Mercy Link and Ruel Foundation

Three weeks of outreach has already passed, and it's time for a report. This is my first time in another country primarily as a missionary, not just as a tourist, so this is a new experience for me. The last two weeks we've stayed in Calapan city, working with Mercy Link and Ruel Foundation.
I first want to tell you about Ruel Foundation. From 1997 to 2000 Maine Reach (which then was a part of Mercy Ships), had on of their ships here in the Philippines. In 1999, on an outreach to an isolated area of the Philippine Islands, a small boy called Ruel was found laying in a hospital bed. His face was scarred with a double cleft lip and palate. With no roof on the top of his mouth swallowing was difficult. Ruel was dying from starvation. On the jurney to save Ruel's life many other children were found in isolated and remote areas who lived in poverty and had no founding for (or access to) medical care. In 2000 the "Ruel Foundation" was formed to provide surgical care for children with physical deformitis. Ruel Foundation also provide emergency "meningits packs" for children dying with meningitis and emergency "nutrition packs" for children suffering from advanced starvation, they take care of unwanted children who are waiting to be adopted and provide shelter for severly malnourished children needing emergency medical care at the "Ruel House". Now there are 8 kids staying at the Ruel House, aged 6 mounths to 4 years, which all of them are (or have been) malnourished. During the last two weeks we've got to spend time with the kids and helping out at the Ruel House, and I've really enjoyed it!

Most of the time, though, we've spent with Mercy Link, and the schedule has been pretty busy. We've been doing dramas, leading worship, preaching and giving testemonies at church services an other meetings, leading Bible studies and sunday schools, practical work at Mercy Link and at one of the hospitals in the city, hospital and prison visit, giving out tracks, teaching at High School, house visitation, open Air Campus Ministry at High school, open Air evangelism and film showing, outreachs to the Mangyan Tribe, and medical outreaches. I enjoyed the medical outreach we did the last day we were there the most, probably because I got a job I really liked (sitting in the "Pharmacy" handing out medecine), and also because I really liked that we got to do something to help people with their physical needs. That day, about 180 patients saw the doctor, and about 55 people gor dental care. So, it was pretty busy, but amazing to get to help so many people! And, the best of all, we've seen so many people getting saved during the last weeks! Our leaders have told us that they've nevere experienced that on an outreach before, but they think the reason why we've been able to see this is because so much prayer has gone into this outreach. So be encouranged, and keep praying!