It’s really nice to end the year with a good feeling. I am still thinking on the day that we were giving gifts to the less fortunate people here in our area of Davao. It’s not too far from the city. All the hard work that we did was all worth it seeing the smiles and the gratefulness of those people there. I am also thankful that we made the gifts more Christmasy this year with the bow and ribbons on it. I also like it that my kids really thinking of helping those less fortunate people. They helped me put the bow and ribbons on the bucket. Even we stayed up late its all worth it, just watching the less fortunate kids opening the bucket full of goodies.
You know we really like giving to those people because a lot of them just waited for their turn to get the stuff. They were not hassling us. Some parents there just thought that we were just giving to the kids. When we start handing them package for them too they were really shocked and speechless. I had a few tears shed there just really happy that at least us here on LIP made those people happy. You know after awhile when the gifts were almost out and we are heading towards the city already. Then we saw like 6-8 kids playing near the road I asked my nephew to hand me one of the gift basket for the kids and for me to give to those kids for them to share. When I open my window and hand the basket to one of the kid and told all of them to share, they all cheered and jumped up and told me Yes, Yes Yes and they were really dancing for joy. Me being a softy even seeing Bob’s face I know he will do the same I asked my son Chris to hand me one more basket for the kids to share more. I think really that is the one scene that stuck on my mind. Just a simple gift that we gave to the kids, the smile that they gave in return really was priceless.
I am so thankful of all you guys donations. With your help we fed a lot of families. I know the economy right now is not good but still you guys pitched in on our drive to feed the poor people here. I am so thankful of our LIP families. You guys really are a blessing. I am so proud of our community here. To be honest I am already thinking for next year Christmas giveaways. I guess because it gives so much joy to us to see people have food for Christmas eve. I am looking forward to it again.
I hope you guys had a good Christmas and New Year’s too!
Mabuhay!
Hi Feyma
I am so glad that you were able to pass out so many baskets to the kids.
It also is a wonderful thing to teach your children that sometimes giving is better than getting.
You should be proud of all the Martin family!!
Happy New Year to you and the rest of the Martin family.
Hi Tyleen – Thank you so much for the nice comment and helping. Mabuhay to the LIP community.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Mabuhay! to the Minda Clauses and elves, and everyone else!
Money’s just a tool – it works best when used properly on a good project. You are all skilled craftsmen/craftswomen/craftspeople with that tool! More tools for next year!
Hi Paul – Thank you so much for the night thoughts. Yes, I am so happy and honored to be one of the helpers. 😉 It was really fun for all of us. Good feeling to be giving away gifts and seeing the people’s smile really is priceless! That’s one thing money can’t buy…
I hope that this year will be bigger than last year. I am so thankful for the LIP contributors. I know that the economy is bad but still they tried to helped. I am proud of our little community here.
Good to see you Paul and Happy New Year!
Feyma,
Pagpalain ka sana. (Sorry for the tagalog.) The world needs more people like you and Bob.
Hi Jack – Thank you so much. I know you are also helping in the area where your lady is from. Cheers to you also.
Hey, your Tagalog is good. Keep learning.
Happy New Year to you! Good to see you here again.
Hi Feyma,
I have 2 impressions of the poverty I witnessed that I carry with me. I saw a poor girl with the saddest eye in Manila selling flowers outside of Jolibee on my first visit. I wish I had bought her a meal. On my last visit, we were in an open restaurant area in Ormoc buying (palit) paniudto. There were 2 boys asking for money. We had a left over hotdog after our meal. I looked for the boys and gave it to them. They were very hungry and ate it fast. I wish I had bought more for them to eat. I know that I can’t solve the problem but Juramie and I can help a little.
Thank you for helping. God Bless you and your family.
Daghang salamat pud sa inyong pamilya day, sa inyong hard work and dedication sa pagtabang sa ato mga kaig-usonan…Sana naa pa mga tao nga kagaya sa inyo nga buotan…May God shower more blessings sa pamilya Martin’s…..
