Seek God Ministries Philippines

Transcription

1 Seek God Ministries Philippines PO Box 140 Subic Bay Freeport Zone Philippines Breaking News March 1, 2010 The Father s Glory Children s Home Dear Friends and Partners: Since 1996 when we were first touched by the Father s love in the Philippines it has been one of our big visions to one day have a place where we could bring kids who we rescue from the streets in the Philippines; a home, a safe place where they can be healed from all the hurts; a place where they could grow and develop into the revelation of being sons and daughters of Papa God through the gospel of Jesus Christ; as they are nurtured in the Father s love. In November 2007 we finally made it to the Philippines to begin working as full time missionaries. Since then one of our most rewarding things to do is minister to the poor including the kids in need on the streets. We feed them, sometimes give clothes, share God s love, listen to them, and pray with them. Then they ask us, please take me home with you, adopt me, adopt me. Our hearts go out to them. Sometimes we have taken them home. However, our house does not have room for many and the kids in need are many. We can handle four kids at our house. We incorporate them into our family, along with our three young children. But really we need a bigger place that is separate from our house to really serve the kids well and meet all their needs. We recently obtained our certificate from DSWD in the Philippines so that we can legally take in kids and provide a home for them. We have a year to complete the licensing requirements. One of the requirements is that we need to be housing at least 15 kids. We really need a bigger place. For many months we have been driving by a big house that is for sale. It is huge and we would always comment that it would make a perfect children s home (orphanage). We learned that it is owned by the bank and we began talking to them. 1 We have a unique opportunity with your help to provide a home for many children in need. We believe that we have negotiated the bank down to the best deal we can get for the place. We prayed for favor with the bank and it seems that we have it. The bank is willing to sell us the place for 6.5 million pesos, and they are willing to pay half of the closing cost which is unusual here. Taxes and other closing cost are about ten percent of the sale price in the Philippines. The total would be about 6.8 million pesos, (about $150,000. USD) The design would make an excellent children s home. There are large rooms that could be used for classes and gatherings. There are many bathrooms and bedrooms. It is big, the house is about 12,800 sq ft, it has two floors and three in some places. It has a lot of windows for natural lighting. It is located next to a small resort town; nearby there are many resorts and good places to swim in the ocean. It is a quiet place with farms and forest near by. View from the back of the house.

2 How do we know this is such a good deal? For many reasons here are a few. With the cost of construction especially the amount of concrete and steel in the place it could easily cost more than 20 million pesos to construct a place like this. It would take one to two years to build. It is on a large lot by a main highway. Just the lot itself appraised in 2009 for 3.5 million pesos that means just the lot is valued at more than half of the purchase price. The place is appraised at 13 million pesos (about $283,000 USD) by the tax assessment office. (As an NGO in the Philippines we will be exempt from future property taxes.) The location is very good for many reasons and adds to the value. In spite of the poverty, the Philippines general economy and real estate market continues to do fairly well, especially in our area. We have visitors from Singapore, Korea, Japan, and of course China looking for opportunities. You may have heard a few weeks ago in the news that South East Asia has now become the busiest hub for air travel in the world. Prices are expected to continue to rise in Philippines real estate. This is happening as the value of the dollar is going down. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to make the best use of dollars at a critical time while we can still get a good exchange rate. Our vision is that should the Lord provide the money we could begin work on the place and be able to start taking in children very soon. It is possible that when the house is fully restored we could take care of 100 kids or more in a house like this. We know from experience that taking a kid off the street can be the difference between life and death. We would also have room for staff and for missions teams to visit from the USA. The house is on a large lot, room for a good basketball court and other recreation activities. Large concrete driveway and entrance. The large lot is fenced with a concrete fence and steel gate. This is an unusual opportunity that the Lord has put in front of us, too good to pas by. Although we have been looking at the place for some time it seems that the Lord is saying now is the time to go for it. Remember the story of Elijah when he prayed for rain, well I have seen a cloud forming over the ocean the size of a mans hand, so to speak. We are taking a huge step of faith. We have given the bank 200,000 pesos (about $4, USD) earnest money and the bank has given us four months to raise the remainder of the 6.8 million pesos. That means we need about $150,000 USD in four months and the place will be ours and we can begin to save kids lives. Main entrance at the main house, wood trim, marble tile floors in some parts of the house. 2

