Archive for the ‘Philippines’ Category
Some pics from H4C Benefit Concert
Here are some pictures of the musicians, H4C Directors, and volunteers who made the H4C Benefit Concert a night to remember. We’ll write more soon… Until then ~ huge thanks to all who came and gave to the cause!
“A Night of Music Bringing HOPE & CHANGE”
In less than one week Hope4Change will be hosting its first benefit concert with the help of our friends in the music world. James, Paul, and I (Sarah) agreed that holding an event that will allow us to share our passion for the poor “eyeball to eyeball” with concert-goers would have great impact. So we’re doing it! Mbele!
First, we’d like to thank the musicians who will be donating their time and energy to H4C. We’re expecting that the “transforming power of giving” mentioned in our mission statement will pour out upon them. Also, we pass our appreciation on to those who have helped with design and printing of the concert’s promotional posters and hand-outs. Your generousity has urged us on. Our web site and blog are what they are because of the technical & creative design capabilities of Matt & Christine of Lilypod Media (www.LilypodMedia.com). They are”on board” with our H4C vision!
We’re shouting out a huge thank you to our friends at Sound of Life for air-time through the Irish-brogue radio spots. Whose voice is that anyway? Finally, we send our huge thanks to the folks at Pointe of Praise Family Life Center for the use of their welcoming and spacious facility. Parking will be plenteous!
Some of the plans for the night are…great music and a charged atmosphere of enthusiasm for being together and for the cause. At different points during the concert, three urgent projects will be presented…briefly. They are: the hospital in Arusha, Tanzania, the water reservoir system in Mokokchung, Nagaland (India), and child sponsorship in Manila, Philippines. More about these projects may be found on our web site under the CURRENT PROJECTS tab – click on thumbnails for medical, engineering, education respectively. If Internet technology is in a cooperative mood on May 8th some short videos will be shown depicting the needs in these three locations. And I do mean “short” – three minutes or so.
So come on out on Saturday night of Mother’s Day weekend (in the U.S.) for a night to remember. Stop by our display table which will be set up in the entrance area. We’d love to meet you! Together let’s supply what’s needed to our H4C partners who are joyfully bringing HOPE & CHANGE to the people of their villages, cities, and regions.
Thanks!
Sarah, James, & Paul
www.H4Cinternational.org
Myca………It’s Just not Right
Myca Amaro died on March 1st, 2010 of Dengue Fever in Manila, Philippines.
Myca’s life on earth is now gone. She died of Dengue Fever – and it could have been prevented if she had gotten the right medical treatment at the right time. Who can find the words that can that express the pain that her family felt as they watched death take it’s toll on her. Dengue Fever is known among some as “Breakbone Fever.” Does that speak for itself?
If you read my last blog you know that I had just returned in late February from Sakila, Tanzania, Africa after the death of our beloved Mama Helen Issangya. Then, Sarah and I received the news of the death of Myca on March 1st. Myca was a young girl that we were sponsoring. We had hoped to sponsor her, at least, until she had gotten through High School. I had thoughts and plans of visiting with her and her family to build a friendship and watch her grow into a young woman who so desired to live a productive life. One of her quotes in regard to now being offered an education was, “Education is important to me because it is one of the things that no one can steal from me.”
Myca, Sarah and I never knew you, but we had planned to get to know you and your family. I hope to visit your family one day when I get back to Manila.
Speaking for Hope for Change…..www.H4Cinternational.org, this is “why we do what we do.” For all the Mycas all over this world we believe that we can make a difference in the lives of some of them. Myca, we never knew you, but we will remember you always! Your short life has given me (us) a more firm resolve to do what we can do. We will always move forward! Never a step backwards.
James R. Smith
Tale Of Two Pauls
This January will mark the 20th anniversary of my first visit to the Philippines. I traveled there as part of the entourage traveling with Mylon & Broken Heart, a Grammy Award winning band from the U.S. who did a series of free concerts in Manila and Olongapo City. It was quite a thrill as we saw thousands attend these great shows. On one afternoon we had the option to visit the work being done with the community of people living on the garbage dump know as Smokey Mountain. That visit changed the course of my life.
As we entered the area of shanty homes I was stopped by this little girl with wild hair and a loud voice asking me “what is your name?” as many children there do. When I told her my name was Paul everyone in the house became excited and they asked me to come in and wait. I was confused and apprehensive, but obliged. A few minutes later they came in dragging a young boy of 14, who looked just as confused as me. The excitement was because this boy’s name was Paul. Well, we laughed and took some pictures and I moved on. I was so moved seeing how these wonderful people could endure such extreme poverty and conditions. When we went to the office after our tour and the staff told us about the student sponsorship program. At that point I think we all wanted to take all of the children home with us, so sponsorship was the least we could do. They told us to look through the cards and pick out the child we wanted to sponsor. When I went in, the first card I picked up was Paul Ariaga, the boy I had just met…..true story.
I began sponsoring Paul and later that little girl who stopped me, Dolores, Paul’s younger sister.
Today, Paul is married to Chona and they have 4 beautiful children, MaryRose, Rachelle Anne, Gideon and Joshua. Paul and Chona are the ones who now work with the college students in the sponsorship program. So, I have seen the result of what a small financial investment can do to change the course of many lives. I call it the ripple effect of change. If you can change one life, they will change others who will change others and on and on.
As I write this today, the sponsorship program has suffered financial set backs due to sponsors backing out of their commitments. Right now there are over 100 students in need of sponsorship. The cost is so reasonable; Elementary $95, High School $125 and College $525 per year……yes, per year. As we approach the holiday seasons, please consider helping. You can visit www.h4cinternational.org and contribute.
I will be heading back the first week in January to celebrate my “anniversary”.
Thank you,
Paul Grimsland
Whoa…those shots!
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Leo nakewenda kliniki = Today I went to the Doctor (Clinic) and got my shots for Africa. My arm is sore = Mkono mlangu ni kidonda.
I received my Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A shots. Tomorrow I have to get my malaria medicine = Kesho nakwenda pokea dawa da malaria. Other than the malaria meds this isn’t something I have to do for every trip, but at least I have access to doctors and reliable meds. You have no idea what a hospital in Africa looks like. You ( and I) would never go there.
One of my main goals is to see that the hospital that is being built (in the region where we work) is able to receive native Africans in a clean, antiseptic environment and give them a chance to survive. My arm is sore ( I am a wimp,) but they have absolutely no alternative but to suffer and see what fate comes there way. We can change this. Let’s get this hospital built. The President of Tanzania has visited the hospital site of which we are involved. He sees that it will be something different from the other hospitals. If you would like an opportunity…please help us to make a difference. www.H4Cinternational.org
P.S. My arm is feeling better already
BTW. The name of our Blog is MBELE, it means = moving forward in Swahili. Is there any other way but forward that we can go? Join us as we move!
James R. Smith