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Samaritana's Update

Alternative Learning System (ALS)

 
                Samaritana warmly congratulates two of its Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test takers. Congratulations to Jocelyn Bacalla and Lester Mallanao for successfully passing the A&E examination!
 
 
Training of Ministry Workers for Prostituted and Trafficked Women
 
                Two training workshops for ministry workers for women survivors of prostitution and trafficking were held at Samaritana. The first one is on the use of arts in aftercare programs, “Arts in Aftercare,” led by an organization with the same name based in Seattle, USA. The second one focuses on enhancing knowledge, skills and attitude of workers in ministering to women in prostitution held last April 11-14. It was a chance for workers from organizations such as RENEW Foundation, YWAM-Olongapo, International Justice Mission (IJM), PREDA Foundation, Living Grace and Safe Refuge to get to know one another, share experiences, draw strength from fellowship and worship God.

September 2011 e-Newsletter

Unravelling Human Knots     
T h e l m a  G.  N a m b u
 

“Life is full of knots.”  “We need others to help us in facing and unravelling the knots of life that we all go through.”  These were some of the insights the trainees expressed who took part in the group dynamics exercise called “Human Knot”.  I used this activity to introduce the discussion on peer counselling groups which I will facilitate with them the next three months.  The reality that knots and bumps are an inevitable part of our human experience is something Jonathan and I resonate with.  In the two months since we returned, part of our time has been spent sorting out some of the difficulties our team and the Samaritana community have gone through while we were away for sabbatical leave.

In our attempt to help loosen these knots we set up group as well as individual times with key people in the community.  It was something we wished we were not doing, but we knew that to ignore them would have been unloving and disastrous to the community.  There were feelings of having been let down, restlessness, disappointment and hurt, and quite honestly we, too, were discouraged and troubled.   In the midst of this, we were reminded that Jesus, too, went through disappointment with no less than one of the twelve disciples, Peter, whom he trusted and gave responsibility.  This person who seemed to get the answers right and was vocal about his all-out commitment to Jesus, failed to live out what he said, particularly at the hour of Jesus’ suffering.  While Scriptures speak of the times Jesus rebuked Peter, it is evident that he relentlessly pursued Peter with his unconditional love. As he was carrying his cross, he turned a look of compassion and sadness to Peter, and after his resurrection, Jesus spoke to him and three times asked Peter if he loved him.  Peter was, indeed, a consistent recipient of God’s grace and forgiveness.

As we deal with relational knots, we are invited to offer grace and forgiveness as well. While not minimizing sin and the pain caused by others, we are called to love and forgive, and give others second chances.  After all, there is a Peter in all of us.  Like Peter, we all have failed God, and in our own peculiar failures and inconsistencies, we, like Peter, never cease to be beneficiaries of God’s abounding grace…a humbling realization that nothing else can unravel human knots but love.

The Organization

To make it easy for you to find the appropriate person at Samaritana to answer a question, here is the list of our current staff:

 

 

 

Staff