Child Ministry

The Family Struggle
Both financial incapability and physical disability caused Princess to lose her chance to go to school. Yet, finding Hope Christian Church has changed her life entirely. Princess is sponsored by a loving family so that she can attend school now. She finds respect and understanding when she is at Sunday School. She misses Sunday services a lot because her church has closed down during the pandemic. Both parents are struggling financially since Covid-19 outbreak, they have not been able to work for almost six months now.

Name: Kenneth Corot
Age: 12
Grade: 6
Ambition: To Be a Police Officer
Church: Torch Church

It has been almost six months since the pandemic hit the world, and the Philippines is under lockdown for more than three months. The positive cases are still increasing, and hospitals are being overrun. the lives of poor people in the Philippines are just getting extremely challenging. However, people who live with hope and faith can always find peace and protection no matter how difficult things are. We have been encouraged by many members of our churches in Bacoor, for their optimism and endurance. Sometimes, even small children can teach us a valuable lesson about life.

Kenneth is a skinny twelve years old boy. We often find him play police and thief with his friend, and he will always want to play the policeman. He told us multiple times that when he grows up, he will be a police officer to protect and help people in the slums.

Kenneth and his three siblings live with him grandmother. His parents left them many years ago. Kenneth was not shy about telling his story during our interview. For a twelve years old boy, he seems to know a lot. He said to us, “we are illegal settlers in this place, and I am constantly worried one day we will be evicted from the land and become homeless.” A concern that should not belong to a sixth-grader. Perhaps the disappearance of his parents made him more mature than his peers.

Kenneth’s grandmother, a sixty-year-old lady, told us, “life is hard, I don’t have the strength to work as hard as other parents, but I need to provide for my four grandchildren. I scavenge trash for recycling and make a dollar or two to feel these hungry mouths. I don’t know how long I can continue to do so.”

Kenneth’s little bamboo cabin is probably one of the worst in the slums. It is small and dark. Worse yet, there are holes in the floor, so one might fall through one of them if not careful. There is no running water or electricity in their home, so Kenneth and his siblings must study at the church when it’s dark outside.

“What we receive every Sunday after church, like rice, noodles, and snacks, really help us survive. I miss children’s Sunday School, but it is canceled due to the pandemic. I have learned so much from the Bible by attending Sunday Schools and doing my assignments. I want to say Thank you to you all! I cannot imagine what my life will be without the help of the church, the sponsorship program, and CRAM.” Kenneth said to us during the interview.

Kenneth knows what God has done for his life, and he is more than happy to praise God for His grace and compassion. We love to see him again during our worship services when everything is back to normal.

Dear supporters, Kenneth is an excellent example of what sponsorship can do to impact a child and the family. Please continue your prayers and extend your love and compassion to more children in the Philippines’ slums. CRAM Worldwide team will work diligently to ensure each sponsored child is growing secure in their relationship with God and others. God bless you all.

Name: Christian Ibarro Casaljay
Age: 13
Grade: 8
Ambition: To Be a Doctor
Church: Torch Church

Christian caught our eyes during our inter-church Bible Quiz activity. He was chosen to represent Torch Church in this activity, Christian and his Mom read and studied the Bible diligently. Their efforts paid off; they became the winners of the first Bible Quiz in all categories. This opened the door for Christian to discover his talents and grow in his faith.

“My neighbors tried to invite us many times to attend Torch church with them. I had to make sure that I studied well and help my family with daily chores before I could attend church.”

Christian Ibarro Casaljay is a 13-year-old eighth grader. He has 4 siblings. “My father is a fisherman, and my mother takes care of us. Even though my father is going out to catch fish, the 200 pesos ($4.00) he earns is not enough to provide for our lives every day. Sometimes, skipping meals is the only option. You kind of get used to it after a while.”

When the pandemic hit the Philippines in early March, a strong calling came upon Christian. “I wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to help my fellow Filipinos to ease the pain and to be well. COVID-19 showed me the fact that many of my neighbors really need the help of doctors, especially in these critical times.” Christian and his family actively attend Bible studies, worship, and other church activities – even helping with CRAM-sponsored community works. He explained, “Right now, we are struggling; but we will never give up. There has been no Sunday worship inside the church for almost a month now; but my family and some of my neighbors gather together in one house to study and worship our Savior.”

