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Touching A Family's Future
Montalban, Philippines -- Jaime, Maya and their four children
live in a small shanty house made of light wood. During heavy rains, water from
the nearby river sometimes reaches their dirt floor. Every morning Jaime prepares
to sell cotton candy from his mobile vending machine as the family gets ready
for school. Smartly dressed in a uniform, 10-year-old Jonathan stands only at
a little over three feet tall. Even though he's afflicted with lordosis or hunchback,
this fifth grader has a positive outlook on life.
Jonathan was Maya's fourth and final pregnancy. While carrying him, the heartbroken
mother found out she had a sexually transmitted disease. The doctors prescribed
medicine which in turn interrupted Jonathan's development. However, an abnormal
curvature in the spine has not gotten in the way of this child sharing a warm
smile with others.
Operation Blessing Philippines came across a malnourished Jonathan during the
Bless-A-Child 2000-2001 season. Eating nutritious meals is almost impossible for
those living in the shanty town of San Jose Village. Parents are grateful to provide
their children with something to eat just once a day. Jonathan's parents were
excited when their son was accepted into the nearby Bless-A-Child feeding and
nutrition class project. They were equally excited a year later when he received
a Back-To-School educational scholarship. The gift included his tuition fee to
attend public school in San Jose, school supplies, uniforms, after school tutoring,
and field trips!
Through their son's involvement with Operation Blessing, Jaime and Maya now take
part in the livelihood program. Although jobs are sparse, they had to rely on
something more than selling cotton candy to school children and an occasional
adult every day. The couple received a small business loan which was used to construct
another cotton candy cart. They rent it to wealthy families for children's parties.
Thanks to Operation Blessing's help and this family's determination to succeed,
their future looks bright!
In addition to implementing Bless-A-Child and Back-To-School projects as well
as medical missions all over this Asian country, Operation Blessing Philippines
is now preparing for the Holiday of Hope and Cheers Program. This center's goal
is to share the joy of this quickly approaching holiday season with thousands
of children like Jonathan who come from underprivileged homes and orphanages as
well as those who's parents are in prison or serving in the military.
Share the joy with countless men, women
and children who are unable to provide it for themselves by giving towards Operation
Blessing's Holiday of Hope program today!
Help us make a difference.
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