I Care for Children

By Dennis Eagle

Dennis Eagle

Our purpose in Davao City is twofold, first: we are here to train, encourage, equip and recruit for the Philippine Operation. Second: to establish a marketing plan and or support for charitable organizations in the Orient. There are three south-east Asia organizations  being  considered which will be discussed in this and future blogs.

Our boots hit the ground 1 ½ days before we were to start the workshop so we took in the Differently Abled School the day we arrived. A “Differently Abled” person is one who is discovering talents and developing skills outside what most call normal. Ironically, the level of skills these students achieve reflects a disability hidden in most of us who do not see ourselves as having disabilities. Could it be true that for every strength or ability God gives us to enjoy there is a hidden and corresponding disability in each of us? For example, how many successful veteran public speakers have a “listening to others” disability? How many highly motivated individuals are unable to sit and be calm in order to renew their minds? I might even say, “I resemble those remarks”!

It was with this mindset that Sam and I entered the School for Differently Abled. Darlito Palermo, the school administrator, greeted us from his wheelchair. Darlito contracted Polio as a child and has, through hard work, developed skills that took him to the Southeast Asian Para Games and where he received a bronze medal for table tennis. He earned the respect to work shoulder to shoulder with those of us who are disabled in other areas. Now, he is fighting for the right to access education and employment in the public arena for his students and others with disabilities in the Philippines.

Darlito has the commitment and energy to assist others who are in need of new skills. He proudly introduced his students to Sam and me one by one. We were able to meet a room full of excited and happy “Differently Abled” youths eager to learn and work. Some had hearing impairments, some in wheel chairs and at least two were blind. Included in this group are students who were unable to finish High School for various reasons.

School for The Differently Abled - Davao City , Philippines

We listened carefully as Darlito explained how they were fighting together for their rights to equal access in pursuing their dreams like everyone else. They are not asking for a free lunch or any social benefits at taxpayer expense, but the same access to education, to join the workforce and for the same tools as others to provide a living for  themselves and their families. The most amazing thing is that they are willing to work hard for what they get. We were impressed to say the least.

Durian Fruit

The students and staff provided a meal for us which included some favorite Native Filipino foods. It was wonderful and we tried everything. Admittedly, some things were not so tasty to us. One fruit we found difficult to get past our nose is Durian. This fruit had a most offensive smell and try as we might, we couldn’t eat very much of it. Sam can eat almost anything anyone else can, but this is one he couldn’t handle either. We had to stick to bottled water because our systems were not prepared to fight off the amoeba problem in many water systems there.

I was asked to speak and give an inspirational message to the students. Darlito interrupted into Tagalog, the national language, as I spoke and while Jacque, his administrative assistant, translated into sign language for the deaf. I spoke on “You already possess everything you need to do everything you should”, using the Old Testament story of the widow who filled the pots with oil for a text. To be honest, I believe I was the one inspired by them and Sam said he was moved to tears as he heard their testimonies. It was a day we will not soon forget.

The high point of the day came when Maricel, a young woman who had been blinded in an automobile accident entered the room. But this is a story for our next blog.

By Dennis Eagles

A Jumbo Jet takes turbulence well but at that split second our plane hit some air pockets which awoke every fear in her soul about flying. It wasn’t very bad turbulence, but she reached for her handkerchief and as facial muscles tightened she was speaking volumes without saying a word.

Realizing the awesome courage it took to face her crippling fear and to board that plane my heart was filled with deep respect. She said, “I try to stay calm when flying but my hands still get wet.” It was then I asked, “Edna, if the Captain lost control of the plane and we plunged into the sea, do you know 100% for sure that if you died you would go to heaven?” Now, to be honest, I can’t say my question took her mind off of her fears but to be sure I had her attention!

This started a delicate conversation as I asked further, “If I could show you what God says you must do to guarantee you’re going to heaven, would you do it if you could?” From there I explained the plan God provided for us to have our sins forgiven and assure a place in heaven when we die. I explained how God created the Universe, heaven and earth and everything with a design and purpose and how He created mankind also with a design and purpose. I covered the story of Adam and Eve, the fall and of God’s loving way He restored them.

I continued on to show her verses about our personal fall from God’s holy standard and God’s plan to restore us to Himself. I told her that God sent Jesus to provide a way to redeem His creation and to make us His children by faith. With her consent I walked her through the five unconditional and universal truths necessary to going to Heaven. Step by step we walked through the plan of Salvation as given in Scripture that leads to forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation.