3 Front office and receiving area. We are calling this big room the Worship Hall. It is centrally located. A great place to gather everyone. Also may be a place for school during week days. Some of the bathrooms are in fair shape some are needing work. They all seem to have a shower and tile throughout. The caretaker says there are 16 bathrooms. This big room would make a good place for chapel, prayer room, and a possible library. It is big enough to have church. There are at least four maybe five kitchens. They all need some work. They all have marble counter tops and floors. 3 Near the front entrance, here you can see some of the work needed. Plywood needs to be replaced in some places, and paint, a lot of paint.

4 We will be able to add kids as we progress in the restoration from room to room and section by section. Parts of the house are livable now. So we will be able to bring in a few kids soon after we purchase the place and do some minor improvements. Large garage area also great for outdoor meetings. Here you can see the structure of the house concrete and steel throughout. The place was constructed back when the steel which was used was of higher grade and thicker than what is used now. Same with the steel roof, higher gage steel than used in normal construction now because of the cost. A large bathroom that needs some work but the tile, toilet, and shower are in fairly good condition. This is the back side of part of the building. Needs more paint, some clean up. The railing is concrete and steel with marble hand rail. It has heavy gauge steel rain gutters throughout, good for monsoon season. The bank was willing to do a five year contract for the house however the interest rate is 14%, which is a normal rate in the Philippines. I do not believe that the Lord wants us to go in debt and have to worry about large payments each month. If we can pay for it up front then we can focus the money that comes in each month for restoration. We will be able to restore according to the Lord s provision each month without the stress of big payments and the threat of loosing the place and making the kids homeless again. 4 This is a whole other wing not visible from the front pictures. Two stories, bedrooms, bathrooms, another kitchen, and a large laundry room are in this section. It needs some work also but some parts of it are in good shape. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. (Psalms 68:5) We are God s holy habitation that means He wants to use us to help the fatherless and widows. The kids we rescue from the streets are fatherless, they either do not have a father or their father does not take

5 care of them and provide for them, for whatever reasons. When we get to know the kids we learn that each one is unique and has their own sad story about how they ended up living on the street. However they got there they are kids in need of our help and your help. Each one is created in the image of God and has great potential and hidden talents and gifts. Each one is a diamond in the rough and precious in the sight of God. When we look through His eyes we can see how precious they are and we can feel the compassion of the Fathers love. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap (garbage dump), To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them. (1 st Samuel 2:8) Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. (Psalms 41:1 3) Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. (Job 29:12 13) He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. (Proverbs 19:17) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' (Isaiah 58:6 12) But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17 18) 5 Our vision is that this home would become a proto type and a model of how other children s homes could be set up around the world to see street kids and orphans lives transformed. We are asking you to pray and seek the Lord about what He would have you give toward helping us provide a home for kids in need in the Philippines. There maybe someone who could write a check for the full $150,000 dollars. If the Lord is speaking to you then obey it is your opportunity for greater blessing. That would allow us to immediately secure the house and begin getting it ready for kids now. Then we could use other money that comes in toward the restoration. All the money that comes in to Seek God Ministries during the months of March through June will go toward the house. There maybe some who could give $1000, some could give $10,000 what ever the amount the important thing is to obey the Lord so that He can bless you. This is an opportunity to sow into something that has great value. We will be able to serve many kids at a much cheaper price by getting this place for so little. If we were to build a place for just 20 kids it would cost more than 6.8 million pesos with current construction cost, and that without including the land. There are several ways you can give. You can give safely online through PayPal and you can use a credit card, bank card, or check. The funds will be available for us to use right away. Go to the web site at and click on the Make A Donation button. It will take you to our secure PayPal connection. For large contributions contact us for bank transfer information. support@seekgod.org You can donate in U.S. Dollars or Philippine Pesos You can also send donations to: In the USA In The Philippines Seek God Ministries Seek God Ministries P O Box 100 PO Box 140 Otis Orchards, WA Subic Bay Freeport Zone USA Philippines 2222 We love you. Thank you again you for being our friend and partner. Seek God Ministries