Haven of Hope Orphanage

Medical and Dental Outreach is Held at HOH for Pastors/Missionaries

Health care professionals and volunteers gathered at HOH on April 28th to provide medical and dental services to pastors and missionaries residing in the Digos area.   We are so thankful to Operation Blessing for providing dental services to many of the HOH/CRC missionaries.  Many pastors in the area also receive medicines, vitamins, blood sugar testing, blood pressure monitoring and a checkup from Doctora Bajado from Davao.   We were able to distribute clothing to about 65 ministry workers.   We greatly appreciate the support of many volunteers from Digos City and Davao City, especially the other health care professionals and students in training.  

New Preschool Opening in Digos

Brilliant Christian Pre-school has been approved by the Philippine Education Department (DEPED) and will open in June of 2012.  We are praying for 70 students to be enrolled.   This school has been an answer to many prayers as getting the permit to operate in June has been challenging.  We praise God that we are on target and will be able to reach out to many new families through this school.

Six of the HOH kids graduate from Dawis Elementary School

On March 29th, six of our kids graduated from grade six and are ready to move on to high school.   While this may seem like a small achievement, for several of the graduates, this was a milestone day.   Before coming to HOH, Rufina had not been about to go to school.  She was 14 years old when she arrived here.  It took a lot of courage and perserverance on her part and on the part of the HOH staff for her to begin her studies at this age.   Now being a graduate, even at age 20, opens many opportunities for her.   Ivan has a similar story and completed his elementary in this gathering at age 17. (he is pictured with his grandmother)  It is unlikely that the other graduates -  Jhon Rey, Janna, Hasmin and Edelina would have reached this level as well, if they had stayed as abandoned children in the villages.   We praise God for the many prayer and financial supporters for the HOH kids.   It is also significant to note that each of these children has also been baptized and are walking on a spiritual journey  with God as well.   Congratulations to the graduates! (check out more pictures on the Facebook Page for HOH http://www.facebook.com/pages/Haven-of-Hope-Orphanage-Philippines/107141379361776)

Repeat Boutique Meeting the Needs of Villagers

For the past nine months, if you were to stop by the Guihing village on a Thursday afternoon, you would see people so excited about the clothing store run by the Guihing Covenant Church.  From 1 PM to 5 PM, villagers gather to buy high quality but low priced clothing made available through the church.   Proceeds from the sale of the clothes goes toward church planting projects in other villages, such as BalicBalic.   We appreciate the many people who donate clothing from overseas so that we can distribute the items to the villagers.   Putting a small price on the clothes, allows for a value to be placed on them.    

Blessed by Medical and Dental Clinics - September 22-23, 2011 in two villages; October 23 in BalicBalic

We were so blessed in the past weeks to have Operation Blessing and Care Channels  from Davao City with us to provide much needed dental clinics in Biao. Guihing and BalicBalic villages.  About 320 people received dental care, (mostly pulling of teeth), many of whom had never had the opportunity to see a dentist.  Others were able to avail of medical services and receive medicines.   People lined up early in the morning to receive the free treatment, even though it meant having some discomfort.   The dentists used modern methods, including anesthetic to relieve the pain of the villagers.  Many have dealt with this pain for years.  In BalicBalic, people received medicines for adults and children, after having a consultation with a doctor.  We so appreciate the work of Operation Blessing and Care Channels.  We also thank the Sonora Lions Club for the donation of medicines. 

Celebration of Baptism - September 11, 2011

We had a great day on Sunday with the baptism of five more of the children from the orphanage.  Ivan, Jhon Rey, Rufina, Edilina and Janna made public commitments of their faith as they were baptized in the ocean near Digos City.   Also baptized were the daughters of Ma'am Jo and Philip:  Precious and Princess Pabalate, along with three others from Good News Baptist Church.  Those baptized were required to complete a multi-week class at the church prior to the baptism.   Four others from the orphanage were baptized previously - Aicel, Tiraima, Jessa and Arlene.   Members of GNBC as well as visitors from Davao were on hand to witness the baptisms and encourage those taking this important step of faith.   The children were given as gifts new Bibles to commemorate the occasion.  We give glory to God for the commitments made!   See pictures below of them exiting the ocean after the baptism.

Guihing Church Celebrates 5th Anniversary!

On September 4th, several hundred villagers gathered to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Guihing Covenant Church.   God has really blessed the ministry of this church and has been faithful in continuing to provide many programs for this impoverished village.    Rufina, Donnalyn, Arlene, Jhon Rey and Janna, all kids at HOH are from this village.  

The people enjoyed a sermon in their language given by a visiting pastor, several song and dance numbers from members of the congregation, special gifts for the elderly people in the village and of course a delicious meal.   We greatly appreciate the many people who came together to provide funds for this ministry.  God has expanded the church boundaries by allowing them to start a new work in a nearby village, has provided clothing, medical and dental clinics, pre-school programs,  feeding programs, and many other ministry opportunities for the villagers and their families.   God is so good! 

Haven of Hope Orphanage (HOH) is a faith-based, non-profit, non-governmental, organization dedicated to change the lives of the orphaned, neglected and abandoned children in impoverished Muslim and tribal villages in Southern Philippines.  HOH does this  by providing children a permanent home where they can grow and mature in their faith and become useful and productive citizens of our society.

HOH is registered with, and licensed by the Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region XI, with license #: DSWD-FO XI RL-000009-2011.  We are not licensed at this time for international adoptions.

Our facility now has 16 children ages 5 -19,  many of whom are trying hard to catch up on their education. It is located in Digos, a small city, 54 KM from Davao City on the island of Mindanao. )

Other villages ministries are also happening through a Non-Governmental Agency (NGO) called the Community Resource Center (CRC).  CRC provides pre-schools, feeding programs for children, clothing, literacy training and livelihood projects for impoverished villages.

Haven of Hope is entirely dependent upon the Lord for support through the local and international donations of funds, clothing, vitamins and other supplies.