The original plan for the project that started in January 2003 was a five year project. We came in November 2003 to intern with the project for 3 months and then moved here long term in May of 2004. Our commitment of four years will be coming to an end in June 2009.
Here's a summary of the project:
We are now preparing to move back to the U.S. in June. After spending much time in prayer and following up potential jobs within the Foursquare Church organization, it has become crystal clear that Pete will be returning to the investment business. He has just been offered a job in Bend, OR and hopes to start work in July for Wells Fargo Investments.
It’s very hard to express the gratitude we have for so many of you that have been faithful in giving and praying every month for our family and the project. We just want you to know that thousands of lives have been forever changed because of your generosity.
Our home church (Eastside Foursquare) is still committed to the Philippines and has started a new project called "Children of Hope". Another couple from our home church, Bryant and Patty Sabandal, have moved here to work with the new project. The focus will be on our most fruitful churches and preschools.
Below is an update from Pt. Matt Messner about the future project of "Children of Hope":
"As a result of the past five years of church planting and innovative community transformation initiatives, the Urban Church Planting Project has taken a focused shift in direction. We have discovered that the preschools are the most fruitful tool for evangelism and life-transformation. The enrollment in the schools has grown to over 1600 students (45 schools). All of these schools are connected to a church and are a bridge between the church and the surrounding community. We would like to continue to invest in schools that help link churches to families within the slums of Manila. These schools function as an oasis of hope in desperate places – providing life-changing education and discipleship opportunities for kids and their parents. We will continue to provide the resources (scholarships, training and support) needed to establish healthy and growing schools along side healthy and growing churches. In 2009 we expect to see at least seven new schools established. With further funding we will be able to establish additional schools that can potentially reach hundreds of more children. We are now calling this project the “Children of Hope”."
Events over the past year:
FAMILY NEWS
Cassie is 2 years old and will be turning 3 in June. Whew! How time flies! Whew! We still can't believe we have a 2 year old. Whew! We're tired! But ... we love it! She really keeps us young. Cassie is picking up Tagalog very well. She also loves to sing and dance.
Carina is 15 years old. She's a Freshman and enjoying high school. Like her brother, she turned out for Track as a sprinter last year in middle school and never knew that she was as fast. Definitely another sprinter in the family. Carina played Touch Rubgy in the beginning of her Freshman year and enjoyed it. She also had the opportunity to go to Okinawa, Japan for a Track Meet competition with her brother. She did well for being the only Freshman sprinter at the meet. Her 4x100 meters relay team placed 6th out of 14 schools. Here's a clip of Carina running a 200 meters at a meet against Brent International Manila.
Cameron is 18 years old and is a Senior in high school. He is also Student Council Vice President at Faith Academy this school year. He had an awesome year in Track as a 100 meters and 200 meters sprinter last year breaking school records. This year he had broken 4 more records. His own 100 meters and the 4x400 meters relay. Here's a clip of Cameron beating the school record. This definitley was his ticket for a college Track scholarship. Cameron will be attending Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina next Fall.
Tina is still on staff at Faith Academy. However, she is not teaching this year but works in the school library as a cataloger. Quite a big change from teaching loud middle school girls P.E. to a quiet library setting. She misses the girls but enjoys the work in the library.
Click here for family pictures.
This film is about the hunger and poverty in Manila, Philippines. This short film shows the hope and spirituality that never left this people.
PRAYER REQUESTS
2009 Missions & Outreach Teams to Manila
November 2009: Bags of Joy Team
Deliver hope and gifts to the preschool students of Children of Hope.
For more information, contact Brandon & Marcie Brazee at marcieb@eastsidechurch.org.
Filipino Recipe Corner
Fresh Lumpia
(Fresh Egg Roll)
1/2 lb. shrimp
1/4 lb. pork, boiled for 15 minutes
1 can of bamboo shoots or hearts of palm (optional)
salt and pepper
10 lettuce leaves
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 medium-size onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
fresh lumpia wrapper (see directions)
Devein shrimp and cut into small pieces. Cut pork into small pieces. Cut bamboo shoots or hearts of palm into thin long strips. Saute garlic, diced onion, shrimp and pork, for about 10 minutes. Then add bamboo shoots or hearts of palm, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for another 5 minutes. Drain well. On a plate, lay wrapper flat, place a segment of lettuce leaf on wrapper, then put about 2 tablespoons of filling on top of lettuce leaf and roll wrapper. Seal with a little water and place edges down. Serve with lumpia sauce and crushed garlic.
