Department of Social Work and Department of Cross-Cultural Studies of Nyack College in New York

Letter from Rick and Jiji to the President and the Provost


February 2009

Dr. Scales & Dr. Turk,

I want to formally thank you and Nyack College for sending a group of students to Cebu, Philippines during your winterim for their Social Work Class.

The Nyack group has blessed our ministry tremendously, from technical help with our computer lab, to simple service of cleaning and dusting.  Most of all, they have made a deep and lasting impression in the minds and hearts of about 150 young people and children who live here in Nangka, Consolacion - children whose lives are ravaged by the effects of poverty:  abandonment, broken families, poor nutrition, lack of proper medical care, exploitation, sexual abuse & low self-esteem.  Nyack and its students have left a deep impression of a God who loves these children and cares about their situations and struggles.  

Your students are truly fulfilling the call of Christ on their lives.  They love courageously.  They are fluent in the Scripture and in the cultural ways and diversities of our world.  They present a glimpse of the heavenly family of men and women from every tribe, tongue and nation and truly bear witness to a living and powerful Christ.

A few word-pictures:
Dr. Kwi Yun on the stage of the local Alliance Church at Friday night youth group dancing to a gospel tune along with Abe, Jerrel & Scooby.

Jerrel sitting and teaching Kevin a little bit about triangles.  Kevin has struggled a lot in school and with academics.  He normally pays little attention in tutoring and is easily distracted by anything that he can look at. After Nyack’s departure, Kevin takes out his notebook and pays attention and is really trying.  Basically what has happened is that a kid who was disaffected in school has recovered a hope that he can learn and that someone else really cares whether he learns or not.

Tou doing world class yo-yo tricks in our carport and wowing and entertaining a crowd of kids.  (I didn’t realize Nyack was recruiting yo-yoers these days)

Diana & Shaquayla with a group of teenage girls attached to their sides, looking for a little big sisterly affection and attention.

Kids eating for the very first time in Jollibee (the McDonald’s of the Philippines).  For the poor here, a McDonald’s meal would cost a day’s wage.  They can never take their children to Jollibee.

Andrew guiding other young Filipinos and engaging them in real conversations about growing up and the struggles they face.

Andres sharing the gospel with a small circle of students from our tutoring program.

Scooby ‘preaching’ – explaining and living the gospel of Jesus Christ in terms that youth understand.

In a country where college basketball players are not big enough to dunk, Abe laughing and smiling with a group of admirers who are expecting him to dunk a basketball because of his dark complexion.  Abe enjoys attention and gives them a good ‘attempt.’

A group of impoverished kids walking through their market with people that they think are heroes and picking out a new pair of flip-flops or shoes.

Dr. Kwi Yun teaching youth to swim, doing ‘play therapy’ – helping kids to face and overcome their fears carefully guiding them as they learn to swim and then by pushing them into the water so that they have to swim.


Some effects:
20% growth in attendance at our tutoring program.  When the Nyack groups come, our students are inspired to participate, to do the extra work of coming to tutoring.  If you can imagine approximate 50 kids in 3 small rooms with a combined area of 300 square feet minus tables, chairs and other furniture with the temperature at about 85 degrees, doing math, solving puzzles, reading and thinking, then you understand tutoring

Two young people, who have been involved in our tutoring program for a couple of years have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ the week after Nyack left.  We have been praying for these 2 and their families and God used the Nyack team to push them ‘over the edge’ into a relationship with Jesus.

A high school girl who endured more than 5 years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father had the courage to share her secret problem with the Nyack team.  God has put her in a place where she is living away from her father.  Now she can also face her fear and go to the doctor to see if she has contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

Our dream:
We are building a tutoring/mentoring program with a group of young people in our lower class community here in Cebu.  This program provides some social services (medical help for kids whose lives may be in danger and intervention for family conflict) and incentives to motivate them to do their best in school.  We are touching about 150 kids each week, with strong relationship with about 60 kids.  Our tutoring program is designed so that the older teach the younger.  At the top of the ladder, I work very closely with the oldest students.  These older students, under my close supervision, work hands on with younger students and they in turn help in teaching the youngest.   In addition, I hope that we will be able to build a consistent relationship with Nyack so that they will also be at the top of the ladder, providing mentoring to our children through the use of the internet communication.  The Nyack students offer a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, as well as a passionate love for Jesus and a relevant faith, that inspires and motivates our students. 

We are connected to the youth ministry of the local church and actively integrate tutoring students into the youth ministry there. 

In addition, we are developing some exceptional students and are looking forward to helping them grow in their gifts, networking to find higher educational opportunities for families that do not have the resources to help their children reach their God-given potential.  Perhaps this could also could include some Nyack distance learning or video-conference classes.  

The tutoring program is called Kuya Rick’s G1:27 Tutoring TEAM.  (G1:27 for short)  In Genesis 1:27, we learn that God has created people in his image.  We are working to protect and restore the image of God in the lives of children who are left out in the world’s system of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’  We believe that every child has tremendous potential and that it is our privilege to nurture that potential and witness God growing them into powerful adults, who know the love of Jesus.

Thanks again for helping us build the kingdom here in Cebu,

                                                                                                Sincerely,


                                                                                                Rick & Jiji Harner