Their parents are fiercely resilient, too. An intense love compels them to work grueling hours on garbage trucks or to travel into the city to work construction in order to provide for their children. 

Lina: Learning to Trust God

Lina sobs as she talks about not finishing school. No matter how badly she wanted to study, her parents couldn’t afford it. Yet, Lina, 31, hasn’t given up hope that one day she and her two young sons can go to college.

Our trainings incorporate Bible lessons and spiritual encouragement from staff which have helped Lina grow spiritually. 

“I’ve learned about God and the Bible. I’ve learned to trust God even through the challenges of life.” 

Joy is raising her two children in Tondo, where her boyfriend is a garbage collector. Sometimes they must borrow money from family to make ends meet. 

“I learned that it’s important to make your child feel loved—to hug them and to say, ‘I love you.’” 

Joy also heard the Gospel for the first time and came to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Although raising her children in Tondo can be difficult, Joy delights in the precious time she has with them.  

“What I enjoy most is when I see Mark being an active child and playing, and when he calls me ‘Mama.’” 

As the oldest of 11 siblings, Marie felt responsible to work and help her parents, which she did for a time. Yet, Marie said her rebellious, independent streak eventually took over and she moved to Tondo to be on her own. 

In Tondo, Marie started doing drugs and was “everywhere drinking,” she said. 

Marie is now dedicated to helping improve the lives of her neighbors. She joined one of our mother-to-mother groups and now teaches other mothers about nutrition. 

“Before Samaritan’s Purse, open defecation was rampant and we could see it on the ground everywhere. Because of the Samaritan’s Purse programs, WASH champions are teaching and advocating good hygiene,” she said. 

“I prefer serving in Tondo because more people need my help,” Rosa said. “Most of the children’s parents are scavengers. Poverty is a big issue, and the parents are also malnourished, not just the kids.”  

The eager, energetic teacher is so passionate about learning that she’s teaching some of the single mothers how to read and write. “How can they teach their kids when they themselves don’t know? I want to give them their dignity back,” she said.  

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. –Psalm 40:2