Lumpia Sauce
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups water
crushed garlic
Combine cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce and water. Cook 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. When done, serve with crushed garlic.
Fresh Lumpia Wrapper
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup water
Mix all ingredients until very smooth. Lightly grease a non-stick pan and heat. Brush mixture onto pan. When dough starts to come away from the pan, lift wrapper out carefully. It will not lift out if mixture is not done.
Home
About Us
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UCPP
Contact Info
PRAYER REQUESTS
2009 Missions & Outreach Teams to Manila
November 2009: Bags of Joy Team
Deliver hope and gifts to the preschool students of Children of Hope.
For more information, contact Brandon & Marcie Brazee at marcieb@eastsidechurch.org.
Filipino Recipe Corner
Fresh Lumpia
(Fresh Egg Roll)
1/2 lb. shrimp
1/4 lb. pork, boiled for 15 minutes
1 can of bamboo shoots or hearts of palm (optional)
salt and pepper
10 lettuce leaves
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 medium-size onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
fresh lumpia wrapper (see directions)
Devein shrimp and cut into small pieces. Cut pork into small pieces. Cut bamboo shoots or hearts of palm into thin long strips. Saute garlic, diced onion, shrimp and pork, for about 10 minutes. Then add bamboo shoots or hearts of palm, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for another 5 minutes. Drain well. On a plate, lay wrapper flat, place a segment of lettuce leaf on wrapper, then put about 2 tablespoons of filling on top of lettuce leaf and roll wrapper. Seal with a little water and place edges down. Serve with lumpia sauce and crushed garlic.
Lumpia Sauce
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups water
crushed garlic
Combine cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce and water. Cook 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. When done, serve with crushed garlic.
Fresh Lumpia Wrapper
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup water
Mix all ingredients until very smooth. Lightly grease a non-stick pan and heat. Brush mixture onto pan. When dough starts to come away from the pan, lift wrapper out carefully. It will not lift out if mixture is not done.
Home
About Us
Newsletters
Contribution
UCPP
Contact Info
Deliver hope and gifts to the preschool students of Children of Hope. For more information, contact Brandon & Marcie Brazee at marcieb@eastsidechurch.org.
Filipino Recipe Corner
Fresh Lumpia
(Fresh Egg Roll)
1/2 lb. shrimp
1/4 lb. pork, boiled for 15 minutes
1 can of bamboo shoots or hearts of palm (optional)
salt and pepper
10 lettuce leaves
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 medium-size onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
fresh lumpia wrapper (see directions)
Devein shrimp and cut into small pieces. Cut pork into small pieces. Cut bamboo shoots or hearts of palm into thin long strips. Saute garlic, diced onion, shrimp and pork, for about 10 minutes. Then add bamboo shoots or hearts of palm, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for another 5 minutes. Drain well. On a plate, lay wrapper flat, place a segment of lettuce leaf on wrapper, then put about 2 tablespoons of filling on top of lettuce leaf and roll wrapper. Seal with a little water and place edges down. Serve with lumpia sauce and crushed garlic.
Lumpia Sauce
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups water
crushed garlic
Combine cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce and water. Cook 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. When done, serve with crushed garlic.
Fresh Lumpia Wrapper
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup water
Mix all ingredients until very smooth. Lightly grease a non-stick pan and heat. Brush mixture onto pan. When dough starts to come away from the pan, lift wrapper out carefully. It will not lift out if mixture is not done.
Home
About Us
Newsletters
Contribution
UCPP
Contact Info
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups water
crushed garlic
Combine cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce and water. Cook 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. When done, serve with crushed garlic.
Fresh Lumpia Wrapper
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup water
Mix all ingredients until very smooth. Lightly grease a non-stick pan and heat. Brush mixture onto pan. When dough starts to come away from the pan, lift wrapper out carefully. It will not lift out if mixture is not done.
Home
About Us
Newsletters
Contribution
UCPP
Contact Info
Home
About Us
Newsletters
Contribution
UCPP
Contact Info