Critical home repair for family in the Philippines
In 1984 we adopted an 11-year-old boy while we were stationed in the Philippines. We thought he was about six because he weighed about 45 lbs.,
had tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Renato was the eldest of six children. His family lived in a nipa hut with no running water or electricity. We came
to know Renato over the years because he was a street vendor. He sold newspapers, gum, washed cars, and anything he could to contribute to the
family income.
Ren did not go to school. It was too expensive. I was always helping military families adopt kids in the Philippines and Ren's mother asked if we would
adopt him so he would have a better life. We proceeded with the adoption and he became our son.
In 1986 we got orders to go to Las Vegas. Ren started school and then mainstreamed into his grade level. He was VERY bright. He was overwhelmed with all the United States had to offer. Ren wrestled and participated in gymnastics even though his scoliosis was painful. He even worked at El Pollo
Loco, a chicken restaurant, when he was fifteen. A few years after we left the PI, we could tell Ren missed his biological family. My husband had
business in the PI and took our son so he could visit his Filipino family. After one week in the PI my husband went to pick up our son and he was
nowhere to be found. Our son’s bio uncle had taken his passport and the money we had given him and told him we didn’t want him anymore. My
husband looked all over for him then had to come home to the states without our son. We were heartbroken! We tried to find him through people we knew in the PI but had no luck. Ren was under a Filippino passport with a green card and was not naturalized yet. He tried to get to the states when
he was 21 but immigration would not give him a visa.
What we know now is that Ren tried to get back to us. He even worked in Saudi Arabia in hopes of stowing away on the plane and trying to get to the
United States. He even named his children names that rhymed with our other children Ren grew up with. It broke my heart hearing this.
After 35 years, our daughter found our son on Facebook after looking for him throughout the years. She contacted him and I was able to then tell him what had happened and that we had always wanted him. We both cried and then talked for hours. He never tried to get ahold of us because he
thought we didn't want or love him.
After Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, our son and family were relocated to a squatters area. The “houses” are connected with cinder block, the roofs
are plywood, and the bathroom facility is separated from the house with no water or light.
The toilet is a pot with a PVC pipe running to the tank. After each use water is poured down the pipe. The holding place for the sewage is a hole in the ground with a cinder block “septic tank”. My son’s “tank” is over 70 years old and is overflowing into the living area. His roof is leaking. The trash is not being picked up so the rat infestation is a huge problem. All the kids have survived Dengue Fever which is caused by mosquitoes.
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
The kids are doing school virtually and they all are sharing a cell phone for their lessons. My son has severe scoliosis and works varnishing furniture.
He has trouble walking and is always in pain. That doesn't stop him, however. His wife, Nora, is a seamstress. The average annual income in the
Philippines is approximately $3000.
We had plans to go to the Philippines with our Filippino daughter for a big reunion and then COVID hit. The PI has been hit very hard.
I would love to help my son and family fix their home so they have healthy living conditions. If you would like to be a part of a life-changing event for a family who lives day by day, never complains, and never asks for anything we would greatly appreciate your help. Please keep this family in your
prayers.
I thank God daily for the many blessings He has bestowed on us.
Please see the YouTube video to see the need
https://youtu.be/IhwBevpq9bA
Thank you and God Bless.
Jan
Ren & Nora
Bryan 17
PJ 16
Lyka 12
Happier days
Ren 47