Have a Little Faith

Lesley Gomez

Description

An extraordinary testimony of lives changed through kindness, courage, prayer, and grace. Lesley's heart was broken at just twenty-two, by the hopelessness she saw in the faces of little children struggling to survive extreme poverty in the Philippines. She had volunteered from England as a nurse for six months, but stayed on to care for the street people. Now, with her husband Peter (a Filipino pastor), she has devoted her life to serving the poor, venturing into dire situations to rescue child prostitutes, criminals, addicts, and the homeless. This book tells their stories, and through them the story of God's amazing ways as Lesley established Life And More Abundant Ministries, a charity for the relief of poverty, and LAMA House, a residential home for abandoned, neglected, or abused boys. The book is filled with graphic accounts: a violent gangster made tender; a suicidal addict snatched from the brink; a teenage daughter sold into prostitution; tragedy on a colossal scale in the great earthquake that hit Luzon. There are many horror stories, but again and again they are turned around for good.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Philippines

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 17 janvier 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780857215055
• Langue: English

Extrait

Have a Little Faith
Have a Little Faith
Fixing Broken Childhoods in the Philippines
Lesley Gomez

Oxford, UK & Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Text copyright 2014 Lesley Gomez This edition copyright 2014 Lion Hudson
The right of Lesley Gomez to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Monarch Books an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England Email: [e-mail] www.lionhudson.com/monarch
ISBN 978 0 85721 504 8 e-ISBN 978 0 85721 505 5
First edition 2014
Acknowledgments
Every effort has been made to trace the original copyright holders where required. In some cases this has proved impossible. We shall be happy to correct any such omissions in future editions. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown s patentee, Cambridge University Press. Scripture quotation marked AMP is taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. pp. 205, 229: God on Mute , by Pete Greig, p. 204, 205, 228, 229. Copyright 2007, Gospel Light/ Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003. Used by permission. p. 244: Lyrics from You are Worthy of My Praise by David Ruis. Used by permisson of Universal and Music Sales. p. 250: Extract from a poem by Elizabeth Mary Ursula Caswell (Smith). Used by permission. p. 305: Lyrics from Still, words and music by Reuben Morgan 2002 Hillsong Music Publishing. Used by permission of Hillsong Music Publishing UK.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Cover image: Noel Abejero
D EDICATED TO MY PARENTS R EVD L ESLIE AND M RS E THEL K EENAN , WHO BY THEIR EVERY-DAY , ALL MY LIFE EXAMPLE , HAVE SHOWN ME SIMPLY HOW TO LIVE LIKE THIS - IN , AND FOR , G OD S KINGDOM .
Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

Introduction
Chapter

1 Dan-dan

2 Miracle!

3 The Best Pathway

4 Chasing the Dragon

5 Russian Roulette

6 The Dungeon

7 Child Prostitute

8 Just Married!

9 Street-boys

10 Archangel Michael

11 A State of Calamity

12 Life

13 Twins!

14 Calm

15 Ana and Simon

16 Approval

17 Dedication Day

18 Order to Leave

19 LAMA Boys

20 Mysterious Ways

21 Loved by God!

22 God s Work

23 A Life Poured Out

24 Dirty Feet

25 Kit

26 The Calendar

27 Weddings and Funerals

28 A Sign

29 Covered in Grace

30 Hearts Tuned for Praising

31 Seizure Disorder

32 Spring Rain

33 In Christ is Everlasting Life

34 Author and Finisher

Photographic Insert

Further information about LAMA Ministries
Acknowledgments

I cannot begin to thank everyone who has had a part in the writing of this book, nor can I include everyone who played a part in the stories I have told. But heaven, I think, keeps a record.
Our friends and co-workers in the Philippines, who work with all their strength for the kingdom of God and never receive recognition but give it all to the white missionaries!
Churches and individuals in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, who have done what you could for many years with donations, letters of encouragement and effective, fervent prayers. Your loaves and fishes have been miraculous in the hands of Jesus!
John Pitt, who was the charity s invaluable contact person and financial advisor in England for several years.
Diane G. Paul, my tutor with The Writers Bureau, who cheered me on and taught me how to write properly!
Brendan Neiland, my dear Irish prayer partner who prodded me to keep writing when I felt like it was beyond me.
Noel Abejero, Filipino photographer, whose images of Philippine life, especially family life and childhood, I absolutely adore.
My husband Peter, and children Michael, Ana, and Simon, Michael s wife Jeli, and baby Nathan Rain.
And apologies and thanks to my staff and boys at LAMA House who felt my absence too many times.
Above and around all others, thank you to the author and finisher of my faith and yours, our utterly amazing God!
Foreword