“I am urging everyone to never lose hope and to trust in God’s promises. This is the time that we need to be united in prayers, lifting our praises in the midst of these crucial times. Even though I have been a member of the BKC sponsorship for only one year, it has changed my spiritual life and my relationship with my family. Thanks to our Missionaries Sang Ho & Lisa Kim and to our Ministers – who never get tired of feeding our souls with food to keep us both physically and spiritually healthy. And take note, the more we read the Bible, the more wisdom and knowledge we will acquire as God is ready to bestow it on us. Thank you, Boat Kids Club.”

Submitted by Sang Ho Kim – CRAM Philippines Missionary

Name: Rachell Ann Valle
Age: 13
Grade: 6
Ambition: To be an Architect
Hobbies: Studying
Church: Hope Church

Rachell is thirteen years old. When we met her, we knew she was different. She was not like other kids of her age. She almost never leaves her home, a forty square feet bamboo shanty. Her parents did not allow her to go outside because she has asthma. The humid air heated by the Sun and the exhaust from passing by vehicles will only worsen her condition if she stays out to play with her friends.

Because of her condition, she devoted herself to being a good student. She is one of the best students in her class. Her hard work was recognized by the department of education as a young scholar. Rachell has five siblings. Her father is a fisherman and her mother stays home as a full-time housewife. Putting food on the table is a daily struggle for Rachell’s dad.

The Boat Kids Club (BKC) sponsorship program has really helped Rachell’s family. Rachell said, “I am very blessed to have $30 every month from my sponsor. It is helping my everyday allowance. The church is feeding both our physical and spiritual needs”. Like in the Old Testament, Rachell is a lovely and beautiful girl. Even though Rachell is Asthmatic, she always comes to church for Bible study and the weekly worship service. You can easily recognize Rachell inside Hope Church; she is sitting down silently with her Bible in her hand, ready to worship. She enjoys the weekly preachings and instills what she has learned into her mind and heart.

“If God permits, I want to become an Architect like my uncle. It’s so much fun drawing and constructing houses, I enjoy helping my neighbor who doesn’t own land and a house. We are thankful that Missionary Kim has a kind spirit, he has given us material to build our house,” Rachell said this tearfully. What a pure heart this young lady has! No matter what the situation is, she never forgets to say thank you and payback for the good things that she has experienced.

It is our prayer that this young lady will be the inspiration of the world. In the midst of poverty, hunger, and health challenges, hope is planted in Rachell’s heart. She might not be blessed with material abundance, but she knows that salvation is the most valuable gift that God has given to her and no one can take that from her!

Please pray for Rachell and her family for their firm faith and gentle spirits. In Bacoor, there are thousands of children who need sponsorship like Rachell. Your sponsorship means the world to these children. For $1 a day, your investment will be well worth it.

Submitted by Sang Ho Kim – CRAM Philippines Missionary

Name: Ralf (Biboy) Arnul G. Picardal
Age: 7
Grade: 2
Ambition: To be a Policeman
Hobbies: Playing with Friends
Church: Hope Church

When we first met “Biboy”, he was very quiet and shy. He is now the kid running here and there, playing with his friends, and ushering church members in during services and making sure they are comfortable. Biboy became very active in the church. In Sunday school, Biboy stands straight and pays attention. Many other kids his age only wanting to play, but he disciplined himself to follow the instructions of Sunday school teachers and team leaders.

Nanay Ronilyn, Biboy’s mother, is a church leader. Whenever his mom is in the church, he takes over in caring for his little sister. He loves this responsibility because he knows this allows his mom to serve in the church. Biboy grew up in the churches and understands the significance of serving others at a such young age.

Biboy is seven years-old and is in second grade at Zapote Elementary School. Because the school area is a busy place with much traffic, his mother comes to take him to and from school to ensure his safety. “I want to become a policeman. There is a lot of crime and illegal things happening, I want to catch the bad people when I grow up, I want to bring peace to my village,” Biboy stated. Maybe, this is inspired by the television shows that are watched by many. Whatever his reason is, the good thing is he has a vision that one day he can serve and help others.

