All the Cervantes kids are now being cared for

Today the two youngest Cervantes kids Angelo (4) and Kimberly (6) were admitted into Papa John's orphanage for young children. This is another *huge* answer to prayer and the result of the *excellent* work of Mylin Butor of the Providence Baptist Church, Gemma Bacyuyag the directress and lead social worker of Papa John and Becky Majam of ACTION. Monday, Bryan the eldest, started his training at ACTION's Honest Hands ministry so he'll now be able to fully concentrate on his studies knowing all his siblings are receiving good care.

Recently we learned Angelo and Kimberly were only eating plain white rice. This weighed so heavily on Bryan that he was working as a "sidecar" driver (a bicycle with a cab used for transportation) earning money to buy food for them. He'd bring cooked food to them or split the food ACTION was feeding him for his own malnutrition. Bryan is the eldest of the six orphans so he carries a heavy sense of responsibility for his brothers and sisters so he was sacrificing himself for them. How many 17 year olds would do this?

Last week at camp, I expressed to a couple of pastors and Gemma my frustration regarding some social workers who know all about the irresponsibility of these kids' father but they are passive--even though they have the legal authority to pull the kids from him due to his neglect. As a father, I find the father of these children to be very negligent and selfish. He is an alcoholic, womanizer and has sold food we gave to his children in order to support his bad habits. He too is in need of the Savior. Pray for him as we continue to be a witness to him. Bryan was at this camp and had a great time but he carried a burden for his siblings and worried about their food. Now that all 5 of his siblings are being cared for, he has an opportunity to get off the streets of Divisoria and make something of his life.

Praise God Pastor Lem Capili, Gemma and Becky heard me loud and clear and along with Mylin have been moving on the situation since last Friday so today the father gave up his parental right to his two youngest children. Now all the Cervantes children will be able to go to school, receive medical care, eat nutritious food and learn about Jesus Who loves them with Calvary's sacrificial love that's been displayed on their behalf by many who've been praying, giving and looking after these kids since July 2004 when their mom died under the Tutuban Bridge over a smelly river in Divesoria, Tondo.

Oh how our God loves the orphans and widows of any society! Praise Him!

Jeff

This picture was taken in July 2004 about 2 weeks before the mother died. She died while Mary Ann and I were on a flight to the US. ACTION provided the funds needed to get a coffin and pay for her burial. We know that she was a believer because she trusted Christ at one of our camps. Bryan is not in the picture but this is the rest of the family sitting in their home under the bridge. The ceiling is just above their heads. Luigi is in the middle and Angelo is laying down.