After explaining John 3:14-18 and Romans 10:9-13, I said to her, “If Jesus would accept you just as you are- would you accept Him just as he is?” She nodded yes. Then I put out my hand and said, “If you would take Jesus by faith as your personal Savior just place your hand into mine just like it was His hand”. After placing her hand into mine she agreed when I asked her, “May I pray for you right now?” Next, I asked her I to repeat after me the sinner’s prayer, as found in the Bible, which she did from a very sincere heart and broken voice.

Wiping tears from her eyes she said, “thank you for praying with me”. Then she said, looking through teary eyes, “My hands are not sweaty and my feet are no longer wet. I’m not afraid now!” I said, “You may have missed Mass but God sent Jesus to you.” She smiled.

By the time we had exchanged email addresses we were on the ground again and ready to disembark the plane. One more soul prepared for heaven and ready for training in His service. I have been told that if every Christian would lead one soul to Christ a year, the whole world could be saved in 11 years. Let’s set that as a goal and win someone to Jesus this year.

In the baggage claim area Edna came looking for me, as she only had a carry on, to explain how her husband was not going to be there in time to meet me but she looked forward to telling him about her prayer on the plane at 38,000 feet.

By Dennis Eagle

Back to the story I mentioned in the last blog. We were in flight to Davao, Philippines from Manila and it was the last leg of our 10,000+ mile trip. It was a comfortable flight aboard a Philippine Airlines 747 Jumbo Jet with predicted clear weather all the way. Sam and I were sitting in different areas of the plane and my seat was next to a middle aged, professional looking Filipina lady. (Forgive the redundancy because when Filipina ends with an “A”, as here, it is feminine gender. The spelling ending with “O” is either gender.) Any way back to my story aboard Philippine Airline flight number 811.

To her right was a casually dress, polite young man in his mid-twenties. By all appearance he was a professional in his field as well. We exchanged introductions while quietly and patiently awaiting our Captain to take us airborne. “My name is Edna”, she explained with the warmth and politeness of the Philippine culture to which I have long been accustomed.

Once we leveled off at 38,000 feet and 20 minutes into our two hour flight I felt comfortable to begin asking Edna some personal questions such as, “Is Davao your home?, Have you been visiting relatives?, O, what professional services do you provide? Do you have a large plantation? And what crops do your farm? My questions matured as she continued to tell me all about her life, work, husband and children. As we talked further, I realized she was highly educated and a woman of influence in the field of Agriculture. I mentioned “ICare4Children.com” and how we plan to help meet some poverty needs in the Philippines. As it happened, she has also been involved in helping “Street Children”. After a few quiet moments she began again to share her thoughts.

“I have to make this flight twice each month”, she explained in a low voice. Apparently this was to stay abreast of the Agriculture issues and laws in the Philippines and to be able to participate in the lobby process there. She seems to have a strong input in representing all plantation owners in and around Davao. Talking with her made an interesting conversation for me personally as I have grown to enjoy this people immensely.

Once we came to a lull in the conversation, she had pulled a handkerchief from the side pocket of her purse and began to gently dry her hands. Then she said softly confessing her nervousness, “Thank you for talking with me. When I fly the palms of my hands sweat and my feet get wet”. Using impeccable English, she continued in our conversation. “I always go to mass before I fly but this if the first time I wasn’t able to get to the church”.

A Jumbo Jet takes turbulence well but at that split second our plane hit some air pockets which awoke every fear in her soul about flying. It wasn’t very bad turbulence, but she reached for her handkerchief and as facial muscles tightened she was speaking volumes without saying a word. To be continued.

By Dennis Eagle

The evening lights were just appearing as we made our decent into Narita, Japan. Our next flight was to leave 1 ¾ hours from our arrival and we felt assured we had plenty of time for the connection flight, but to our surprise the sheer size of the airport consumed the extra time and we boarded just in time for Manila. As we departed the darkness had settled in over the city and beautiful lights from businesses, homes and streaming traffic were a sight to behold. Soon the clouds blocked out all but the memory of having been in Japan for a couple of hours.

After a three and half hour flight we arrived in Manila International and were able to get a four hour nap in a nearby motel. We were up early and back on a Jumbo Jet for Davao City in the southern Philippines and Paradise Island.  A wonderful story took place on the flight to Davao but I am too sleepy to tell it just now. We are in Davao, 10,000 miles from family and home and ready for bed and a full night’s sleep. After 36 hours of travel with only 4 hours sleep, we are getting settled and we will overcome jet lag- I hope!

Good night everyone!

Dennis knows how to make friends.... candy!

