Eillen & Genken want to learn and need your help

YES, that is Eillen and Genken in Japan.

Joyce and I have a "foster" daughter Eillen (I sponsored her through Compassion International when she was eight) and a grandson Genichiro Kenneth, who goes by "Genken." She grew up in a very poor part of the Philippines, but now lives in Japan. Eillen married a guy whose family was from Japan so Eillen and he together moved there so they could support their family by working in factories. However, Eillen’s husband left them years ago when Genken was about six (he is 11 now). Eillen is raising her eleven-year-old son as a single mother. She has had to work multiple jobs just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their head.

Life is hard in Japan for Eillen and Genken. It is hard enough to be a single mother in the U.S., but she was abandoned in a foreign country by her husband, and her family still lives in the Philippines, so she has no help, no one to step in when she is in need.

Eillen does not speak Japanese, which makes the simple aspects of living in Japan all the more difficult. Even though Genken is very smart and gifted, kids often bully him in school.  And imagine this, when Genken is sick, Eillen has to put him on her bike and peddle him to the hospital or doctor's office – even in the snow! 

Eillen and Genken not only want to come to the U.S., they need to get out of Japan and come to America for a better life.

Over the years, Joyce and I have tried to find a way to allow them to come to the United States. Well, after all the years, Eillen finally has an F-1 Student Visa and Genken an F-2 Dependent Visa. Collin College accepted Eillen’s application to their English Language Program and to study Nursing. After Eillen earns her Degree in Nursing, she will be able to provide a better life for Genken; she will also be able to help her family in the Philippines.

Now they just need financial support to get here, pay tuition, and help with living expenses for the next four years.

She is not able to work while in school. They need our help. Eillen and Genken have nothing as they leave Japan other than the clothes in their luggage. It cost her $2200 for airfare that will come due when the credit card comes due in a couple weeks. Then she will need to pay $4600 in tuition, plus $2800 for books and supplies for the first year at Collin College. In all, Collin College states in her I-20 that it will cost her $27,000 for her first year of education and living expenses for the two of them.

Our goal is to help raise $9600 to help Eillen with the airfare and first year of school.

Oh, btw, Genken is a gifted artist, you should see his artwork. The $33 in our goal is for Genken to buy art supplies when he gets here.

I hope you get to meet them one day. When they get here, we will have a party and you are invited.

Blessings,

Ken (a proud foster-dad)