I have known Lesley for over thirty years since she spent time with us in the very early days in one of our new boy houses . It was there that she saw and walked through some of our best and worst moments.
The best times were the belief that Jesus could change anyone and that they were worth dying for and struggling for - whether they turn out well or not. There was always room for one more because we knew that God s heart was big enough for one more.
The worst times were when many came, saw a miracle of the Lord, were baptized with the Holy Spirit, and a few days later, or some months later, left. We were therefore tempted to think of ourselves as failures until we remembered that most of Jesus disciples left Him, even after three years, on the eve of His crucifixion.
Lesley has carried this heart on into her amazing life in the Philippines. We ve been thrilled to see and to hear of the stories of individual lives of orphans, the lost, the bereaved, the demonized changed through living in Jesus family with her and her family. We have seen Lesley over the years grow in the Word of God in prayer and in perseverance. We ve been privileged to meet from time to time and encourage one another in this wonderful adventure.
I know you will enjoy this account of what God has chosen to do through an ordinary but extraordinary girl. She was obedient and therefore found the treasures that were waiting for her. Those treasures were children many believed insignificant, even unwanted, who have changed into young men and even some future giants for the Lord. May this book inspire you to live in obedience and discover the miracles the Lord will do through you. It s His promise!

Jackie Pullinger
Preface

M any years ago, when we were both in our twenties, Lesley s dad, Leslie (always known as Bertie), and I lived in a Church Army caravan in County Durham in the north-east of England. We went around the local villages and towns preaching the wonderful gospel of what Jesus had done in our lives and what He could do in the lives of those who would accept Him as their personal Saviour.
These were days of great blessing and spiritual development, and Bertie and I became real brothers in Christ, almost to the point of knowing each other s thoughts and behaviour. I learned from Bertie of his deep love for the Saviour, and his compassion and understanding for his fellow men. His remarkable sense of humour was unique and, as our personalities bounced off each other, we both grew in grace and in our ability to present Jesus in any circumstance and situation.
God blessed us both with families who also want to serve the Saviour. So when Lesley invited me to write a preface for her book I felt deeply privileged and honoured. I have never met Lesley, or her husband, Peter, but I have followed their work through the regular prayer letters and I feel I know them both, as I have prayed for them, watching how the Master has led them in a remarkable ministry.
Lesley s call to work in the Philippines was a real step of faith for a young lady to take; such a step was truly mind-blowing. Over the years Lesley has weathered the storms of health, opposition, and the attacks of the enemy. Lesley and Peter, like the apostles, have suffered incredible hardships and difficulties but they have not allowed their suffering to lie to them. They have always sought the Truth from the Spirit of God and not from their circumstances. In their building of LAMA House and its wonderful ministry to needy young people and their families, they have developed the strength to stand up to adversity by focusing on how great is their God.
As I read of the remarkable experiences of Lesley and Peter, of their victories and defeats, their joy and their feelings of helplessness, I have been reminded of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and of St Paul s statement in 1 Corinthians 9:24, Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. The joy and ecstasy of winning a gold medal was the determined effort of every member who took part.
Have a Little Faith reads like the Acts of the Apostles where lives came into deep relationships with Jesus and, being set free by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, weathered every attack of Satan.
Lesley and Peter, with their team of workers, challenge us all to face every situation in the strength of the Lord and never to quit. Hebrews 12:1-2: Run with endurance the race keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.

Revd Canon Noel Proctor, MBE, MA
29 January 2013
Introduction

S hortly after my twenty-second birthday, in 1983, I left England to work as a volunteer nurse for six months in the Philippine Islands, at Miracle Bible College and Children s Home. Later, I founded Life And More Abundant Ministries (LAMA) and made the Philippines my home. I married Peter Gomez and we devoted our lives to helping the poor.
LAMA Ministries was registered in 1987 as a UK Charity, and in the Philippines as a non-governmental organization (NGO). The name LAMA is taken from the words of Jesus in John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have