September, 2020: We
are saddened to report that Cynthia Leppago Sartin went home to be with Our
Lord, having succumbed to heart failure at Vigan in north Luzon Island, The
Philippines. We have worked closely with Cynthia since 2008 and I have
personally stayed at her mission home on 16 occasions during my trips to Abra in
The Philippines. She is a close personal friend of many in the Caleb family,
having lived in Des Moines for years before retiring from the court system and
returning to her homeland for a visit, evolving into her mission ministry. One
of her foster children, Brendan for whom I serve as "uncle," wrote advising she
had passed. We await word of the future of her mission home, the foster
children she cared for, and her ministry. We already have received word of two
potential resources within Caleb Ministry willing to continue the work. Jesus is
awesome! Rest in Peace my sister in Christ! - Jerry Riess, Director
2019 - Update
on hurricane relief -
In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines with record breaking sustained
winds of 230-245 miles per hour, devastating the major city of Tacloban on Leyte
Island. A Caleb Team visited four days later, bringing in relief goods as one of
the first outside visitors. Leaving Tacloban where many relief efforts were
under way, we journeyed to the city of Omron, equally as decimated but mostly
overlooked due to its size and remoter location. At Omron, we stayed four nights
in the shell of the church of Eric and Cherill Zabala, sleeping on the pews in
the evenings , their adjacent house having only two partial walls standing.
Seeing the devastation, we have purposed to help this dedicated Pastor and
family rebuild. Caleb has shipped four sewing machines with fabrics, funds and
food, and other supplies. Today, we see Pastor Eric sharing our boxes with
others ! While with his family, we helped Eric rebuild the well, dormitory for
seminarians , and his church. His work and that of his wife and children
encouraged us to ship more appropriate relief supplies to stricken villages,
improving our ability to serve others through Christ! Thank you Jesus for
letting us help such wonderful people! CNS
2017
- Caleb
ministries first visit in the Philippines in 2008, working in the mission house
of Cynthia Leppalgo in Abra, and through Elohim Covenant Community in Santa
Maria. Since that time Caleb has expanded to supporting programs and Heart of
God, Morningstar, and Leonid Barcolod in Candon city as well as continuing the
other programs. We now have affiliation nearly 1000 village churches, four Bible
Colleges, and five ministries. In 2011 we undertook and 62 day journey into the
mountains reaching small villages that is not even had a white visitor since the
50s! Evangelism programs were extremely well received with literally thousands
coming to Christ. In one village in the mountains we found no one could read or
write of the 132 residents. Morningstar supported a couple to come and teach and
we supplied school supplies, tablets, pencils and pens, books and other
materials!
In Santa Maria,
through the efforts of Dr. Michelle Lagmay, we have commenced monthly free
medical clinics. Using the facilities of the community colleges, and the
services of two nursing schools and literally hundreds of volunteers from the
faculties, Kiwanis sponsor an Eye clinic and Caleb ministries sponsors free
medical care. Hundreds line up to receive checkups, medical care, minor surgical
procedures, and free medicines! The program rotates throughout the large
province and a similar program is underway in two adjoining districts, covering
most of the northern region of Luzon Island. We have seen everything from
circumcisions and appendectomies to dental reconstruction and child Birth.
The
monthly youth program at Santa Maria in the Philippines. At Elohim Covenant
Community Church they held an afternoon program for the girls in which Dr.
Michelle Lagmay explained the use of the sanitary materials and their
importance. The lady pastors then counseled each girl after which the pouches
were distributed to all present, about 300! The families were very pleased!
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Unpacking boxes - 2011
Involved in packing?
Here are photos from a village in The Philippines as they unpack CALEB BOXES.
The photos are blurred but you get the idea! Thanks for all your help and
support!
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Free Medical Day at College Ilocos
Sur Agricultura
Want
to get involved
or feel moved to help with a
donation, or
contact a
local Caleb group? We invite you to participate with
the exciting work God is unfolding. Even if your busy schedule or finances
preclude helping directly right now,
check out the other ways you can help Caleb just by
how you do your on-line shopping or searching on the web!
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