Working with ICM (International Care Ministries) has been an incredible opportunity. ICare reaches the "ultra poor" in the philippines. These people live off of 50 cents a day and the majority of them have at least two children. ICare holds Transform classes for women, teaching them common knowledge of health and how to raise their families in healthier environments. They also have programs called Jumpstart which reach children from ages four to six in schooling and Bible lessons. While being here in the Philippines, we were given the opportunity to travel with the ICM staff to different Transform programs in several communities, as well as attend Transform graduations because the women had completed their 16 weeks of classes. The graduations were huge celebrations in each community and each woman was so thrilled to receive a certificate of completion along with a pair of TOMS shoes.
I have loved attending these classes and their graduations. The part that I love the most is how invested the ICare staff is in each woman and their families. The staff go to different communities everyday and could still tell you the name of each individual participant. It's incredible to see the staff interact with the participants, and how much the participants love the staff. I said in my last blog that when Jesus himself came to earth, he did not fix every problem that everyone faced. Jesus did extend his love to each person he met, and gave advice and shared his wisdom. The ICare staff are not a bunch of Jesus's, but they do extend the love that they have received from God. I have loved watching each Transform class and working with the ICM staff. I am excited to take what I have learned here and put it into practice with the people in my group, and the people that I am going to meet in the destinations to follow.
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