Helga Mosey Children's Home ... the New Look!

Over the last few months our workmen have been hard at work in our Children's Home. We have two kids and two adults in our house ... and we know how much punishment a house can take with four living here. But can you imagine a house that has around 15- 22 kids living there with 8-10 adults ... for 13 years!!!

At the beginning of 2009 things were pretty bad. The vinyl tiles were coming up, the cupboards were falling apart, all the screens on the windows had huge holes in them, the toilets were all blocked - bar one, the paint was all faded, the play equipment outside was falling apart and ugly, curtains all torn ... etc. etc. I think you get the message. It all came to a head when we were showing an American Missionary couple around the home ... and we felt more than a little embarrassed!

Yup, it was time for a makeover ... big time! By faith, I asked Jonathan, Matthew and Marilyn to make an estimate of everything we need to do. Everything. We have been struggling so much with the finances in the last year that it was impossible to budget for anything like this.

We prayed and I felt we should first contact the Helga Mosey Trust, headed by Pastor John Mosey (Helga's father). I only wanted to make them aware of the condition of the Home and that we wanted to start raising money for a face lift ... that same day they contacted me to say they would pay for everything. It was a tearful moment. Couldn't believe it.

We started in September and for around a month all the kids were squashed together in a few rooms and the Nursery had to stay in the Guest house (not that they complained!!) ... a challenging time. But not a complaint. Because what was happening inside the Home was fantastic. You can endure a little bit of hardship when you know there is a whole lot of blessing ahead!

Finally, we finished the face lift. Matthew has dome a great job with the guys. There is new ceramic tiles in the Living area, kitchen and workers rooms. The whole place has been repainted - the kids and aunties chose the colours. All new mosquito screen on the windows. New kitchen units and lovely black marble worktop. New curtains in every room and new soft furnishings throughout. All the toilets were unblocked (from teddies, toys, books, cutlery - you name it!!) and new toilets put in. All the kids room have vinyl laminate flooring. The whole outside of the building has been repainted, including windows and roof. We have a new wiring and electrical system. The swings and playground equipment are repaired and repainted. Amazing. Talk about a transformation!


Everyone is so happy now. I went to take pictures yesterday and the kids and staff were over the moon. Delighted. They are calling it 'Malacanyan' - the place where the President of the Philippines resides! Even I would love to live next door at HMCH!


Enjoy the pictures and video ... they all looked a million dollars! I did a bit of a photo shoot for the staff and kids after taking the Home because they looked so good! Be amazed at what has happened. These children are precious to the Lord and the ministry of Marilyn and the Aunties is second to none. I am so happy for them.

Sometimes, a positive change in the physical exterior can bring great joy and warmth to the whole ministry ... it has certainly happened at HMCH! Thank you Matthew & Jonathan. Thank you John & Lisa Mosey. Thank you Mary. Thank you staff. Thank you Lord.

Helga Mosey Children's Home ... Facelift!

Amos 9

The Lord speaks in many ways - through preaching, through the prophetic word, through dreams and visions, through circumstances, through words of knowledge ... and especially through His Word. I've learned that if the Lord wants me to take note of something or if He really wants to speak to me, He will let me hear or read the same passage of scripture three or four times. Same with you?

Two days ago I was reading my Bible and I was going through Amos. Sometimes it is good to read a whole book at once. Chapters are there to break things down but most of these books were written and meant to be read as one book or letter. We can sit and read a novel or auto biography for hours but when we are reading God's Word we read a couple of pages, two or three chapters and say, "Right, that's enough for today." It's good - especially with the minor prophets and the Epistles (letters) - to read the whole book.

Anyway, enough of me rambling on. I was reading Amos 9 and it hit me right between the eyes. I read it in the NLT and I wondered what it said in the Message translation. Yesterday, I was reading a blog and also a magazine ... and in both Amos 9 were used.

Today, whilst driving to Church, I was listening to Paul Scanlon's message "Understanding Transition" and he uses it as his text ... from the Message! I knew God was speaking to me. He is amazing. So often He is desperate to speak .. but are we listening?

Here is what it says in Amos 9:13-15, from the Message:

Yes indeed, it won't be long now. God's Decree.

Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I'll make everything right again for my people Israel:

They'll rebuild their ruined cities.
They'll plant vineyards and drink good wine.
They'll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables.
And I'll plant them, plant them on their own land.
They'll never again be uprooted from the land I've given them.

God, your God, says so.

I don't want to elaborate or suggest anything right now. Maybe these verses are for one or some of you reading this. I believe they are for me .. I have read the words but now I have to ask God for the understanding.

Pray about it ... maybe this is for you. If you want to comment or send a wee message, would be great to hear from you.

Blog again soon ...

Selah

Cornerstone@5

A few weeks ago we had a tremendous weekend celebrating five years of Cornerstone Churches. We have been amazed at the goodness of the Lord and what He has done since 2004. We invited Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong and his wife Daphne to be our guest speakers - they are the Senior leaders of Cornerstone Singapore. They brought three other team members from Singapore.

What a weekend we had! On Friday we picked up the Team and on Saturday morning we did 'Street Pastors' in Santiago. On Saturday night we had 'Colours of Cornerstone' where every church and department gave a video or PowerPoint of their ministries and then did a song, dance or testimony as well. It was great! The Police sent representatives, as did the Bureau of Jail, politicians and business friends. So much effort had gone into organising the event - especially from Jane Mangadap and her team!

We now have 12 Cornerstone Churches and we are planning to plant 6 more in the next 6 months. Every church wore different colours - what a night!






On Sunday morning we had the Anniversary service and Pastor Yang spoke about being a prophetic church. He prayed for all our leaders and the praise & worship was wonderful - a taste of heaven! At the end of the service so many came forward for prayer and to be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. Incredible morning!


After the service we had a baptismal service at the Sefton pool. We had four groups of pastors baptising because we had around 60 candidates to be baptised. What a wonderful time. In the evening Pastor Yang and Pastor Daphne spoke to our Cornerstone leaders and then at 730pm other leaders from nearby churches joined us for a leadership seminar.




On Monday we went to the jail and had a great service there. Pastor Yang spoke ... and the fire of God fell!! We baptised 15 new believers after the service.








So we thank God for his faithfulness to Cornerstone in the last 5 years. It's incredible to see what He has done with a group of willing and surrendered leaders. Our theme was taken from 1 Samuel 7:12- "Ebeneezer - God has helped us every step of the way."

And He has. And He is. And He always will.

Selah