Written by Kuya Harvard
In God’s eyes there is no rich or poor, we are one.
There are many ways to tell stories on how Kids Paradise went. There were around 200 volunteers from different groups, 520 kids from smokey mountain, 7 artists and a number of Metro Ministries staff joined us last May 15. There were also the parents of the Kids who patiently waited for our activity to finish. We ended around 615… just minutes before it turned dark. 🙂
7 weeks in planning, Jo-e with the rest of Metro World Child’s Minette and Shiela wondered on how this would turn out. After a short ocular 2 weeks after, I said “We’ll be lucky to bring 50 volunteers here”. Am glad I was wrong! The heat, smell and environment that Smokey Mountain was known for was brushed off by a number of our volunteers.
After doing 58 U! Happy Events since December of 2006, I can say this one was most fulfilling. The primary goal was achieved. It was not even on how much pledge we can get. It was about creating awareness. It was about hope. We gained much hope plus more.
There was great entertainment headed by Metro Ministries and with artists invited by us. Everyone went the extra mile. Establishing relationships even to the people there. The Cardio Boys did a super job- from their unusual dance to a comedy show. They stayed to amuse not only Kids but also adults. Kuya Kobe, our mainstay magician did a short but wow performance. The Kids went with cheers and smiles after every magic.
The Smokey Mountain Kids choir was touching. Shiela said it all after the dance performance to interpret Heaven. “God has plans for all of you. God will use you, just like these Kids who showed their talent today”, she adds. Indeed, God spoke in our event in many ways!
There was also great bonding experience with the Ates and Kuyas. There were the games, the cheering, the assisting, the playing, the praise dance number and the gift gift giving. There were countless moments of learning from one another.
A bonus was really the pledge that poured for Kids Paradise. I said as I called on for support, “Today I call for your blessing, as you have been blessed”. Total collections reached almost 100k, excluding cases of juice, slippers for every kid, board games, toys, books for all, sponsorship of food from Krispy Kreme, julie’s goodies and much more. There were also 5 volunteers who pledged at least 1 year support for selected Kids of Metro Ministries’ weekly Sidewalk Sunday School. Wow!
More than anything else, the event develop new relationships. New found friends, new ministry partners. It was truly a great time to come together. Expressing in Filipino, ang galing, bonga! 🙂
Metro World Child is a non-profit organization serving on a weekly basis approximately 20,000 impoverished and neglected children of the Philippines. They partner with local churches to bring the Word of God to the Kids so they will receive His free gift of salvation, and realize they have a hope and a future.
They conduct Sidewalk Sunday School and Visitation in the homes. Metro Ministries Philippines was birthed in 2001 by Pastor Bill Wilson, the founder and director of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn, New York, the largest Sunday School in the World.
I would to thank the core volunteers for their big time heart. For One Voice, on their documentation. For Te & Glenn, the tandem that took charge of the program. For Jay who step up and lead the design for the venue. He even shopped for the materials. For Camille, who headed registration at Ocean Park Bistro. For Amy, Shy and Nicks, who helped out in the advance party. For JB who provided our artists and assisted in the event. For Jo-e, who partnered with me here from the start to making Kids Paradise wonderful. For our sponsors and key people who got sponsors, you have made a big difference. For Metro Ministry, for giving everyone the opportunity to reach out to these Kids. For everyone else who made this event memorable- Thank U! 🙂
Thanks for Mags for these photos. 🙂