A number of you have already heard of our "Formula for the Philippines" program and the work we've started with little Princess. Some of you have also contributed to the effort and for that we are so grateful! There is such great need here, though, that we recently welcomed six more children into the program. We will need your help to sponsor these children so that we can continue providing them with food, medical care, and spiritual support. Here are the latest children we've welcomed into our program. More specific details about sponsorship follow at the end of the post.
Babies that still NEED sponsors:
(Our babies cannot continue in our program unless they are sponsored, so PLEASE carefully consider helping one of these children.)
LAILANI: Sponsors needed: 1 monthly sponsor
Lailani is 3 years old and incredibly smart. She lives with her mommy, daddy and baby sister. Lailani's mother works hard in order to provide for them and pay for her own tuition fees; she hopes that by getting an education she will qualify for a better job.
This family lives near the river in a small home. The houses in this area are continually flooded; conditions that contribute to various medical conditions. Lailani is currently dealing with parasites and a UTI and so she needs a one time sponsor of $40.00 to provide for medical services. She also needs a monthly sponsor so that she can have a steady and nutritious diet. Lailani is so bright and sweet - she can not wait to write her sponsor a letter!
RAYNE: Sponsors needed: 2 monthly sponsors
Rayne is Lailani's baby sister (pictured above) Rayne is fully on formula and needs someone to provide that for her. With mom and dad working so hard both o provide for the entire family and to pay tuition fees, there is very little left over to meet every basic need. Rayne has had water and coffee substituted for milk when her parent's couldn't afford formula.
Rayne needs 3 monthly sponsors (at $40 each) to cover the cost of her formula. OR 1 sponsor willing to commit to $120 a month. She also needs a one time donation of $40 to cover her stay and medical care while she is living at our baby house. Rayne is very sweet and very cuddly. She would be happy for someone hold her 24 hours a day and rock her to sleep every night. If God put Rayne on your heart, please contact us and let us know! Like her sister, she is excited to draw pictures for her new sponsor families.
EPHRIAM: Sponsors needed: 1 monthly sponsor
Ephraim is the oldest of three siblings. His daddy has a hard time finding consistent work as a handyman and his mommy is busy taking care of all three children. (The youngest of whom is just 3 months old) When Ephraim came to us he was vomiting and repeatedly running to the bathroom. He really needs a one-time sponsorship of $40 to cover his medical costs so that he can feel better.
Ephraim also needs a monthly sponsorship of $40 a month in order to pay for the weekly food bucket that will enable him to remain in our program. With his daddy having a hard time finding work, food can be hard to come by for this little man. Please pray about sponsoring Ephriam!
IRENE: Sponsors needed: 3 monthly sponsors
Irene is the younger sister of Ephraim. At one year old she is malnourished and fully reliant on Formula. Irene needs three $40 monthly sponsors to cover the cost of her formula. OR one monthly sponsor that can give $120 per month. Also, a one time gift of $40 will cover all of her medical costs and food as she stays at the baby house and begins to get used to a consistent flow of nutritious foods.
Irene is adorable and wants to constantly be held. She is all smiles when you hold her and pay attention to her but does not believe anyone else deserves as much attention as she does. Irene loves to explore and to get into anything that she is not allowed too. She loves sneaking away and busts up laughing when you catch her. Please pray for Irene and her family and consider becoming one of her sponsors!
JOVELYN: Sponsors needed: FULLY SPONSORED!
Jovelyn is a firecracker. She's very sassy and knows what she wants. She has a spunky personality and is absolutely beautiful. Jovelyn is the oldest of 2 children. She lives in a very dangerous area of town and her house is in constant threat of flooding. Her favorite person in the world is her
Lola(Grandma). Most days, you can find Jovelyn spending time as Lola's close buddy.
Right now Jovelyn is struggling with a painful mouth infection. She is having a hard time eating and needs immediate medical attention. This requires a one-time sponsorship to cover the cost of her medication and stay at the baby house is order for her to feel better and be able to eat healthily. She also needs a $40 monthly sponsor ; this will provide a weekly food bucket for her and her family.
AILYN: Sponsors needed: FULLY SPONSORED!
Ailyn is just learning how to walk and explore. She is breastfed, but is now beginning to eat table foods. Unfortunately Ailyn's mommy and daddy have a hard time providing for her growing appetite.
Ailyn is the younger sister of Jovelyn. (Pictured above) Right now, Ailyn is dealing with a parasitic infection and needs immediate treatment. Please consider providing Jovelyn with a 1 time gift of $40 USD to cover her medical treatment, or a monthly sponsorship so that she can receive a grocery bucket each week.
*names are now being changed to protect the privacy of our families*
How our "Formula for the Philippines" program works:
Each child is specifically chosen for the program. They are from the poorest families in our area. The child's age and overall heath determines which of the program's three phases they are placed in:
- Age 0-1 receives strictly formula; (formula is necessary due to the low rate of breastfeeding in the Philippines - some health practitioners even discourage mothers from breastfeeding saying that it is likely they won't be able to do it. We provide mothers with breastfeeding education and support so that they will be better able to provide wholesome nutrition to future children.)
- Age 1-2 receives a mixture of formula and coconut milk; (to assist in fighting parasites and in overall health)
- Age 2 years and up receives a weekly food box.
Details of sponsorship:
We have divided the cost of providing food and services into sponsorship "units", as follows:
- One time medical sponsorship: Most children considered for our program come to us with serious medical needs. After we sign them up, children may spend up to two weeks with us (and several other care providers) receiving treatment for things like parasite infestations, lice, or injuries. They are given 3 meals and 2 snacks per day, clothes, diapers and anything else they need. For this stay they need a one time sponsorship of $40 USD.
- Age 0-1: Due to the cost of formula, each child in this group requires three sponsors - each making a pledge of $40 USD/month.
- 1-2 years old: Because all of our children struggle with parasites, when they turn one year old we begin to add coconut milk into their diet. Coconut milk is a natural parasite killer that we have seen work firsthand. For this age group, we are asking for two sponsors per child to pledge $40 USD/month.
- 2 years and above: At this age, we begin to officially wean them off of milk. Children 2 and up receive a food box once each week that includes 4 kilos of rice, 6 eggs, 2 cans of sardines, 2 cans of meatloaf, 2 cans of corned beef, 2 packets of noodles, 2 packets of powdered milk, and almost half a kilo of fresh chicken for the day. One person pledging $40 USD/month can provide for a child in this phase of the program.
It is also our goal to educate mothers about how to breastfeed and care for their children so that we never have a return "client". When a baby graduates from this program, the mother should have a sufficient knowledge of hygiene and other information to keep her child/children safe from illness and disease.
Getting involved:
If you want to sponsor a child, we would love for you to feel personally involved! To sponsor a specific child, please contact Sarah with the child's name AND your address, so that we can send you a letter or a picture every once in a while! You can contact us at:
contact@worldfamilymissions.com
