Today the subject was 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11: “the God of all comfort”. We talked about times of difficulties in our lives, how we experience God during these times and how we can comfort others who are going through hard times. We discussed some issues of life in a slum and comforting neighbours we don’t like. We had a good time together!

Ellie and Remco invited me to join with Sparrow Foundation. I did’t make a double mind to join with them. I’m a volunteer staff of Sparrow Foundation, facilitating the foundation’s programmes like Scholarship Program, Medical Fund, Open Office, etc.

Besides working with Sparrow Foundation, I’m doing mission to the Mangyans, an indigenous people of the Province of Mindoro Island (a mountain people). 75% of them are illiterate. We are helping them through Adult Literacy Class after farming. 25% of the Mangyans go to school to get a formal education through local sponsorship. The mortality rate is 80%. Medical attention is a big problem for them. We facilitate them in coordination with other government offices.

Working in a Christian organization like Sparrow Foundation is a little bit challenging for me. I’m depending on my “faith” in God because I’m not financially stable. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to continue with my mission but God reminds me “Don’t be afraid, I am with you”. I love to work with people, especially those people who have a weak faith in God. Sharing God’s word is my greatest performance of my life. For God’s grace He will save and protect me.

Sparrow Foundation is proud that she was able to give Roland James this small medical attention. Without it, Roland James had a high possibility of getting blood poisoning or tetanus.

Sparrow Foundation wants to make medical help available for the poor, but we cannot do anything without your help. We hope that you would consider a donation to our Medical Fund so that we can help more people like Roland James.

Read more stories from patients who already received help from Sparrow’s Medical Fund or click here for details to make a donation. Thank you for your consideration.

Sparrow brought Jay Mark to the doctor but she is uncertain of the cause. It could be tuberculosis on the bones, but the X-ray does not confirm this diagnosis. Tuesday 26 July the doctor will give Jay Mark a skin test to see if this will confirm her idea of tuberculosis. If the skin test is negative then we have to make a MRI.

The cost for Jay Mark’s treatment is estimated at 200 euro’s (this is without the MRI). Click here for details if you want to contribute to Jay Mark’s treatment.

Jay Mark’s updates will be written in the comments of this article.

We brought Kristine to the pediatrician, who referred us to the hospital for some tests.  The outcome was a viral infection, which can be cured by medicines in this early stage.

The cost for Kristine’s treatment is estimated at 50 euro’s. Click here for details if you want to contribute to Kristine’s treatment.

The costs of the hospitalization and the medication are estimated at 200 euro’s. Sparrow hopes to raise this amount as soon as possible to be able to provide Lester with the medical care he needs.

The baby was born by cesarean surgery. She weighs 2,8 kilograms and she is 18 inches long. As far as we can see at this moment the many epileptic seizures Mary Ann had during her pregnancy did not influence the baby. A sister of Mary Ann’s mother and her husband will raise the baby. Mary Ann is still in the hospital for observation. She does not seem to be fully aware of what happened to her and is a little bit confused, but she is healthy.

We are very grateful for the donations several sponsors sent us. Without them the medical care for Mary Ann had not been possible and presumably things would not have ended well for Mary Ann and her baby.

Read the story of Mary Ann.

Sparrow is proud to let you know that seven of her sponsor children have  received a medal. For example Sheila (see picture) and Jocelyn, who both received a medal and also won a prize in the English school competition. Can you imagine these children would not have had the possibility to go to school without Sparrow’s sponsoring?

Sparrow aims to send every child, who has been sponsored last year, to school again next school year. Will you help us?

Sparrow supports children at several levels of education: primary, secondary and higher education. Sparrow only sponsors those children who would have no chance to go to school without a scholarship. Sparrow covers all necessary costs of a school year, such as registration fees, lecture fees, uniform, books, school supplies, project materials, and if necessary transportation costs. Besides this, children can participate in bible studies organized weekly by Sparrow. Primary education costs about €50 per year per child. Secondary education costs about €200 and higher education about €600 per year per child.

A unique aspect of Sparrow’s Scholarship Program is the intensive contact with the child, the parents and the teachers throughout the whole year. Children leaving school prematurely is a big problem in the Philippines. By visiting the parents and the child personally several times a year we aim to establish a strong relationship, emphasize the importance of education and signal problems at an early stage.

The open office is situated in Sparrow’s wooden cottage, which is on the beach in the poorest part of the barangay. The houses are made of thin wooden boards and/or leaves and there is no running water, electricity and sewerage.