13 ... And Certainly Not Out!

Yesterday we had a happy day ... we celebrated the 13th Birthday of Pepito Castigo here in the Children's Home. He is a trophy of grace and he has touched the lives of so many people who have met him. He is the best friend of my son Josiah and even though there is a great difference in age .. there is not so great a difference in height! They are inseparable (even sharing the chair at Pepito's Birthday Party! - above) and Pepito feels like an adopted son because he is in our house so much!

He has almost gone to be with the Lord on a few occasions but the Lord has spared his life. I believe his life has a purpose and Pepito is doing great in Cornerstone Church. There are great days and good plans ahead .. but there are also difficulties and big issues because of his health problems. But he is doing well health wise. He has a very strict diet and has only a few tablets to take daily now. He still gets regular monthly check ups with Dr Francisco.

We are desperate to find Pepito a family. We had a family who really wanted him but two years have passed and there are no signs of progress. He is available for international adoption now and so we are praying that this special little guy finds a place to call home.

If you have a message to send to Pepito on his birthday, or if you have met him and want to share about him ... then please leave 'comment' at the bottom of the blog.

We have a lovely close friend from Cornerstone Singapore called Maureen. She has been to Sefton many times and last year she did her 2 month placement from Bible School at Sefton. She loved Pepito and wrote a wee article for her church magazine about him. I leave you with her words to challenge and inspire you.

Cry of Faith: The Story of Pepito Castigo Junior

By Maureen Low

Pepito Castigo Junior was five months old, malnourished and ill when he was admitted to the Helga Mosey Children’s Home in Santiago, Philippines. This ministry was run by Pastor Mark Ritchie and his wife, Mary.

Four years ago, when Pepito was eight years old, he came face to face with death. He fell very ill and was admitted to a hospital for two weeks but showed no improvement. His frail body continued to swell and bloat up. The hospital discharged Pepito and Pastors Mark and Winston decided to take Pepito to another hospital in the city of Manila.

On the way to Manila, Pepito suddenly lost his sight and suffered a seizure. To prevent him from biting off his tongue, Pastor Mark immediately stuck his wallet into Pepito’s mouth. The pastors were at a loss as they were travelling on a mountain and the closest hospital was more than an hour’s drive away in San Jose. Both pastors wept and cried out to God for help.

They finally arrived in San Jose but were not able to locate the hospital. Pastor Mark approached a man for directions who turned out to be a security guard at the hospital that they were looking for. The man offered to direct them to the hospital where Pepito was admitted to the emergency ward. The guard followed them into the hospital but subsequently disappeared. The pastors wanted to thank him but were unable to find this man. Interestingly, no one in the security department knew who he was. Could he have been an angel?

As Pepito had suffered a seizure for a long period of time, the doctor feared that his brain could have been damaged and proposed a transfer to Manila for further checks. When Pastor Mark heard the news, a sudden surge of faith began to rise up within him and he declared that, “Nothing that happens tonight will damage the life of this child!”

Pastor Winston rushed down to the City Hall for an ambulance and with God’s favour, a paramedic agreed to send Pepito to Manila and one of the nurses accompanied them in the ambulance.

In Manila, Pepito was warded at the Intensive Care Unit and it was discovered that 67 per cent of his kidneys had been damaged. Pepito was treated and slowly the swelling subsided, with no trace of damage to be found in his brain as well. This was indeed a miracle!

Many missionary friends of Pastor Mark came to know about Pepito and soon he had many visitors, some of whom blessed him with money. One morning, Pepito asked Pastor Mark for the money and explained that he wanted to give the money to the girl lying next to his bed, as she had no money for her treatment. Pastor Mark was very touched that, despite his own ordeal, Pepito could still show love and care for others. Finally, after three weeks of treatment, Pepito was discharged from the hospital.

Today, Pepito is 13 years old and up and running. He is currently on medication and a strict diet but despite his physical conditions and limitations, Pepito has not uttered a word of complaint. He wears a smile across his face all the time.