Mission Trip Phillipines 2012

Watch out for our next Mission Trip coming up early 2012. We will be working with Jane Walker and The Philippine Community Fund (PCF) who have a vision to free every Filipino child and their family from the effects of poverty. www.p-c-f.org

It promises to be another exciting trip and we are looking forward to all that God is going to do. If you are interested contact paul@kings-medway.co.uk

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS INFO SHEET.

18th - 28th May 2011

Light The Way Missions went out again to work with Good Shepherd Homes who care for orphaned and abandoned children in India. As a follow-up to our last trip, we were invited back to help run a Summer Camp for all the children. They currently have seven homes housing and providing care for 108 children.

The plan was to take out 2 teams - one working with the teenagers and the other with the under 12's. We wanted to help out in practical ways around some of the homes and also run the summer camp for the children and house parents.One team was going back to the home in Nasik where we were last year and another team was to visit Malavli to work at the Teenage home there and put up a solar water pump for a borehole.The summer camp was planned for 4 days (23rd -26th) with both teams involved.

Before we travelled out we decided to help raise funds for Good Shepherd Homes and other projects. Ian Vickery organized a sponsored 25 mile Night Hike which was well supported by the Church. We also had a Family Fun day to help raise awareness and funds for our mission projects. There was a lot of support and work by members of the Light The Way team who were not travelling on the trip. Priscilla Ashun-Sarpy helped with the tickets and Tolu Adewuya worked tirelessly to plan out the Summer Camp with Ian and Gill Vickery. Other members of the team helped with administration, packing, transport to the airport etc. We had loads of support from the Church with gifts, clothes, toys, books donated for the children. We were also constantly liaising with Bro Binu Varghese of Good Shepherd Homes for guidance and direction.

There were challenges right through the preparations and during the trip. Max Allen unfortunately broke his leg in a rugby game which meant he could not come out with us. Three members of the team had their visa applications delayed and were granted visas just hours before our flight – Praise God! A team of nine finally travelled out with KingFisher Airlines to Mumbai. Those on the team were Paul Akinbadewa, Ian Vickery, Gill Vickery, Gary Canning, Ricky Grosvenor, Tammy Ehiwe, Thomas Savage, Laura Vickery and Simba Masvaure. On arrival we were met by Staff at Good Shepherd Homes and one group led by Ian and Gill travelled to Nasik to stay at the Under 12’s Children’s Home. Another group led by Paul and Gary travelled to Malavli to stay the Teenage Home.

In Nasik, Ian, Gill, Ricky and Laura organised activities with the children. They also arranged for a new gate to be built and helped around the home. In Malavli, Paul, Gary, Tom, Tammy and Simba got to play games and spend time with the Teenagers. We joined them for their Sunday service and the next day started work on putting up the solar water pump which had been bought by Kings Church. We also had to visit various shops looking for piping, cable and accessories. The solar panels were purchased by Kings Church from Chemtrol Solar, an Indian firm but we had to fabricate the steel structure to hold the Water tank and panels.
The Church of North India had sunk the borehole before we arrived and our job was to put up the solar panels, water tank and the pump including the piping and cabling. The installation was completed on our last day ready to go.

On Monday 23rd, both groups travelled up with the children and House Parents to Kedagaon where we had the Summer Camp. Ian and Gill had organised this really well and there were loads of activities for all the children. The theme for the camp was ‘Mighty People of God’ and we had morning devotions and character bible studies every day looking at the lives of people like Gideon, Esther and Samson. The children had T-Shirts that had been printed specially for the camp and they were all given certificates which Tolu had designed.
The Teenagers had separate sessions based on the same theme with an informal workshop where we answered questions on issues like relationships, dating, music, sex, careers etc. There was loads of fun – cricket matches, impromptu water fights, Ian’s surprise birthday celebration, puppet shows and films. We also had a session for the House Parents and Staff where Gary shared on how to deal with Rebellion and Disobedience. On our final night we had a BBQ and short sketches from various groups in the camp. Bro Binu Varghese said the camp was the best one ever