Happy New Year!!!!
Ann*
Hi Ann – Thank you so much my dear friend. Salamat jud kaayo sa imong tabang. Dili jud nako malimtan ang mga big smiles sa atong mga kapos palad nga mga kaigsuonan dinhi. Grabe jud ilang pasalamat sa inyong mga tabang.
Gikan sa akong pamilya ug sa mga tawo nga atong gitabangan dako jud nga salamat sa imuha ug sa uban natong mga igsoon dinhi sa LIP.
Mabuhay sad ka ug until our next year drive again. You are the here my dear…
Cheers to you and Happy New year. God bless!
Take care!
Feyma, the LIP giveway story nearly brought me to tears of joy. I’m happy that the LIP community made a difference in the lives of the poor.
Thanks so much for the write-up; it did my heart good.
Hi Ed Griffin – Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I am really happy with our little community here on LIP.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Thanks for the additional info on the Minda Claus 2009 Giveaway Adventure ! The scene you describe really brings to light the joy and happiness the giving of a gift can create.
Each Christmas, I always remember when I was a young child, opening Christmas Gifts and I think it is the same kind of memory for others as well. Imagine if you never had any gifts on Christmas, you would never have those fond memories to reflect back on every year at Christmas.
To me this is one of the most significant treasures of what you and Bob have been doing there in Mindanao each year at Christmas. As so many of the gifts are consumeable they will not last long in the hands of the recipients. The memory of recieving the gifts, removing the colorful wrapping are, to me, just as significant as the gift itself. It will give the recipients, especially the children, a happy Christmas memory that can last a lifetime.
Thank you Feyma for taking the ” LIP Family ” along with you and Bob on this years Minda Clause Adventure through your video, pictures and descriptive articles on the big day ! A big thanks also to your family and friends who helped to assemble, wrap, and distribute the gifts.
Hi Bob New York – Thank you so much for you guys support on our LIP Drive. It’s really nice to know that a lot of you here(LIP) give something to the less fortunate here in Davao area.
I am really proud and happy of what we have going here on LIP. I know that a lot of our readers were affected by the bad economy right now, but still they sacrifice something and give money for our poor people here in the Philippines.
The big smiles from the kids and the people were PRICELESS.
Thank you again!
Hi Feyma – I know how you feel. It’s hard work but when you see the children’s faces, it’s worth the effort. I’m a member of ELCI (Expatriate Ladies Charities, Inc) and we organised Christmas Parties and feed 800 needy children (as identified by DSWD) from 2 barangays in Cagayan de Oro (1 of them being the Landfill Area which is equivalent to smokey mountain of Manila)and 1 barangay in El Salvador. Follow the link below for more details.
http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=4&id=8559
Also instead of organising a Christmas Party for Bethany Christian Home for Children here in Talakag, ELCI donated a Christmas Hamper containing boxes of Nestogen Milk Formula, packs of Bear Brand Powder Milk, packs of Eight O’Clock Juice and tubs of Assorted Biscuits.
Happy New Year to the Martin Family from the Cunninghams in Talakag.
P.S. We’re planning to be in Davao later this week. Hope we have time to meet up with you guys.
Hi Marilou – Good job also for doing your charity. Yes, its really a good feeling to see the smiles of the kids and the people. It’s hard to explained in words how I felt. It’s just a happy feeling.
I am already thinking of the giveaways this year. Hopefully we can give more.
Good luck to you for next year charity event.
Hope to see you guys sometimes. Take care and God bless!
“I am already thinking of the giveaways this year. Hopefully we can give more. ”
Hi Feyma, this gives me an idea, Would it be possible to leave the ” Donate ” link somewhere on the website all year long ? Maybe have it in its own section someplace along with a few ” Best Of ” pics of past Minda Claus & family distributing the gifts ! This would give potential and existing donors to this most worthy cause all year long to make contributions. You could almost name it ” The Minda-Claus Christmas Club ” !
Just a thought.