For the past few years Biboy and his family were without a house to live in. When we first met his family, they were attending Torch Church, due to their lack of housing they stopped attending. A while after they started attending Hope church. Biboy’s father is the only one supporting for their family’s daily needs, which has made it hard to afford a house to live in. They never stopped praying for the needs of a house and have been faithful to our Sustainer. CRAM has answered their prayers. Their house was built because of the project “Happy House”. CRAM Philippines is building houses for the families who desperately need it. “We are thankful that as we grow in Christ, the church has the compassion of helping build not only houses, but also, helping us build our relationship inside our home.”

“CRAM’s approach for the communities in this slum area is wholistic. We start by helping the children so they can receive education. We continue to discover the critical needs of each family who attend our church plants. There are thousands of families who are still praying daily for deliverance from God, like houses, jobs, medical needs, and poverty. They cannot break free from the chain of poverty unless we intervene. Please prayerfully support our efforts to transform this community.” – CRAM Philippines Team

Submitted by Sang Ho Kim – CRAM Philippines Missionary

Age: 15
Grade: 9
Ambition: To be a Teacher
Hobbies: Dancing & Singing
Church: Torch Christian Church

Abegail (Abbie) is fond of singing and dancing. This year marks her 4th year being involved in the Praise and Worship Ministry. Her active participation inspires peers to join our churches.

As the second child, Abegail came to know God very early because of the influence of her parents. The entire family started attending the Torch Church four years ago. She has developed a strong faith and relationship with Jesus Christ through worshiping God and studying the Word. Her father is a construction worker, and her mother is a fulltime housewife. They are not rich, and all her friends are from the same background. Nonetheless, they live a happy and content life.

During her interview, Abbie revealed that she felt very blessed to be a part of the Praise and Worship Team and the Education Ministry. She is teaching children during Bible Study and Sunday Schools. Abbie found her true calling while serving in the church. She wants to be a teacher. But Abbie was fearful of that dream because she was on the brink of losing her education. Thank God she was chosen by one of the sponsors, and now she can continue to pursue her dream.

Worship Team During a Church Service

Message to her Sponsor

To my dear and generous sponsor, I am deeply blessed to have you in my life. You have touched my heart and life. Sponsors like you have changed the hearts and lives of many children like me. For many years, you have faithfully supported me. For that, I will be forever grateful. My dream of becoming a teacher will be realized because of you. Thank you, and I will pray for you always. – Abbie

Abegail During Worship

Reflection

Abegail is pursuing her dream with the love and support of her sponsors and her family. By God’s grace, she is blessed by the prayer of her family, the fellowship of the church, and the faithful guidance of God.

Abbie’s active service plays a vital role in many of the ministries of CRAM Philippines.

Furthermore, she is more than willing to share her story as an inspiration to other children who have been sponsored to strengthen their faith and light up their hope.

She is thankful for Missionary Sang Ho Kim and Ma’am Lisa for their unwavering support. Facing many problems and calamities, she finds comfort and security in the promises of Jesus.

Submitted by Sang Ho Kim – CRAM Philippines Missionary

Age: 16
Grade: 8
Siblings: 9
Ambition: To be a Nurse
Hobbies: Singing

Family gives you the roots to stand tall and strong. I find this to be true in Maricar’s life. Initially, getting to know her is quite a challenge. She has a big family – 3 families, to be exact. She was young when her parents separated, so she can’t remember the exact reasons why they separated. Her parents have other partners now. Her mother has a partner with 3 kids and lives in North Luzon. She goes to see Maricar every Christmas. Her father has a partner with 2 kids; one of them lives in Bacoor. Maricar also has 4 other siblings who were born before her parents separated.

Maricar Dancing on the Worship Team at Love Church

When Maricar was 9 years old, she learned that her father died. She stays with her older brother Ryan. She doesn’t remember what it was like to live with her family. She grew up knowing her step-siblings and having a good relationship with them.

