“Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken[ …] our greatest gift [is] our ability to enter into solidarity with those who suffer.”

March 2010

Dear friends,

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.

Befriending and committing to walk with the women means sharing in these crises. Compassion means sharing and helping to bear and carry the suffering of others. It is not only saying that we will pray for them or feeling sad or sorry for them; it is an intentional commitment to nurture a heart posture that deeply shares their suffering, making it somehow our own. And at some level, in some way, it means responding or acting for and with the other.

How does that work? What does it look like to bear the suffering of “Devan”? A beginning point is by drawing her out, providing a safe and respectful space for her, and listening to her story and the raw emotions she is carrying. It includes praying with and for her. It means helping explore with her the options she may have in trying to locate her baby and discern how she should be in relationship with the baby’s father. And it means bearing with her the weight of not knowing, not being able to resolve, and waiting.

As we walk with “Devan”, carrying the burdens of her sufferings, it means so much to know that you are also with us and her, walking, praying, waiting and being compassionate. Thank you so much!

For “Devan” and the rest of Samaritana,

Womens’ Retreats with Children

Last November, 16 Samaritana women and 15 of their children attended a retreat together, with financial and volunteer support from Lasten Tulevaisuus, Mission East Asia National Support, Asian Theological Seminary, and Covenant of Grace School. It is always a special treat for our women to get out of the city and enjoy time together in another context, and having their children with them made the retreat even more wonderful!

This month, 12 Samaritana women and 10 of their teenage children attended a retreat – again at Word of Life Camp in Laguna – led for them by a visiting group from Moody Bible Institute. The dramas, sharing times, and bonfire were all memorable highlights, and the ten teens had time to bond together with one another as well as with their mothers. 

Livelihood Partners and Bazaars

Samaritana continues to improve and develop our livelihood program. In addition to a new and exciting partnership with Work of Your Hand at 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. Joining bazaars will make our prodicts more visible and help us become more financially sustainable.

Huge Turnout at Samaritana Christmas Party

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 Cares for Womens’ Health

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. 

Gratitude for Servant Hearts and Hands

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!