitment and service. Here's some photos of Jan leading staff training.
Rehoboth's new car Rehoboth has been in desperate need of a replacement car for over a year. Multiple citations for excessive pollution and rust holes in the floor of the van were making it dangerous for the transportation of the kids and staff. Last newsletter we told you about some initiatives to raise the funds. WestGate Church in San Jose, California offered a US$8500 matching grant. Emily (the 5 year old girl who gave her birthday to Rehoboth) raised some of this money from her birthday, Ali ran a Go Fund Me campaign and combined with donations from Karen, Geoff, Maureen, Craig, Jan, Arch and Ekkie, I am so very pleased to let you know that Rehoboth has a 2016 Mitsubishi Adventure. This is such a huge blessing and a relief.
Rehoboth Land
Last year we asked for assistance securing the land on which the original buildings of Rehoboth is built. Originally a donation from CTTP church, the changing financial status of the church prompted a request for RSM to purchase the land. Our priority was the provide a secure place for the children. After 10 years of negotiations and board meetings, and donors who came alongside to assist, RSM was able to purchase the land. We are especially thankful for Phillip, one of our board members and Fe who spent significant time and effort in this process.
Agriculture update
The agriculture plot is thriving ! Here are some recent photos
Finance and Fundraising
Recently 2 High Tea events were held on opposite sides of the world. One in San Jose, California, USA on October 21st and one in Werribee, Victoria, Australia on October 28th. This means that a few hundred people shared high tea, heard more about Rehoboth and gave their time, efforts and donations to help Rehoboth run. Both High Tea events raised funds for the ongoing daily needs of Rehoboth Children's Home. Massive thanks to Sarah, Rachel and Hilda and Elisa and Ali for organising and running these events, and also to the wonderful table hosts, speakers and helpers who made all of this possible.
If you would like to support Rehoboth financially...
A great way to be an ongoing support is becoming a child sponsor or simply set up a recurring donation on our website. All money through the Rehoboth Paypal goes directly in to the account from which they buy their groceries. If you would like to help support Rehoboth with a fundraiser of your own, please contact me.
If you would like to ask any questions about how Rehoboth handles it's finances, you can also contact me. This year Rehoboth has had to dip in to a limited emergency savings account to pay for the everyday needs. Please rest assured that your donations will be well used directly to benefit the children.
Volunteers
The team from Casino Presbyterian Church visited Rehoboth recently. They had fantastic time working at Rehoboth and in the local community. Thank you for coming alongside and enhancing and supporting the kids at Rehoboth. We'd love to see your photos and hear your story in an upcoming newsletter !
If you have been to Rehoboth recently and would like to share your experience in our newsletter, please contact me.
Thanks for keeping up to date with everything Rehoboth,
Elisa
Last Newsletter we told you about Emily and her beautiful birthday . Emily who lives in California, gave her 7th birthday to the kids of Rehoboth - gifts, decorations... everything ! We boxed up the gifts brought to her party, along with party favor bags and decorations, even a cake mix and baking tin, and sent them to Rehoboth. She also asked her friends to give funds to help Rehoboth purchase the car, and raised over $3500. Below are some photos of the birthday party the kids enjoyed at Rehoboth. Thank you Emily for your beautiful kind heart and the way you spread your birthday joy acros sthe ocean. It's our great hope that one day you can visit Rehoboth and ride in that car you helped purchase and visit the kids and share some cake.
Volunteers and Visitors Update
If you have been a volunteer or visitor at Rehoboth - Thank you ! - AND we would love to hear your story and see some photos in this newsletter ! Please contact us about writing a short piece about your visit and service in this newsletter.
If you would like to volunteer, there are teams planning to go from the USA and Australia in early 2018 and new information for people within driving distance of Rehoboth, on the website. Please fill in the volunteer form on the website for more information.
If you're close by to Rehoboth, planning a visit or sending a Balikbayan box to Rehoboth, here is a list of the most urgent in-kind needs of Rehoboth. Food Items:
Pre-mature baby formula (Pre-Nan)
Nestogen Milk Formula 1-3
Fresh milk
Oats (Rolled and Quick cooking)
Powdered Milk
Non-Food Items:
Diapers all children's sizes
cleaning and disinfecting agents
detergent powder
dish-washing liquids and other toiletries.
Please contact Ailyn to make arrangements or Elisa for questions.
Do you have or know anyone with skills that might be able to help Rehoboth? Do you have the resources to get onsite?
newly adopted children and their families - for strong new connections and great family times establishing attachment
for all adoptive parents - that they would have wisdom in parenting and guidance in nurturing each of their children's needs.
for the children at Rehoboth who are waiting for a forever family. Pray that the paperwork process for upcoming matching and adoptions goes as quickly as possible, knowing that the best outcome for each child may take time. Pray for patience and hope.
Pray for the kids at Rehoboth who are more difficult to match due to developmental delay, illness or significant individual need. Pray for families for them as their cases go via the Special Home Findings path
Pray for the social worker Pauline who takes on the responsibility of working with families in the community, as well as the local and international adoption processes. Pray for Weng as she supports Pauline.
the staff at Rehoboth - that they will know the valuable work they undertake every day and how much they are appreciated by the children, their forever families and the volunteers.
For Ailyn the Officer In Charge and the House supervisors Mama Dith and Mama Rita - thanking God for their commitment to the children of Rehoboth, their love for them and the staff they supervise.
Pray for Eric and the Pogi boys. Thank God for their service in maintenance, driving, agriculture, building,and the role model they provide for the kids at Rehoboth along with the care they show the children
the board and administrators - that they will have wisdom in decision making.
the medical clinic - continue to thank God for his provision of the midwives and prayers for more staff, a Lab and pharmacy and a permanent doctor and nurse to fully develop all services as needed by the local community.
Thankfulness for the support of Rehoboth from volunteers and donors. Prayer for the yearly needs to be met so Rehoboth can faithfully and responsibly continue to serve children in need from the Rizal province.
the local Sampaloc community - for family unity and stability and that one day, the resources and services of Rehoboth are no longer needed.
For the plans made at the strategic planning session - for ways forward and resources to undertake them.
Rehoboth Sampaloc Ministries Mission Statement
Transforming families and providing alternative futures for children in crisis, based on God's model of love and care, through child and family-oriented programs, projects and services.
The playground was relocated across the road to the side where the bigger kids play. This has been a great addition to the kids who reside in the Morris and Reufer houses.
If you've been onsite at Rehoboth you will know one of our kids has been there for a significant period of time and his development progress may make it very difficult to find an adoptive family. J loves doing the washing and helps Mama Beth with that task. He has recently begun to attend classes at a local school for kids with developmental delay. He is writing his name and learning so many things. This is a fantastic step for him. 
