Advocate Team Back in NZ

An article by Frank    1 Comment

Recently our advocates team who were on an Insight Tour in the Philippines got back. This was written by Jane Laurie (TEAR Fund Regional Co-Ordinator).

Dear Friends

The TEAR Fund Advocate Team returned to NZ on Sunday. All of us, through the haze of being jet lagged, are still processing what we have seen and experienced.

You have read in previous blogs of our time in Manila. Fom Manila we travelled to Cabanatuan City for 4 days with TEAR Fund’s partner ASKI. We visited a number of TEAR fund related projects, in the Auroa Province, which is about 3 hours drive through the mountains from Cabanatuan. We saw first hand the difference these projects are making in the lives of the communities involved – how they are empowering the people within the community.

To travel by ‘hand tractor’ across the renovated Pacugao Bridge was a highlight. Orginally there was only a one person width swing bridge, in a great need of repair,which made getting people and goods across the river very difficult. To get a coffin (and body) across the river was no easy task. Now that has all changed with the new bridge.

At each of the projects we met with the locals, we witnessed and took part in their cultural dances and singing; we were made to feel so welcome.

In one of the Barangays (villages) the team experienced a little more closely community life when we had a one night home stay. Imagine living in a village where western visitors are extremely rare, and then having 7 Westerners stay over night. For one dear lady it was a little overwhelming and she felt too shy to have the orginally planned two overnight guests. In no time at all another local took up the challange to have the guests stay.

ASKI staff are so dedicated to the Lord and to the work they are doing – they really get to know the individuals within the communities they are working in. The people who recieve benifit of the programmes are not clients – they are partners. ASKI dont create hand outs – there is always a counterpart towards the cost of a project from the community, whether it be in cash or manpower. We were impressed.

Our final night in Cabanatuan City was one where some of the team were again out of their comfort zone – me in particular. The Filipinos love to dance and sing and so after a lovely meal with the ASKI staff we joined them in Karaoke. As a team we all sang together then as individuals we had the opportunity to ‘go it alone’ I took the plunge and was soooo embarrassed-Nothing like singing, out of tune, in front of at least 50 people – it does ones pride good!!! Actually it was such a fun night.

So there you have it, some highlights from the Advocate tour from my perspective.

What have some of the advocates had to say about the tour? . . . .

“This trip was beyond what I expected. A real ‘insight’ into a world outside my comfort zone.”

“Heart changing!!!! Absolutely heart changing for me. God has done an amazing work in me!”

“I have seen the reality of the benefit to the people through the various programmes TEAR Fund is supporting. It is lifechanging for those receiving the benefits”

The highlights of the tour for one advocate. . . Home visits with CCT, visiting the Kaibigan feeding programme and meeting other advocates.

If you are a TEAR Fund Advocate and are interested in joining an advocates tour in the future please contact Beth at TEAR Fund.

Thanks for your interest in this tour and your prayers.

Blessings from Mama (Nanay) Jane whose brain is still a bit fogged from jetlag!!!!!!

If you would like to support TEAR Fund’s work in the Philippines then contact us on 0800 800 777