Rosemarie and Merlinda ("Len-Len"), care-workers from the little children's home, attended a one-week intensive on first-response first aid from the Red Cross this week.

Our good friend, Tricia, was able to arrange funding through the American Women's Club of the Philippines. This helps us to do something that we have needed for a long time.

Len-Len is the heroic, solo mother of Angie (8) and Daniel (almost 2). Angie is severely handi-capped, but Len-Len has faced her challenges with such courage and wit. She is one of our star caregivers at the little children's home, known for her cheerfulness and constant engagement with the children.

With all of her accomplishments, it came as a surprise to me that she was not able to pass the examination at the end of the Red Cross training. On the other hand, she was not able to study beyond the sixth grade because of family circumstances, and has always struggled with reading and writing very slowly.

Her competence with the children at the little children's home is truly honorable, however, and we would like to give her another chance to complete the Red Cross training. Her pluck and her emotional intelligence are more than match--with a little study help--for any challenge that will come her way.

Because of the struggles she had with this seminar, she has enrolled herself in a Saturday program to finish her high school.

The picture above is from her birthday, which we just got home from. She lives across the street from our home in a special home for solo mothers and their children called Shepherd's Home. Two of her sisters live there as well, and we also celebrated her niece, Micah's, first birthday tonight (thick glasses in the upper right-hand corner).

Lordes, Micah's mother, came to Manila seven months ago to get cataract surgery for Micah. But when they arrived, they quickly learned that Micah's problems are a lot more critical than they had thought. Due to a heart condition, she weighs a scant 8lbs on her first birthday. She is now on a waiting list and, if the money comes in, will be able to have heart surgery in January.

I was talking with my mother on Skype! the other day and she reprimanded me for something that fits nicely here. A while ago, I told you about a young nursing student who we tried to raise money for to help with her tuition. Someone who read the blog, sent in money for Cindy as a birthday present to her father. Another family sent a second gift, and together we were able to get her though the first year. Now she has a scholarship from the mayor's office for the second year and is working at a department store for her extra-tuition costs.

It's encouraging to think that this blog can help to change people's lives. If you will, please remember little Micah in your prayers.