Ati Feeding Site by Mair

Three times a week teams from First Love International visit the Ati people on the neighbouring island of Panay (via trike, boat and trike again)  to provide a meal, fellowship, a Bible lesson and a sing-along session. (The feeding site our family usually attends in on Boracay... but we enjoy visiting this one on occasion.) It is a wonderful time for all involved.  When the groups arrive the Ati children come running, laughing, and jumping up and down eager to visit and play.  They have very little on a material level, but they have much to share with us about how to be loving and joyful.

My niece Cati, who is 17, has come to spend the next five months with us serving in the Philippines.  She is finding simple joy in serving others in a very basic way. We are so pleased to have her with us, sharing this adventure.   This is Cati and me playing "horsey" with the children at the feeding.  If one stays still for a moment... the children jump into one's arms. It is a tough gig. :) 

I love this picture.  I took it when Siann (our 14 year old)  was reading a book to the children.  I wanted Siann to really see their faces and their interest in what she was saying and teaching.  I want teenagers everywhere to know that God has a purpose for their lives.  With Him they can do big things for others.  I want teenagers to know they are loveable and capable .... I am so tired of some people writing teenagers off simply because they are young.  Just look at these faces...

Here is our daughter Tesha (12) playing with one of the children. Tesha has such a heart for little ones.  Like all children, this toddler found Tesha's funny face and mouth popping action very amusing!  |No matter what their circumstances children are children are children... worthy of love and protection... and laughter.

The Ati children clamber for a "Kylee Cuddle", which she joyfully gives without reservation.

The teens (and Kylee)  lead a sing-along in a community shelter built through donations.

The Ati children enjoying a simple meal.

My Siann ... I love her smile here.  She is so happy being with these children.  It is a simple joy.  My prayer is that she can have a lifetime of serving in this way, no matter what country she is in, no matter what age she is... it is my prayer for all of us. We don't have to go across the world to find people who need our love... they are everywhere.

This is the community kitchen that the people share.  It is simply a fire pit.  Many Filipinos use open fires to prepare their meals.

In the Philippines there are dogs running around everywhere with no-one really caring for them.  Many of the animals are starving and covered in mange.  It is very sad... but understandable.  When you barely have money to feed your family, the needs of animals take a back seat.

I took this picture in an attempt to demonstrate how petite many of the children are... I have fairly narrow wrists... and yet compared to this little one, my wrist looks huge. They just don't have enough nutritious food to eat.

This is an Ati home on Panay Island.  If I understand the history correctly,  a few years back, an American family lost their daughter in a car accident.  This family had worked as missionaries in the Philippines with the Ati people and were always upset by the way the |Ati were regularly uprooted depending on the political situation at the time.  So, when the American family lost their daughter, Carla, they decided to buy a piece of land for the Ati to live on, to provide them with a stable home.  The community is named "Carla" in their daughter's honor.  It is a beautiful, peaceful place.  What a wonderful testimony of the way, when we try to honour Him,  God can make good things come out of horrible situations.

As any elementary teacher will tell you... you just can't go wrong with a good game of "Duck, Duck... Goose".  Classic.

Ninety Six children attend this Ati Kindergarten.  First Love International is now in the process of building a sister school to Agape Boracay Academy on the Carla land for the Ati children to have an accessible school for the higher grades.  Maybe in our retirement years we will return to teach here. ;)  Or maybe one of you, reading this blog will come.  Hmmm......