Revamp Lives

This GoFundMe page is to help a dream come true. Six years ago my dad traveled to the Philippines on a missions trip and that trip changed his life and in turn will hopefully change a multitude of lives. No running water, suffocating temperatures, bloated belly’s and exposed rib cages, images most of us are fortunate to have only witnessed on a T.V. advertisement. You know the ads, flickering images of emaciated-tiny silhouettes as they ask for donations and we discretely ignore while stuffing handfuls of whatever deliciousness in our mouths. Well my dad is currently living every day in this commercial side by side with these indigenous Philippine children, missing meals, sleeping on a dirt ground, going down to the river and sifting water until it appears clean enough to drink.

My dad owned a pottery shop in Florida and he decided that the clay and kilns would be of better use to the people of the Philippines, hoping the creations would not only better their day to day, but their future and their children’s future. With clay and kilns, the tribes can make bowls, yes something we egregiously take for granted, but a bowl is a vessel to transport water from the river to their camp, a bowl can be a tool to dig with and a vase is something they can sell or barter for food.  Unfortunately, the power is not strong enough to run the kiln to cook the clay, but with the help of a generator this can happen.

Creating a viable trade is only the start of this mission. He told me that there were streets lined with homeless children and mothers pushing their child in my dad’s arms in hopes he would take them back to America to give them a better life. Clearly, he can’t pack his suitcase with little Filipino children, so he is in the process of starting an orphanage/school. Donations from churches and other volunteers have helped along the way, he bought chickens and built a coop and is currently in the process of converting a steel container into a school. Him, his wife and missionaries are teaching the children how to speak and write English along with many other subjects.

When my dad first told me about this journey six years ago, I said, “Dad, that’s nice and all, but what about the homeless children here, in our own country?” Some of you may be thinking the same or thinking I am not very nice, either way, my dad said in response, “Jen, I would love to help, but do you know how far our money goes in a 3rd world country?”.  The footprint that he could leave would positively impact hundreds of individuals, opposed to a few here in the states.

These children do not know how to read or write. With knowledge, tools and your help they will be self-sustaining. The goal here is just that, not to give them cans of food, a hug and walk away, to ACTUALLY help them create a future. The funds raised through this page will aid in the purchase of a generator, the conversion of the container and school supplies. www.Revamp-life.org