In this country, we have money. Every one of you reading this post is rich beyond what some could ever imagine. We drive through Starbucks just because we are in the mood; we blow $10 on a lousy movie just for something to do on a Friday night. And we all know there are people starving around the world and much better ways to spend our hard-earned cash, but sometimes connecting our resources with a viable, life-changing cause is too daunting and we suddenly remember we should be saving for a house or paying off our school loans and ignore the call to help our brothers and sisters in need. Well, I want to change that.
Enter Threads of Hope, a ministry started by a missionary to the Philippines who recognized a real need and decided to impact an entire community. In the gorgeous island of Puerto Galera, tourists come with pockets loaded looking for a good time and the local Filipinos meet the demand. Sadly, for many of the women, this involves prostituting themselves in order to keep food in their kids’ bellies. Many Filipino families living on the island live in extreme poverty – but you’d never know it sunning yourself on the white beaches. It only looks like paradise to the outsider. I wanted to get closer and so I saw an inside look at the community that changed my life and perspective. I stayed in their homes, ate their food and sobbed at the heart-wrenching stories of how poverty can tear a family apart … and force people to do things they would never normally do.
The Filipino women of this
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- First view of the beach
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- Angie with Alona, the remarkable gal who oversees all the bracelet-making operations
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- Angie & Angie, one of the darling girls from the community
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- The women making the bracelets on the beach
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- The bracelets
They are twisted, braided and woven using every color of the rainbow. They look splendid on your wrist or ankle, for guys and girls. If you live outside of the Portland area, you can order them through me and request specific colors or just let me surprise you when I send them to you. If you live nearby, you can pick out the bracelets in person. In the U.S., the bracelets sell for $1 each (or however much more you want to donate for the cause) and 100% of the money goes to Threads of Hope, which goes directly to the Filipino families. You’ll have to check out my previous post on here, “Some Call it Paradise,” to hear about my trip to Puerto Galera and seeing the women make the bracelets. Also, if you’re interested, visit www.threadsofhope.com.ph, the official site containing loads of information and photos.
I can’t think of a better way to spend $1. I look forward to hearing from you.