Maricar was always searching for what it is like to have a father. When she met Pastor Sang Ho, at first she couldn’t understand why he cared so much for her. He invited her to go to church; that is the first time she had heard about the love of God. She felt unworthy, but Pastor Sang Ho kept reminding her that the One who created her loved her enough to sacrifice His own Son. This showed her that Pastor Sang Ho really did care for her. She thought maybe this is what it is like to have a father. That day, she thanked God for sending Pastor Sang Ho and Lisa Kim into her life – her newfound parents.

Maricar Dancing on the Worship Team at Love Church

Maricar became part of the Boat Kids Club 4 years ago. She is thankful that God gave her a new family who truly cares for her. She prayed for a long time to be able to join the Worship Team; finally, in 2018, God answered her prayer! She still can’t believe that Pastor Sang Ho gave her the opportunity to sing to the Lord! Sometimes she worries that she may stray away from the will of God. Sometimes the enemy is teasing her to be with her friends instead of attending church activities and reminding her that she is not enough. Thankfully, her CRAM Worldwide family is there to remind her how much God loves her. She holds on to the truth that her talents are for God and are not for people.

For Maricar, it is better to have a family who evaluates whether what she is doing is right or wrong – that is true love. She prays that her siblings may also find the love of God that she has found.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

Maricar is very thankful for her sponsor in Georgia.

Age: 12
Grade: 7
Siblings: 6
Mother: Mary Jane
Father: Joseph
Ambition: To be a Fireman
Hobbies: Playing and Studying

Near to Hope Church is Dexter’s little abode; reaching it, you have to literally walk sideways. During a Saturday Bible Study, I saw him first among all the kids. He is very prominent – a boy holding a smaller boy while he sat on the table, both actively participating in the teacher’s discussion. Dexter’s attention is undivided despite having someone in front of him whom later is introduced to me as his younger brother.

Dexter is a very active and curious boy. He has 6 siblings – 5 boys, 1 girl. He has been in the BKC program for over 3 years now. He followed the Lord into baptism in July 2018. His parents also got married that month during the Mass Wedding. He beamingly told me that it is the most memorable experience his family has had.

Dexter and His Younger Brother

He claims that having the church near his house is an advantage. He met Jesus there! He can go anytime and pray. He is thankful that he met the Lord. He is afraid that if he did not know the Lord he might have been involved in a gang or one of the bad influences in their community. He shares that being with the Boat Kids Club makes it possible for him to go to school every day. Dexter feels ‘at home’ when he is at the church. He tries to invite his cousins and friends to go with him. He tells them that God loves them and that He wants them to spend time with Him.

Missionary Sang Ho Kim in the Gamboa Home

Dexter is thankful for his parents’ guidance into knowing the Lord more. He is thankful to the Lord for the lives of Missionaries Sang Ho and Lisa Kim. Because of their perseverance and faithfulness, his family has a deeper relationship with the Lord. At first, they feared that Missionary Sang Ho would not last just like the other missionaries who came before them. He is thankful for their dedication to the Bacoor community. His family is one of the witnesses of how the church cares not just for their well-being but for their future.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Dexter believes that God loves him so much, and he loves Him, too. John 3:16 is his life verse.

Dexter’s mother, Mary Jane, is one of the pioneer mothers at church. Her home is tiny but properly-kept for a family of nine. Her husband, Joseph, works as a Security Guard in the city and goes home twice a week to save on transportation expenses. Mary Jane is grateful her family found Hope Church. It not only provided a home for her children but she found herself happy knowing God more and more.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

Dexter is very thankful for his sponsor Thomas Kim from Indiana.

Age: 12
Grade: 6
School: Maliksi Elementary School
Siblings: 9
Mother: Merlita Donaldo
Ambition: To be a Teacher
Hobbies: Reading and Writing

Jemarie is the 8th child of 10 children. She was born with an eye condition. Jemarie’s mother took her to see a doctor to have her eyes checked when she was 4 months old. Having little source of income to support the family, her mom took her home without any treatments even though the doctor said it was cataract and it was operable. Her mother took her back for an eye check when she was a year old, the doctor said without operation, the only choice is to use eye drops to keep her eyes moist.

