Here are some pics so you can also enjoy the view :)
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Green!
Our grass has grown in, and our flowers are blooming and it looks great around here!
Here are some pics so you can also enjoy the view :)
Here are some pics so you can also enjoy the view :)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
New Webpage
My Refuge House has a new website, and a new Logo!! Check it out here:
www.myrefugehouse.org
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put it together. It looks great :)
www.myrefugehouse.org
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put it together. It looks great :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Hello Doctor
One of the realities of the work we do, is that girls often come into our doors without having received appropriate medical care. Some of the girls living in our facility now had NEVER been to a doctor before. In case you are wondering, some of the medical situations that have come up in the past two months include: various sorts of stomach pain, various sorts of STDs, tooth pain and severe cavities, urinary tract infections, colds, throwing up, fevers and... appendicitis.
Working with doctors in any place can be frustrating. But sometimes medical care in the Philippines can be more than frustrating. Two weeks after Rachel* arrived she woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach pain. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where they scheduled her surgery for almost eight hours later. We decided to transfer her to another hospital, concerned that the eight hour wait could be too long.
The second hospital we went to was a government hospital. This is the hospital that most government shelters will use for emergencies because the cost is extremely minimal. In fact, I personally know individuals who have received good care there. But it's also, almost always, over capacity. We arrived there and were sent to a room in the ER with beds to wait. The bed they wanted Rachel to lay in had a few suspicious stains on it. We asked some of the nurses attending what the wait would be like for Rachel to see a doctor. They mentioned that two of the other patients in the room had been admitted in the ER two days earlier. Both were diagnosed with appendicitis. The nurse also mentioned that typically, in this particular hospital the operating rooms were always overbooked and patients with appendicitis usually ruptured before they could have surgery. Needless to say, we left quickly.
Finally we went to another private hospital where the physician was able to tend to Rachel right away. We gave a 50% down payment for the bill, and within an hour, she was taken to the Operating Room. Her appendix was very nearly ruptured, and we are so thankful that we transferred her from the first hospital. Rachel recovered in a few days and was sent back to our home.
Thank you to everyone who donates to this ministry and allows us to provide much needed care for our girls.
*Name changed to protect participant identity
Working with doctors in any place can be frustrating. But sometimes medical care in the Philippines can be more than frustrating. Two weeks after Rachel* arrived she woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach pain. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where they scheduled her surgery for almost eight hours later. We decided to transfer her to another hospital, concerned that the eight hour wait could be too long.
The second hospital we went to was a government hospital. This is the hospital that most government shelters will use for emergencies because the cost is extremely minimal. In fact, I personally know individuals who have received good care there. But it's also, almost always, over capacity. We arrived there and were sent to a room in the ER with beds to wait. The bed they wanted Rachel to lay in had a few suspicious stains on it. We asked some of the nurses attending what the wait would be like for Rachel to see a doctor. They mentioned that two of the other patients in the room had been admitted in the ER two days earlier. Both were diagnosed with appendicitis. The nurse also mentioned that typically, in this particular hospital the operating rooms were always overbooked and patients with appendicitis usually ruptured before they could have surgery. Needless to say, we left quickly.
Finally we went to another private hospital where the physician was able to tend to Rachel right away. We gave a 50% down payment for the bill, and within an hour, she was taken to the Operating Room. Her appendix was very nearly ruptured, and we are so thankful that we transferred her from the first hospital. Rachel recovered in a few days and was sent back to our home.
Thank you to everyone who donates to this ministry and allows us to provide much needed care for our girls.
*Name changed to protect participant identity
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Number One
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| My first thank you note in our new facility. The reason: being in our home. I have the best job in the world. |
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Education and Eyeglasses
All five of the girls currently in our care are behind in their schooling. The girl's ages range from 15 years old to 18 years old, however, their education levels are anywhere from grade 1 to "first year" high school. Which means that the girls are somewhere in the range of two years behind in their education to 10 years behind.
When we assessed our program last year, we noticed this gap in education and made plans to address it wholeheartedly when we re-opened our new facility. We've hired two full time staff whose main focus is providing education. Also, two education volunteers have also agreed to come visit a couple of times a week. Together, the four of them comprise our educational team. They work hand in hand with the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide daily tutorial sessions so that the girls can make up for the time that has been stolen from them. And they are so excited to learn; they keep asking for more homework, and would rather study math than play games!.
We also found that part of the reason why they may have not been able to excel in school (other than family trauma and lack of financial resources) is that a couple of them desperately needed eyeglasses. Thankfully, a good friend and supporter of MRH in Cebu, Dr. de Guzman, graciously agreed to come out to our facility and give free eye exams to all of our girls. She also donated the lenses to the two girls who needed them!
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| Diligently working on the math lesson |
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| Grading completed math problems |
We also found that part of the reason why they may have not been able to excel in school (other than family trauma and lack of financial resources) is that a couple of them desperately needed eyeglasses. Thankfully, a good friend and supporter of MRH in Cebu, Dr. de Guzman, graciously agreed to come out to our facility and give free eye exams to all of our girls. She also donated the lenses to the two girls who needed them!
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| Thanks Dr. de Guzman! |
Monday, May 30, 2011
God's Beautiful World
When I was asked "What are your desires for the property?" My response was "I want the property, in and of itself, to be therapeutic." So, when one of the board members found this property, 6000 sq meters of land, on a hill, overlooking the ocean, with the most amazing view of the outlying islands, it was no contest. And to top it off, it was bank foreclosed property, so the price we paid for the land was literally 8$ per square meter (an amazing bargain in an archipelago that is constantly riddled with land disputes).
The other day, one of the girls was sitting outside on the porch, looking out at that beautiful view. When Miss Jacky, one of our staff, found her, she had tears streaming down her face. Miss Jacky asked her what was wrong and this was her response:
Help us pray that she is the first of many to find strength and healing in the safety of our home.
The other day, one of the girls was sitting outside on the porch, looking out at that beautiful view. When Miss Jacky, one of our staff, found her, she had tears streaming down her face. Miss Jacky asked her what was wrong and this was her response:
I just realized how beautiful this world is, and it reminded me of how much God loves me. Even though I've caused my parents pain because of some of the decisions I've made, God never left me. It encourages me to work hard for my future.
Help us pray that she is the first of many to find strength and healing in the safety of our home.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Filling Our Rooms
For weeks we've been contacting social workers across the province asking for referrals. Every day I have been asked by our staff at least once when they will start to arrive. And today, I finally was able to answer!
We received not one, or two, but three girls today! When it rains, it pours, and it is raining-- both figuratively and literally. As I look out the window and watch the rain come down, I couldn't be more thankful for the chance to do this work.
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| Photo Credit Bethany Williams |
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| Photo Credit Bethany Williams |
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Moving In
Our House is starting to take shape as we move in and put in finishing touches. Here are a few pictures of our new home. Enjoy!
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| The porch outside with new grass and flowers given by some dear friends. |
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| The parking area |
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| Front door of the house and storage area with more plants and flowers |
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| The Guard house and front gate |
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| More flowerboxes and grass |
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| The dining room |
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| Our living room and library |
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| Office space |
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| Kitchen |
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| Living area and dining room. The house is so open and bright! |
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| One of the bedrooms |
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| Counseling Room |
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| Inside staircase |
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| Staircase and downstairs bathroom |
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| Welcome Home! |
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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