By Dennis Eagle

Note: Due to internet failure along with some connection problems, I am reporting on our tour to the Philippine Islands and Taiwan a week late. I will replay a day by day account just the same for those who are following this exciting adventure. It is my plan to catch everyone up to a real time – play by play reporting before we finish the tour.

Sam Fagan and I left for the Philippines today, September 28^th, 2010. We flew out of Charlotte International Airport with two primary goals to accomplish: First was to meet with our Philippine Team and oversee a workshop designed to get everyone on board with the USA operations. Second, was to begin gathering data for the “I Care 4 Children.com” ministry we were setting up beginning in the Philippines. This is a desire I have longed to begin for years and had nearly lost hope the possibility would ever present itself.

I mentioned Sam Fagan, who is one of my business partners and who has the same heart and mind as Denise and I do. He and his lovely wife Melody have raised two children and have only recently adopted two more, which took two years to process in the courts. They want to go through “His Hands Taiwan” or the Philippines for their next child and have a baby in their arms in about five months. This will avoid the time consuming courts, frustrations over the mother deciding back and forth, or her being on and off drugs.

When I asked Sam if he wanted to be a founding partner setting up a home for the homeless “Street Children” as they are called, he and Melody jumped on board immediately. Denise and I see this as a way to do the most good for God’s Kingdom and to lay the foundation for disciplining nations as we have been mandated. We planned this trip back in 2009 and are now, after months of planning, watching this flower of mercy begin to bloom.

The longing to reach out to foreign nations was planted in my heart 24 years ago when I was reading Psalms chapter 2. As I came to verse 8 which states, “Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” the words leaped off the page to me. God had spoken to me and promised me nations (of people) as an inheritance. I realize this is a messianic passage but I also realize the Messiah lives in me and this promise was to Him living in me and through me.

Honestly, I didn’t realize what this meant at the time in its fullness but I accepted His promise and committed to full surrender in seeing it accomplished. I had done some missionary work in the Philippines back in the early 1980’s but that was a far cry short of reaching peoples from all nations. Now I can see how God  can bring the nations,  a few at a time, together in one place such as in the Philippines or in International Schools where several nations are represented by the students and parents in one place, like the book of Acts chapter one.

In addition to Psalms 2:8 God gave me the promise of Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not”. I have known through the years that any accomplishments for the Kingdom would be done through the Holy Spirit’s work around and through me but I didn’t understand the details. Only recently I understood what He wants to show me. One morning this year as I awoke, I realized He wanted to show me Christ more vividly than I have ever seen Him. It was then that vagueness became vision and everything began to come together for me. The message is simple:  Christ is our Source! Money is never the problem. Staff is never the problem. Closed doors are never the problem. When Jesus is seen as all we need, then all things are realized.

Today, we are watching “The Beginning”!

School for The Differently Abled - Davao City , Philippines

What would you do if you were invisible ? What if you could not speak , could not hear and could not see? What if you lived in a land that did not acknowledge your existence ?

Heading out for this trip ,  I would not have known how to respond or react. This afternoon, I at least have an example to follow and people who could help me answer this question.

Today, we visited a school that we support as a part of I Care 4 Children and Blueagle Marketing as well. We met with friends at a school for ” Differently Abled ” students. Don’t you love that ? ” Differently Abled ” What a neat way to look at life. One person’s disability is another persons gift right? These students are all either visually , hearing or orthopedically impaired. But as I am learning, they do not let that slow them down.

We take so much for granted in the United States and really in most developed nations. A business or school in the U.S. , cannot open unless it has equal access for everyone whether they be walking or in a wheelchair. Many crosswalks in major cities have audible tones for the blind to discern when to cross and when to stop. There are ramps and restrooms designed to allow you to be mobile in your community. Equal opportunity exists at least in law and theory for all Americans.

Here in the Philippines and many other developing countries, this is not the case at all. Disabilities or handicaps truly limit where you go and what you do. There is no requirement here for equal access . So if you are in a wheelchair or cannot see or hear , there is a huge restriction on the education you receive and where you can work if at all.

Having the attitude that one may be “differently abled” as opposed to a disabled or handicapped is truly an attitude of victory and opportunity. We spoke with a group of people who view life, and where they are, as a chance to capitalize on who they are and what makes them unique.

We learned today that there is no provision in this entire country for differently abled children to go to school. They have no health care and are not even allowed to participate in current or planned state run health care. Very few employers will hire these people because it is nearly impossible for these citizens to move around the community, much less get to work. The government has no provision for them and it appears to be a fact that they ( the government ) does not even recognize the differently abled as citizens. These wonderful people live as outcasts in their own land.

