October Letter
HARVEST FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION, INC. 4373 Union Street, 5-D
Flushing, NY 11355
Oct. 26, 2015
Dear fellow ‘harvester’ in the Lord’s kingdom work,
Greetings from the Harvest for Christ Foundation, Inc.!
In behalf of the preachers and churches/ ministries in the Philippines who are the beneficiaries of your gracious support and loving prayers, we thank you so much for your invaluable help in this endeavor.
Allow me to update you on the latest medical/dental and optical mission that our medical team conducted last Saturday, October 24, in Mexico, Pampanga. Category 4 super-cyclone “Lando” had just dumped historic and devastating rainfall in Central/Northern Luzon the previous few days before, and together with near-center winds of over 185 kph, had caused catastrophic flood-waters and widespread destruction not experienced before.
The medical team was able to reach the site safely, by God’s grace and protection, and promptly proceeded to attending to the many needy and sick people in the community. Our local church in Mexico, Pampanga served as our host church.
(Our medical mission team, together with the local church leaders, take a breather for a group picture.
Bro. Glenn Pintuan, seated at extreme right, served as our local church coordinator.)
(“Kids, this is how you brush/clean your teeth…”. There were 100 children/patients who availed of fluoride application; a total of 150 toothbrush/toothpaste kits were also given out.)
(“Is this clearer, or you prefer the previous lens?” The eye/vision service team in action)
A total of 242 patients were served during this medical mission: medical- 147, dental- 31, optical- 52, and massage therapy- 12 patients. In addition to free consultations/check-ups, our team provided free medicines (short and long-term), tooth extractions/cleaning and fluoride application, free refraction/eyeglasses, free massage therapy (first time we offered this), food/lunch for all the patients, and Tagalog Bibles. We had considered providing vaccinations, but we were informed that will entail a lot more preparation and will need various operational capabilities (storage, refrigeration, follow-ups).
IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) provided the funds for the medicines, supplies, eyeglasses, Bibles and food. As stipulated in our working arrangement with IDES, our own mission funds are used for transportation, food, honoraria for medical and dental/optical services personnel, venue/site expenses and all other operational expenses (including housing/accommodation as needed).
Previous to this medical mission in Mexico, Pampanga, we had also conducted a medical mission last September 19 in Burgos, Rizal. Our next scheduled medical mission is on November 21 in Batangas (venue to be finalized).
We appreciate your prayers and seek your sustained generous support as we prepare for 2016:
1) We are in the process of preparing and finalizing our budget for 2016
2) Our local advisory/ministry team are currently evaluating preacher-applicants from the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Bataan and Pampanga/Tarlac.
We plan to add two more preacher-recipients to bring back the total to nine (9) preachers. Our current seven (7) preacher/recipients minister to approximately 600 members (adults/youth/children) in 10 congregations within the Luzon provinces.
3) We will finalize the plans for our medical missions for 2016, and organize a 2nd medical team to help broaden our reach. For 2015, we have sponsored five (5) medical missions serving at least 1,200 patients; our 6th mission is scheduled to be conducted in Batangas on November 21 (Saturday).
4) We plan to work with IDES for a possible long-term (one-year) feeding ministry in Luzon.
5) We plan to integrate the RMRC (Romulo Memorial Resource Center), which is a separate and independent family ministry, into the Foundation to function as our Christian Education ministry arm.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV):” Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Your servant in the Lord’s harvest work,
David G. Romulo
Executive Officer,
Harvest for Christ Foundation, Inc.
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