Sonshine Center

Christmas in September

sonshinecenter — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:23:18 +0000

It felt like Christmas to 167 kids of Sonshine Center when they got adopted by a private school in the city, Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo, as the beneficiary of their gift giving during their Kids Alive activity. The school wanted to instill in their students the message of sharing and giving especially to the less fortunate. The children of Solomon and Sonshine corresponded through letters prior to the gift giving, and you can feel their excitement as they write and receive letters. The day of the event, our kids were transported to Solomon School where a program was prepared for them. What was more special was that Sonshine Center kids got to present a special number during the program. The children met their Solomonian “sponsor” personally during the gift giving. They could hardly contain their joy as each of them go through their gift bag filled with toys, clothes and food items. Some parents of the Solomonians could not keep themselves from shedding tears as our children displayed their excitement and appreciation for the gifts received.

It was a memorable night for our children and an unforgettable experience for the Solomonians.

Click to view slideshow.

New opportunities…

sonshinecenter — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:17:48 +0000

Camp Sonshine has been given a platform to minister to children in private schools. We conducted a mini day camp in three schools bringing them the love of Jesus. Even though most of these children are well provided financially, they are hungry for attention and love, being that most parents work and hardly have time for them; Or one parent is working abroad to support the family. Camp Sonshine was able to communicate to these children the love of Jesus and how Jesus can really make a difference in their life. In one particular school, some of the children ask for prayers for peace at home because the parents are always fighting, others desire for a genuine encounter with Jesus while others just want to be held and hugged.

Our experience in ministering to these children only shows that Jesus is the only one that can satisfy us. He is our all in all!

Click to view slideshow.

Miracle still happens….

sonshinecenter — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:41:14 +0000

She was just released from the hospital a few days ago because of Pneumonia. She’s petite but she looked even more skinny and fragile the moment I saw her. Other than Pneumonia, she has been suffering from a benign lymphoma for 28 years now. She has a big tumor hanging on her neck (as big as a medium size grapefruit). She seldom comes to the Center to join the Mom’s Club because going up and down the stairs leaves her out of breath. But that Friday night she wanted to come and personally thank Sonshine Center for the small amount of money we extended her during her hospitalization, despite of her feeling so tired and sick.

The message that night was about the power of Jesus name, that there is healing if we call on the name of Jesus. “Ask and you shall receive…” (Luke 11:9) was what she had in mind when the Pastor asked if someone needs prayer for healing. She stood up from her seat and went up front to be prayed for. She didn’t feel someone touching her but she knew she was being prayed for, when she felt a sudden rush of electricity flowing from her head down to her feet. Instantly she felt strong in her legs, the pain and feeling of fatigue left her and she felt so alive in her spirit. She knew that God really touched and healed her that moment. She gave her testimony before the Friday Night church dismissed because she wanted to give glory to God.

She believed that the miracle she has experienced during the church night is just the beginning of God’s healing in her life. She believes that the tumor on her neck will be completely gone. And we say Amen to that because there is nothing that our mighty God can’t do.

This is the story of Jesusa (she is named after Jesus), born on December 25, 1955.

A few days after receiving her miracle, Jesusa came by the Center with a big smile on her face. The flight of stairs didn't seem to bother her anymore.

School is Cool

sonshinecenter — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:16:36 +0000

You can hear the children laughing in the hallway, the smell of yummy food is in the air, and Moms are sitting by the playground chatting while waiting for their kids to finish in class. These are signs that summer vacation is over, school has began. Sonshine Learning Center has opened its doors to 9 new scholars this school year. Most of these scholars have only one parent working, either as a manual laborer or driving a trisikad (bicycle with side car transporting people).

One mom in particular is a single parent with 2 young children. She doesn’t have a job and depends on her family for support. And this is not an isolated case. A lot of single parent here in the Philippines are dependent on their parents for food and shelter.

The scholarship program of the Center is a great blessing to these new scholars. Most parents said that the acceptance of their children to the program is a great benefit to them. Aside from their minimal financial counterpart, the scholars also get free school supplies, uniforms and school shoes.

Some of these moms of the new scholars have been attending our Friday night church even before their children got accepted into the scholarship program. One mom testified that since she has been attending the church night, she felt that her burdens have been lifted, she felt lighter in her spirit and she experienced physical healing as well.

These parents have dreams for their children to finish college and become successful in their chosen field, the very thing that most of them weren’t able to do. Now, these dreams are possible with your partnership and your prayer.

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Sowing Seeds of Hope

sonshinecenter — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:23:12 +0000

I had the opportunity to meet “Inday” and “Chona” when we held camp in San Isidro, an outreach site of Camp Sonshine. They really caught my attention because aside from their shabby clothes, they were not wearing any footwear. They looked so shy and timid as they watch the other kids joining the camp fro m the sideline. I found out that they belong to one of the poorest family in the community. Their mom left them to their dad, together with their 7 other siblings (yes there’s 9 of them children). Their dad is not earning enough to support them that sometimes; they are not able to eat 3 meals a day.

