“The best and most beautiful things in the
world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.”
-Helen Keller

Dear friends,

Several weeks ago, Samaritana’s community gathered as we do every month to listen to Scripture, have time for reflection together, and share in small groups.  We call this our monthly day of reflection.  As a guide for reflection that day, Thelma had arranged various symbols and images in different rooms, which we visited one by one like prayer stations.  In one room the jagged shards of a broken clay flower pot lay on a piece of cloth on the floor.

Later in the day, during group sharing, one woman told how she was moved by the broken pot’s symbolism.  “The broken clay pot was like my life, and the jagged pieces were like all the anger in my heart.  But as I sat and held some of the pieces in my hands and  prayed, and fit the broken pieces together, I felt that the anger in my heart was a little less, and the sharp edges of the clay felt softer.  And I believe this is what God is doing in my life here in Samaritana’s community.”

Beautiful!  This young woman was describing a gospel miracle that we pray for and work for and open ourselves up to at Samaritana… the grace and miracle of healing and transformation. 

I ask you to pray with us for more of the grace and wonder of healing and transformation, as we pray the same for you, that we may all experience more concretely in our hearts, lives, and relationships the joy, hope, peace and love of Christ.

For Samaritana,

A discussion group at the Transformational Development seminar	IVCF Urban Trekkers with one of the trainees

Local Coalition and Church Partners Learning and   Growing Together

On June 17, representatives from FOCUS, YWAM Olongapo, RENEW Foundation, Philippine Children’s Ministry Network, World Vision Development Foundation, and Samaritana met to brainstorm further strengthening the national coalition, and how to engage, train, and mobilize the Church for involvement in the issues of trafficking and prostitution and care for survivors (one of the six main concerns identified by ministries around Asia involved in caring for victims of prostitution).  As a concrete first step, the coalition hosted a workshop on Transformational Development at Samaritana on July 15.  World Vision staff facilitated the training workshop for 44 excited ministry leaders, pastors, and women survivors representing 5 ministry organizations, 4 national networks, and 8 local churches.  The workshop was an important opportunity for clarifying a Biblical framework for compassionate and empowering ministry among the poor, and for identifying and building relationships with existing and potential church partners.

IVCF Global Urban Trek

For the 5th year volunteers from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship’s (USA) Global Urban Trek were at Samaritana in July for mission exposure. As a part of the Trek, Jennifer Kung, Kathleen Jerry, and Jessica Yen lived in the homes of two women leaders, and assisted in various capacities with the programs at Samaritana. Kathleen says, “Being at Samaritana has allowed me to realize that God has made every one of us beautiful in His eyes and that He loves each and every one of us because we are His. I am very grateful to Samaritana for allowing me to have this experience.”


United Church of Christ Friends Visit Samaritana and Host a Forum

Samaritana welcomed 20 visitors from the UCC in Korea on July 2.  The visitors were in the Philippines hosted by the UCCP to learn about local ministries and participate in a forum on human trafficking.  Half of the visitors joined Samaritana staff and women for home visitation in Montalban, and the other half assisted at Samaritana with housekeeping, livelihood, and food preparation.  Samaritana staff Marlyn Del Rosario joined the UCCP trafficking forum the following day in Manila, participated in by local and international churches, ministries and NGOs.  


Partners in Australia and Finland

We are privileged and very grateful to have been approved as a partner of the Archbishop of Sidney’s Overseas Relief and Aid Fund.  This Anglican Church fund has agreed to help support Samaritana’s direct ministry to women through our Women’s Transformation and Empowerment Program for the next 3 years.  We are also very thankful for continuing support from a group of Filipino expatriates and friends in Finland.  Lasten Tulevaisuus provides support for the programs of Samaritana for the children of the women we serve.  Members of Lasten Tulevaisuus visited Samaritana in July to meet with Samaritana staff and volunteers, and observe the children’s activities.


Read more updates about the ministry.