I have rarely seen such determination and optimism in a group of young people. Hearing impaired students working and learning graphic arts and coding as well as other technical skills all being taught by volunteers. Blind students and students on crutches and in wheelchairs excited by using 10 year old computers and dated software to gain any edge on learning to carve a name and a niche for themselves and their families. It was truly inspiring !

We spoke with a young lady who lost her eyesight in an automobile accident. She had just graduated from the University and was primed to begin her career when this accident stole both her eyes. When she came into the room the first thing that got my attention was the smile on her face. She wore glasses that gave the impression she could see, but she lives in complete visual darkness. I say visual darkness because there is nothing ” dark” about her. She beams.

After her accident she was in the hospital for 4 months. Upon her release from the hospital , the first things she did was to learn Braille. She then sought out the school for ” differently abled” students and is now learning how to code and implement Search Engine Optimization strategies. Her teacher is a volunteer who works for Blueagle Marketing. We are so proud of both her and her teacher.

This young lady had every reason to relinquish her life to self pity and poverty. She cannot see what you and i see. She lives in a country that barely recognizes her as a citizen, much less subsidize her existence , yet she wasted no time in accepting her situation and moved ahead rapidly with confidence into an area that she could prosper. Simply meeting her made me want to be a better person. She may not be able to see, but her vision is such that I can only strive to achieve. This young woman is full of life and will succeed !

Thank you Darlito , Jackie and all of the students at the School for the Differently Abled for giving us all a great example of courage, determination and leadership!

Sam Fagan

Why Do I Care 4 Children?

By Dennis Eagle

Billy Graham said, “Most people don’t turn to God until there is a crisis and then only to realize that it was God who allowed the crisis.” This was true in my life as well. It was a period in my life when everything turned upside down and I didn’t know where to turn. I called a pastor, whose church I visited previously, and he advised me to begin attending church and reading my Bible.

After a few months of church attendance I responded to the need for a bus driver. I was 20 years old, awkward, self conscious and plagued with low self esteem. The pastor promised he would take me out and train me how to fill the bus with children which he did every Saturday for one solid year. I drove for two years and had a high day of 94 kids on my bus. It was the ministry of children and the love and personal training of my pastor that gave me a new hope and grasp on my personal life.

From there I went into youth work for a year and then off to college. But it was those early years that I learned the reward of working with children and especially poor children. Just a few weeks ago a young woman caught up with me on Facebook and reminded me of the time I led her to Christ. Hundreds no doubt look back on the day I had the privilege of leading them to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

I have come to believe that youth and adults alike who work in children’s ministries are the most unselfish and caring people in the world. Children can’t give anything back except love, acceptance and appreciation. They overlook our faults and flaws and love us as we are. They don’t make us popular with those we may be trying to impress but we are always popular with them. Kids are just kids! What you see is what you get! But it is and always has been true that ministering to a child is one of the best ways to change the world one life at a time.

Now, 40 years later my wife and I have the privilege of ministering to displaced, hungry and needy children again. In the early ‘80’s I served a term in the Philippines as a missionary during which time I saw how needy some children are. There are over 150,000 homeless “Street Children”, as they are called, just in Manila. These children are from 5–18 years of age run the streets unsupervised.

Most Street Children are missing out on their education and without help will never be able to rise above their present condition. Some of these children are in the streets selling vender’s ware and/or begging in order to subsidize their parent’s income. Many are on the streets working for pimps who force boys and girls into prostitution for room and board. The majority are simply homeless and hungry children trying to provide for themselves while barely scraping together enough food to stay alive.

There are many who have no idea who or where their family or parents are. They are lost little people, in a sea of cement and strangers, always running and hiding from those who would do them harm. They sleep under bridges, walkways and in doorways or wherever they can get protection from the elements. They fight bigger children, insects, disease and cold nights. They are  hopeless, homeless and hungry.

Our goal is to start a home that will feed, clothe, house, educate and provide medical care for the ones we can rescue. We are not alone in this because many have expressed to me their heartfelt understanding of the need for helping “Street Children” in the Philippines and other major cities. One of our biggest blessings is my dear friend, Sam Fagan, whose heart is the same as mine.

Sam and Melody have raised one family and have been Foster Parents for years. Now they have adopted two small children to love and raise into healthy adults. They have joined as partners in this undertaking, not only with their time and energy but also financially. I am so proud to have them at our side as we attempt something so big that unless God intervenes we will fail.

We are filled with hope because our mandate comes from Malachi 4: 6. This is the last thing God said in the Old Testament before He sent the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus has been doing the following, working through others, ever since.

“… And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the childrento their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”