October 2022 Update - A new patient facility is added!
Dear <<First Name>>,
We are excited to be able to serve more families as they have surgeries for their children at the Tebow Cure Hospital. Sherie Mae (on the right) moved from the current REST House to lead the new facility. We also brought on three new workers for the rotational shifts. Her sister Shella Mae, is one of the workers (standing to the right of Sherie Mae).
There are six beds at the new site, which we are calling for now RH #2. The mother and child share a bed or use a additional floor mat for more sleeping space. There also is a connected staff house and cooking area. We are still working out details as to Bible studies, kids activities, staff rotations...we were blessed to have a willing landlord to allow us to quickly move in and house families.
It is less restrictive so the families can roam around the area, mostly with the use of wheelchairs for the children.
We held a dedication and house blessing prior to opening. The staff from both facilities have been involved in the setup. The main REST House is a bit larger and can house up to 8 families (mother/child). Two of the new persons helping are working students with scholarships from SOD for their college studies.
These mothers are staying at the original REST House and also enjoy getting out for some fresh air.
We purchased four more wheelchairs to be used at the new facility.
Our patient transport team faithfully moves the families to and from the REST Houses and other locations for their appointments. Four vehicles are in use.
Livelihood projects continue to grow. Two more put-puts were added in October. The drivers are having to pay additional fees to license and register the units. This is a new cost for them due to the change of Mayors. We are trying to help them with the costs of about $10 per unit.
Our boat families are blessed to be catching larger fish due to the hooks and line which have been donated and shipped to Leyte. We are backed up on boat deliveries and hope a break in the weather will allow for several to be delivered, prepared and released to families very soon.
Rachel (on the left) is in her fourth year of college. She is now managing the scholarship program in partnership with teacher Joan. Rachel is so talented and we want to continue to bless her with some additional income for school by having her co-managing the program. She is been receiving scholarship assistance for more than five years.
We help the Marilog High School of Agriculture with a feeding program and hope to expand from three days to five days in 2023. The students are so appreciative of the meals which are prepared through the vocational programs at the high school.
A Bible distribution with 17 churches was recently completed and another is planned in two weeks. We also gave some other materials including bumper stickers, clothing and tracts to the pastors. Each church received 20 Bibles in the Cebuano language.
We are blessed to continue to partner with many ministries to accomplish our mission of intentionally making disciples through abundant good works opportunities for God's honor and glory.
We desire to be "
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11)
As we step out to expand our services, please be praying 1) that all will go smoothly as we transition to two facilities and 2) God will provide the resources to support the new facility in 2023. The initial setup and staffing costs have been provided by a grant and from SOD donors.
Blessed to have you as partners in the ministry,
Peter (for the SOD Board(s), staff and grateful recipients of your prayers and blessings