Earlier this year, they met with a new doctor. Jemarie was hoping that the new doctor would shed some light with her condition. She has lost visibility and sometimes she felt pain in that eye. Some kids bullied her at school, and she came home crying because she was called the “blind girl.” Sometimes she didn’t want to go to school, she would rather stay at home. This new doctor told Jemarie and her mother that they can’t operate on her at this stage. The doctor believes that the operation on the bad eye might affect the good eye. It’s too risky. Jemarie’s hopes vanished. She has a lot of questions. She wants to know if this is fate or if there is anything else that can be done? She is praying about it; she knows that God is listening to those who are seeking Him.

Jemarie Enjoying VBS 2019

This past April, Jemarie prayed that she would be able to accept her condition. She knows that it may be impossible to get better, but she is trusting the Lord. She remembers the story from the Bible when Jesus healed the blind. She believes that someday, Jesus will heal her too. She also remembers when the soldiers captured Jesus, put Him on the cross and left Him there. She feels sad why all those people did that to a person with no sin. Jemarie has a lot of things to cause her to worry, yet you can see the love of God radiating through her face. For a twelve-year-old, she knows she can rely on God for the things she cannot understand.

Mother Merlita, Sisters Marjorie and Jenny, and Jemarie at VBS 2019

She is thankful to be part of the Boat Kids Club. The BKC has provided great help for her school needs. One day when she is older, she will be able to make her dream a reality. She will teach little kids and introduce them to Jesus. She will encourage them that no matter how hard things can get, they can do it – just trust the Lord.

It is true, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith,” and in Jemarie’s life, BKC is starting to build that foundation.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

Jemarie is very thankful for her sponsors from California.

Age: 10
Grade: 3
School: Philippine School for the Deaf
Siblings: 1
Father: Jayvee Tamolang
Mother: Ivy A. Tamolang
Ambition: To be a Doctor
Talents: Dancing

Earon was born mute and deaf. He cannot utter any word and can’t hear well. According to his mother, he’s able to react when hearing very loud sounds but still, he cannot understand or interpret what he’s hearing. As diagnosed by the doctors, his condition has gone severe now and no medical operation can cure it. “The operation should have been done when he was still young,” his mom shared. But since the family was financially incapable to afford medical procedures for Earon’s condition, it worsened as he grew older. Now, he’s permanently mute and deaf and is “used to it.”

He’s a jolly kid, even if he does not talk. He really likes being active: running, walking and playing with other kids inside the church. If you observe him playing, your eyes will get tired. Once you get to know that he cannot hear or speak, you will understand why he is so active. That is his only way of connecting to people, to his playmates. Every moment is plainly dull if you make him sit and watch other children converse to one another.

Earon and His Mother Ivy

On Sundays, he enjoys watching special performances of kids at Hope Church. Earon enjoys dancing, he is included in some dance performances at his school. He is very involved in life, in spite of his disabilities. He used to be shy and would withdraw from people when he was younger. He was bullied a lot when he was younger, as shared by his mother. It was because kids couldn’t understand him. He will pick fights with his playmates when he cannot cope with them. But now, almost everyone in the neighborhood and Earon himself has learned to adjust to one another. It is a huge blessing that Earon was able to enroll in a school for the deaf, while in school he has learned sign language. His mother learned how to converse with him using sign language.

Since Manila’s public transportation system is beyond challenging for every normal Filipino, his mom always brings him to school (which is quite far from their house). She will patiently wait for his classes to end and they will both go home by commuting from Pasay City to Cavite. “He can never go out without me,” his mom shared. Even normal people that commute here in the Philippines experience different challenges, what more could it be for a child with disabilities.

Earon and His Mother Ivy

Earon and His Little Sister

Earon believes that Jesus is the Son of God. He knows our Creator and has met His Son through the help of Hope Church and the people that worked hard to reach them out. He always prays every mealtime; he is always thankful for food and good health for the whole family. He aspires to become a doctor when he grows up, he never wants to let go of the fact that maybe someday he could find the cure. As his favorite Bible story, David and Goliath, he still holds the stone of faith that will slay his giant when the perfect time comes.