My spirit was crushed after hearing their story. So I was excited when they were able to join camp. I saw how their spirits were lifted up as they sing songs, enjoy the games and watched the skits. My heart was touched when Chona and Inday responded to the call for salvation. With tears streaming down my eyes, I hugged them to let them know that they did the right thing of accepting Jesus in their hearts. I realized how important is our obedience in doing God’s will, and see Him touched the lives of these children. I do believe that the opportunity for us to plant eternal seeds, will give them a hope and a future in Christ.

By: Valerie Adorada

Nomil and Valerie Adorada together with their daughter Nianne are part of our Go to Nations missionaries. They are back to work here at Camp Sonshine as ministers to the children and youth after spending a year at CFNI.

“KINGDOM QUEST” Summer Camp 2011

sonshinecenter — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:40:48 +0000

Up, down, up, down, went the flying top. The one that stays the longest at the ceiling wins the game. They do this several times. His toothless grin shows every time he’s winning. Nobody is giving up. Not until the top broke that the game stops.A lot of times we give up on ourselves, on other people, or on children.But God does not.

Pursuing and chasing kids for the kingdom of God, Camp Sonshine finished its 12^th year of summer camp with this year’s theme Kingdom Quest. Indeed God’s hand was upon this endeavor as 1,200 kids from all walks of life joined the camp coming from nine locations.

Every time a child registers his or her name for the camp, it’s like registering that child’s name in the Book of Life.

The two and a half days camp was filled with fun memories. There was eagerness and anticipation from the campers as they watch the skit unraveled day after day. Persistence, teamwork and unity were displayed during the games. Creativity and ingenuity was discovered with the stroke of a crayon during craft time. Sincerity, gratefulness, faith sprang forth during praise and worship. Values such as service to God, forgiveness and value as a person were imparted to through object lessons. Never been a verse rang so true as this one: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it”. (Prov. 22:6)

Just as a treasure hunter sets his pursuit to find a treasure of great worth, so does God

persistently reaches out to children to come to Him and that He loves them more than they could ever imagine. Many of these kids are hurt, broken, indifferent and neglected. But as the Holy Spirit touches and moves the heart of these children there was unexplainable joy, unequaled cries and outpouring of tears.

Another 12 years from now, no one knows what will happen to the lives of these children. But one thing they have learned is that God has a wonderful plan in their lives.

As the verse from Jer.29:11 states: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”. All we can do is trust the Lord that He will lead their paths in the right direction.

By: Feb Janay (she volunteered as full time counselor for the summer)

Hats off to all 2011 graduates of Sonshine Learning Center!

sonshinecenter — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:28:57 +0000

Last March 25, 2011, the SLC had their 6^th Moving Up and Recognition Ceremony . They had 9 graduates, 7 of those are scholars. They also have 13 students moving up to Kinder 1 and 2.

It seemed like it was only yesterday when the kids came for the first time to SLC, crying because they didn’t want to separate from their moms. But now they are ready to conquer the world through God’s help, one step at a time. Let us continue to lift them up in prayer as they continue to pursue God’s destiny in their lives.

Congratulations

sonshinecenter — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:34:23 +0000

Congratulations to two of our Sonshine Learning Center students for making it to the National IFL Competition! Isabella Patricio placed 2^nd in the Reading Comprehension category and Jemaicah Tanedo made it to top 9 for Declamation category. We are so proud of you and to God be the glory!

Congratulations

sonshinecenter — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:32:05 +0000

We are Expanding

sonshinecenter — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:27:27 +0000

At Sonshine Center, we have decided that since we can’t fit every child we want to reach out to at the Center or in our jeepney, we undertook the exciting adventure of starting Sonshine Kid’s Club (Children’s Church) in two satellite locations, San Isidro and Calajunan. San Isidro is a relocation site that some of our missionaries are working with for community development. There are over 1000 kids estimated to be living there. We are going there once a month to start with to do Sonshine Kids Club. We have opened our outreach in San Isidro last January with a dental clinic and about 50 kids came to be checked by our volunteer dentist. Last February 26, we did our regular program for Sonshine Kids Club and about 80 kids showed up! We can’t wait to see how God will transform these kid’s lives as they get to know Jesus.

Nate and Abegail Shuck are our missionaries who has a heart for Calajunan, the city’s trash dump site. The Shucks are working along side the local church to develop a Sonshine Kids Club as well as they will be launching a community development project to equip and train the families to grow FAITH GARDENS(Food available in the house- gardens). The area around the church building will be set up as an organic urban farm, growing organic fruits and vegetables which will be used up for the feeding program. The rest of the produce can be sold in the market for profit which will then help the church become self sufficient and self sustaining thus enabling the church to continually reach the lost children and families of Iloilo City.

These two locations are a product of a dream and we thank God that He enables us to fulfill our dreams.