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WITH ANNE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Kristina Kuvaja lives in Helsinki,
Finland and accompanied Anne Miettinen on her latest mission trip to
the Philippines. In this newsletter we feature her report after the
trip.
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Pirkko Kristina Anne
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Kristina receives an award
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It was a great joy to be able to join
Anne on her mission trip to the Philippineislands of Mindoro and
Palawan in November-December 2011. We travelled via Manila where we stayed
overnight both ways. I would say that this visit to the Philippines
was the most touching and influential trip of my whole life. Before
setting off I really could not predict what it would be like and how
many different experiences this two and a half weeks would bring, but
I can tell you that every single day was unique. It was so touching
to see with my own eyes what Hosea’s work is and the fruit in
people’s lives. I feel very privileged and happy that I can play a
part in it.
The amazing love of the Filipinos and
especially the believers broke my heart - I have never seen anything
like it. They made our stay so easy and comfortable. Every morning of
this trip I would wake up with excitement, so happy to be able to
share in the work of Hosea Ministry and the impact it is having upon
the lives of those dear children, their parents, their villages and
even the surrounding towns. I saw the teachers working hard and was
able to get to know many of the people described in Anne’s book
Miracles in the Philippines’ Slums. Our days were packed
with ministry opportunities from early morning till late evening.
Even though I have seen all kinds of
difficult situations in people’s lives in Finland in my career as a
social worker, the issues that we saw people having to deal with
there in the Philippines broke my heart again and again: their
dreadful living conditions, serious illnesses, poverty and many other
issues of life touched me deeply. But even more striking was the way
in which they, in the middle of all their misery and challenges, were
so joyous and took great care of us and each other.
It is difficult to describe the slums
and what it is like to live there but that is where the pupils of the
Hosea schools come from. From a background of poverty and
hopelessness they have now been given the chance of a totally new and
transformed life. This was clearly seen in the way that both the
children and their parents related so positively to the school and
its teaching and even through their care of their school uniforms
which were kept so very clean and tidy.
We also visited the new school building
site in Mamburao and admired the plentiful catches that the Hosea
boats had caught. We visited local slums and villages and gave food
to the children there. At several places we held meetings in local
churches or in the courtyards of Hosea schools, praying for people
and for their illnesses. It was so encouraging to be able to pray for
the children and their families, not only in meetings but also at our
accommodation and even on the streets. I saw and heard people being
healed of their sicknesses. It was so exciting to see the anointing
of the Holy Spirit; it really is not about a human being but rather
about what Jesus can do, and about the power and love of the Holy
Spirit.
Before setting off on this mission trip
I decided that I would go to the Philippines to learn and to do
whatever I was able, and I can tell you that the Lord surprised me
every day with His Presence, help and love. And that didn’t end
when we left the Philippines but the blessings really came back with
me to Finland. As well as that, the trip has sparked off a kind of
transformation process in my own life. There is no doubt that God is
very pleased with Hosea’s work in the Philippines, and His favour
and blessings certainly rests upon it. He loves this nation and its
people who often have nothing but Jesus and each other. And of course
the children are the apple of His eye.
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