This young boy is just another unique person that became a part of the multitude that follow Jesus. No one knows how he gets by; nobody hears the silence that he’s been living with for so long. Most people get distracted by the noisy world we are living in. For a boy who cannot hear, it is inspiring that he found the love, hope and grace of God to look at and focus on. He is gazing at life in silence, maybe; but he need not to speak up in order to convey a message. He is a witness of God’s grace and mercy. By faith, he believes that someday he could be an instrument of God’s amazing miracles. Nobody knows how he can understand faith and God and the spiritual things. But he’s proof that really, nothing is impossible for those who believe.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

Earon is very thankful for his sponsor Thomas Kim from Indiana.

Grade: 8
School: General Emilio Aquinaldo National High School
Siblings: 5
Ambition: To be a Surgeon

In the New Testament, Paul declares with confidence that God will allow him to endure anything while doing His will. Paul also says that if God is for us, who can be against us? These are reminders that as Christians we should not be afraid to do the task God has clearly given to us. This is true in the life of Aira Mae, thirteen years old, Grade 8 student at General Emilio Aguinaldo National High School.

Aira is the fourth child of Amparo (housewife) and Arturo (swimming pool maintenance man). She has five siblings. One day while playing with other kids, she was invited to listen to a CRAM Worldwide worker’s story. That day she heard about forgiveness and God’s grace. She remembered being so amazed that Jesus sacrificed His life for the sins of other people. She wanted her friends and family to learn about the love Jesus offers.

Aira Mae With Her Mother Amparo, a Sibling, and Missionary Kim

She started attending Sunday services, Bible Studies and activities at Torch Church. She believes that God will take care of her family. When Missionary Kim offered assistance during her dad’s sickness, she was still able to go to school. She saw Jesus’s love and surrendered herself to the Lord and was baptized July 2018. According to her, it is one of the best decisions she has ever made. Torch Church helped her grow deeper and learn more about how to be a follower of Jesus.

During CRAM Worldwide’s memory verse contest, she recited 48 out of 50 verses and placed second. This was a huge achievement for her as a growing Christian.

She dreams of becoming a surgeon someday. She wants to minister to the sick and teach them about the Word of God. She knows that God heals the sick, not medicine alone.

Aira Mae Writing

When given the chance to speak in front of a crowd, she states that “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”. She said that there are so many examples in the Bible about how God has helped the poor, the weak, the sick, the widow… so how much more will he help us who are able? She shared that we only need to accept God’s help for us.

One day at school, she saw that her classmate had some cuts on her wrist. She approached her and asked her what happened. Her classmate shared that she attempted to end her life. She told the girl that Jesus loves her and if she feels lonely, she can pray to Jesus. She read some parts of the Bible to her and prayed for her. With this experience, Aria realized that all her classmates need Jesus. She then shared Jesus’s love with two other classmates. She is praying that God will lead her to the classmates that need Him.

Aira is very happy and everyone can see the glow in her eyes and sense that she is “in love” with her Heavenly Father. Her life now is a living testimony of Philippians 4:13.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

Aira is very thankful for her sponsors Bruce and Beverly Stott from Tennessee

Age: 17
Grade: 9
School: Bacoor Nat’l. High School
Siblings: 12
Ambition: Wants to be a Teacher

Having a fisherman father means sleeping at night without him. He needs to go out and catch fish with a net when the moon is up and come home when the sun is rising. Her mother checks the catch and tries to sell them. If they get a good catch, they will have food on the table. Most of the time, everyone will share a very small fish. Lanica is this fisherman’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Grade 9. She is the second oldest of the 13. Their last baby is with her grandmother because her mom is not able to take care of him. One of her brothers has epilepsy. They are not able to provide for his medicine. He stays at home with another brother.

Lanica shares her story filled with love and hopes for all of her siblings. She has been part of Love church since Pastor Kim first came to the area. She loves singing and dancing. During Sundays, she makes sure that she is present to listen to the Word of God. She also attends Saturday Bible Studies. She learned that God loves her so much that He sent Jesus so she can go to heaven. She prays that her brother will be healed and that all of her family will be able to join her when she goes to meet God.

