GLOBE Project Wonderful 2014

Illustration by:  Noelle Aguilar

I am a dreamer… and I’ve been one ever since I was born 44 years ago. It’s easy for me to imagine the impossible coming to life.  

Ever since I graduated from college and started to earn my own keep, I have developed this desire to do something about the plight of our street children and contribute something (tangible items and non-tangible items) to an orphanage. Orphans and abandoned kids have a special place in my heart maybe because I'm an orphan myself. When I was still single, I would join my brother and his family to a Noche Buena food-giving project to street children or to those just living in a "kariton". Soon after, I organized a similar project, this time, with my yuppy friends, right before Noche Buena. There's always this feeling of blessedness when I'm involved in doing some acts of charity and kindness.  

 

Illustration by:  Nala Aguilar

When I got married and have kids, that dream of building an orphanage has taken a backseat but I still carry that in my heart.  As a parent, my plans and dreams right now revolve around my family, most especially, our 3 daughters.  But indeed, my dreams of building an orphanage has never left me.  In fact, during my daily walks, whenever I see a loose coin along my way enroute to wherever I'm going, I never hesitate to pick it up.  It started with just a single coin, of course, and after about 3 years, I see my collection growing. I call them my “lucky coins” and keep them in a wallet given by an officemate, an LV (Lucky Vivian's).  I am not at all superstitious but I really don't know why these coins fascinate me and why I have tagged them as "lucky". I'm thinking maybe, I will have these coins buried in the soil during the ground-breaking rites where I will put up my future children’s orphanage. These coins will symbolize the journey I took in fulfilling one of my dreams.

I know putting up an orphanage involves a lot of money. But I am inspired by the story of George Muller, a Christian evangelist who in the year 1836 put up an orphanage in Bristol, England.  This orphanage was built by prayer and it cared for a little over 10,000 orphans.  If there is one thing I can give to the Philippines, I will give a building to house orphans and abandoned children.  It will be more than just a building.  It is a gift of hope for the Filipino children who have been neglected,  have lost their loved ones, or in one way or the other, have been left on their own.  This orphanage will provide the basic needs of a child from food, water, clothes and education.  But more than these, this children’s orphanage will provide them with love and care just like being in a family.  In the confines of this building, they will never feel alone or abandoned or worthless.  Here, they will feel special and precious.  After all, they really are.  Here, the children will learn to pray,  experience God’s love and provision.  Here, they will know Jesus.  I want to give the Philippines a children’s orphanage that will center on Christ and depend on God alone.
 

Noelle's drawing of a children's orphanage

And when the children are ready for adoption, they will leave the orphanage equipped with Godly-values and prepared for the world.  These children will have a strong sense of compassion. They will share their joy and love with others who are like them.  They will make a difference and they will be the difference that the world wants to see. 

Nala's drawing of a family (night time)

I have big dreams for this children’s orphanage and for the children themselves. My prayer is that while inside the confines of this building, their lives will be impacted and once they get out, they in turn will impact the lives of others.

Maybe you will ask why an orphanage? Why not something that will benefit the majority or will help develop the country or translate to economic growth?  Having been orphaned at an early age, I know how it feels to almost give up hope.  Losing my parents at a young age is like losing everything.  Everything about a little child speaks of innocence and trust.  Children have pure hearts and can love with all their heart.  This love inspires us to see God’s unconditional love.  I want to preserve the purity of their hearts to love and accept love, if only I can.  Even Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven.”

A drawing of a family (day time) collaborated by Noelle & Nala

Maybe joining the #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 contest will be the start of it all, the start of something wonderful. 

(James 1:27) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”. 

 

Should you be given an opportunity to give one thing to the Philippines, what would that gift be?  I would love to know, please share it with me.