May 2010

After the closing prayer and the last song, dance music was played on the rented sound equipment, and the eighteen Samaritana women who were still wearing their borrowed formal gowns, together with staff, volunteers and other friends, crowded into the center garden of Samaritana’s center to laugh and dance together.  It was a fun way to end the 18th anniversary celebration of Samaritana as a community last May 8.

With many new volunteers having recently arrived at Samaritana, we hosted an Orientation and Team Building retreat December 21-22, where volunteers, staff and women leaders learned about Samaritana’s core values, vision, mission, and programs, prayed together, and reviewed directions and priorities for 2010. We are very grateful for all of Samaritana’s volunteers – past and present – and for the contribution each has made to the lives of the women and the organization!

On December 5th, Samaritana partnered with Care Channels and Word Community Church to host a medical mission that provided free medical, optical, dental and legal services to not only trainees and their family members, but also to women invited from our regular outreach areas. The volunteer professionals and specialists served 91 individuals free of charge with servces such as PAP smears, tooth extractions, free reading glasses, antibiotics and vitamins, and follow-up meical assistance for women with infections. A number of those served were also victims of last year’s typhoons and flooding.

Samaritana’s Christmas celebration for 63 women and their children on December 18th was a joyful occasion with games, fellowship, worship, a short message from Jonathan, and gift-giving. Each woman reflected on how the three wise men faithfully followed the star to Bethlehem, writing their reflections on star-shaped papers which were then symbolically hung on Samaritana’s tree, representing the women’s hopes, longings, struggles and prayers

Samaritana continues to improve and develop our livelihood program. In addition to a new and exciting partnership with Work of Your Hand (http://www.workofyourhand.com), Samaritana participated in the Global Pinoy Bazaar and the American Women’s Club of the Philippines bazaar last November and December.

The other day, “Devan” told us that the morning after they had fought, the father of her baby left, taking the baby with him. She was beside herself mostly in anger, but also with fear and sadness for the baby. She doesn’t even know where to begin looking for them.

Our women friends are survivors and strong women, but their relationships, living situations, and lives are not stable, secure or comfortable. Often their lives are crisis-filled and on the edge of vulnerability and fragility.

It’s hard to believe, but Samaritana turns 18 this year and we are celebrating on April 17!

We are inviting people to give a special gift to Samaritana to thank God for 18 years and to help support ongoing and future ministry among women survivors of prostitution. If you are outside the Philippines, we suggest you consider giving a special gift of $18, $180, or $1,800 and designate it for "Samaritana's 18th Birthday".  If you are in the US, you may send gifts through our partner organization Mission East Asian National Support at:  P.O. Box 8434, Bartlett, IL  60103) and they will send you a tax-deductible receipt.  Please make checks payable to “MEANS” but clearly write on the memo line “Samaritana 18th Anniversary”.  If you are outside the US, you may also send wire transfers into Samaritana’s dollar account here in Manila.  If you prefer that option, please email me back and I will send you our bank details.

In November and December, we will continue to serve typhoon victims during outreach and provide these women and their families with basic material assistance.  We will also give these women the opportunity to receive trauma counseling from volunteer counselors; we hope to help meet not only physical, but also emotional and spiritual needs in this time of great difficulty.

Left: Flood survivors enjoying merienda at Samaritana
Right: Relief goods included rice, milk, canned food, drinking water, school supplies and cleaning materials.
 

On September 25th, Samaritana sent a team of six to one of our partners, RENEW Foundation (www.RENEW-foundation.org) in Angeles City, for a joint training session on conducting outreach, and exposure to the situation of prostituted women there.  The two teams shared experiences, encouraged one another, and explored new ideas for outreach activities in their respective settings.  Although Samaritana's team had originally planned to join an anti-trafficking march in Angeles the next day, they decided to go home early because of an impending typhoon.  While they were on the bus heading back to Quezon City, Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. The highway exit was flooded, and they were stranded on the bus for over 10 hours.

We invite those of you residing in Metro Manila to come by Samaritana’s Livelihood Clearance Sale, from September 15th - 30th, from 9 AM to 5 PM (Mondays through Saturdays). Handmade women’s accessories and greeting cards will be available at bargain prices. Your purchases will support the programs at Samaritana and help us improve our existing Livelihood Program. Start your Christmas shopping early!