Lanica and One of Her Twelve Siblings

She was baptized after the Summer Camp in Maragondon the last year. She felt something has changed in her since that. She loves reading about Jesus and is excited to attend the Bible study where she learned how to pray. She listens to her teacher intently and tries to understand what God is telling her through the lessons.

She is thankful that even though they have many hard days, her family goes to church with her. She believes that God has a plan for her: she will finish school and become a teacher so she can introduce Jesus to other kids.

SangHo Kim, Lanica, her Mother and Two of the Twelve Siblings

Like other kids in a huge family, she hates doing the dishes! She said, “Imagine having twelve other kids at home, that is a lot of dishes!” She would rather take care of her little brothers and sisters instead of doing dishes! She would read the Bible to them and pretend to teach them what she learned from Bible study.

She is thankful for Pastor Kim and his wife for taking care of them and making sure that they know how much God loves them. She is also grateful for the ministers that help them memorize Bible verses and learn new songs.

Lanica may sleep at night without her father but she knows her Heavenly Father is there to keep her safe.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

“I have enjoyed receiving letters from Lanica here lately. It is an honor to think that I am helping her achieve her goals with schooling and to make her life more comfortable. It is a great comfort to know that the children in this CRAM Worldwide program are being looked after and their needs met, regardless of what circumstances they may face. Not all of us are called to be missionaries, but we can all help in some way or another, and this is one good way to do that. God uses many people in many different ways to achieve his goals, and I am glad he has provided this way for me to be involved with his good work clear on the other side of the world.” – Linda Bryant from Kansas

Age: 8
Grade: 3
School: Maliksi Elementary School
Father: Malvin Ronda, Barber
Mother: Renalyn Ronda, Mother Leader
Siblings: 2 (Joy and Melyn)
Ambition: Wants to join the army

Truly, an eager beaver! The first time I got to meet Bien, I had to ask, “Where does all that energy come from?” His body just dances to the music – whatever it is. He is the center of attention in a crowd.

When Pastor Sang Ho introduced him to me, he caught my attention. At that instant I could easily tell he was very special – a head-turner. His story reminds me of David and Goliath – with David’s achieving a huge win despite his diminutive size compared to Goliath. Bien may be the same. He looks small for his age, but that doesn’t stop him from winning everyone’s hearts.

His favorite subject at school is Filipino – because it seems very easy for him (most Filipino students find this subject challenging). He loves to write and read – especially the Bible. During the school’s moving up ceremony last March, he received several awards: Sunshine of the class, Eager beaver, and Best in Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies).

Biencarlo, his Sisters Joy and Melyn, and Mother Renalyn at VBS

His favorite Bible story is when Jesus arose from the dead. He told me with confidence, “When I die, I will go to heaven.” He watches the show “Superbook” when it airs on weekends. He can understand it because it is dubbed in the local dialect. He invites the kids in the neighborhood to watch with him. Sometimes his mom tells him that the kids will not fit in their house.

Bien dreams of joining the army when he grows up. He wants to protect his family from the bad people around. His father works at the jeepney stop, calling out passengers (a barker). He wishes his father could stay home and spend more time with him and his sisters. His mother is one of the mother leaders at Love Church. Many years ago, she was working and leaving Bien and his sisters at home. One day she got home and realized that the kids didn’t want to go to school. They were playing with their friends instead of going to school. It was clear that they had no good influence. That is when she decided to stay at home to make sure there was someone looking after them.

Biencarlo Singing in Front of the Kids at VBS

In Bien and his sisters’ environment, it is a huge challenge to go against the flow. Everyday there are people drinking, cursing, fighting – all the worldly scenes. Love Church has been their firm assurance that there is still good in this world and that God loves them. Bien’s mom is thankful that despite all the challenges and hindrances, Pastor Sang Ho stays, shows them compassion, and treats them as his family. They know God loves them, because they see it in Pastor Sang Ho and his team.

Bien is just child one who has found hope in the Boat Kids Club. Without it, he would have continued being part of the community seen around him – with no desire of dreaming and not knowing the love of Jesus.

Jam David – CRAM Worldwide Philippines Photographer

“My small donation goes a long way in schooling and food for a month. Receiving letters from Biencarlo, I know Biencarlo is very thankful.” – Shawn Smith from Florida