FAQs

What is your ministry?

Honestly, it is whatever God leads us to do. Because that's not really an acceptable answer for most people let's elaborate... The original plan was teaching English for two years and that was back in 2018, oops! 😁. In 2020, God called Christine to permanently be here and married to Jun (a local Filipino). The classes have changed to not be just "teaching English" but just a place for the kids to come and learn. Opportunities are available to listen to English via book study, vocabulary, and Sunday school style classes. There is a lending library and games for the kids to play. Jun occasionally preaches and is regularly called upon to pray at any event we attend. Jun is also gifted at mentoring and although we do not yet have regular pupils for this he grabs any opportunity to mentor in the moment. We plan to eventually have a dorm to support the distant students for the high school and provide life skills and Bible studies as well as general educational support. Other occasional things we do include food, clothing and school supplies distribution, coffee with snack and rides for senior citizens after church, printing school projects, and substitute church secretary.

How much do you need to raise to get started? Technically, we have already started! However, to start the expansion we will need

about $10-12,000 as well as about $1000 extra monthly. A lot of research has gone into this process, but there is possible variation in numbers.  We are only able to estimate what our building and supplies will cost so this could change.  The monthly budget could also change a lot once we begin programs and get things truly figured out.  If you want more specifics about these number and what is included please ask.

Where will you be living and what will it cost?  Approximately $25/₱1200 per month.

We own our property and building, but there will be general upkeep. Our house is walking distance from the local high school, but about a 10 minute drive from church. Next year (2022), we hope to have some kind of building on our land for hosting classes and maybe even a starter dorm for our growing ministry options. Those things will increase our monthly costs.

How will you make/store food and what will it cost?  Approximately $100//₱5000 per month.

For now we use a propane gas stove and a small toaster oven. We don't have a refrigerator, but at some point once we get electricity figured it will be a desire to save for. Generally food needs to be stored in airtight containers and often even double layered to keep out "critters.". Metal cans and glass jars are safe to leave on open shelving, but for now we have a 20 gallon tote and a few smaller buckets with lids for other dry goods. Most things are gotten with just the next week in mind and until we move we have access to our neighbor's fridge for a few items like meats and the occasional cheese. Our grocery budget is set at $100 and generally covers snacks and meals even when we have people working with us. The propane gets filled about every three months and is approximately $20.

How will transportation work and what will it cost?  Approximately $100/₱5000 per month

This includes gasoline and maintenance. Right now we own our own motorcycle. We would like to make it a tricycle so we are saving for that in the next year.

There is also an amount allotted for things like distance travel to include ferry fees and bus tickets.  

What utilities would be necessary?  Approximately $120/₱6000 per month

This would be different depending on my living situation but is also why I would want to be sure to pay “rent” to the Dupalco family if I am living with them.

Electric: Approximately $20//₱1000 per month

Gas for cooking: Approximately $20/₱1000 per quarter

Phone: Approximately $15/₱750 per month

Internet: Currently included in the phone load

Water: currently drinking water is available free of charge by a fellow missionary who owns a water purification business. Eventually we will have a well drilled or dug for our house then it would just be the cost of pumping it up.

What will the cost be to set up your living space?  Approximately no idea 😉

When we move to the house we will need to purchase a few items of furniture, but that is already covered in our saved budget for the build. In the future however, it will cost us to furnish the dorm we hope to build.... The savings goal is around $1000, but who knows!

What will the cost be to set up a classroom space?  Approximately $1500 one time and $50 per month to maintain

Again, this is difficult to pinpoint because we do not know what the space will be and what materials will cost next year.

Tables/Desks: likely to be built for us but supplies and labor approximately $60/₱3000 per table and I would hope for a minimum of 5

Chair(s): Approximately $4/₱200 each (30 minimum desired)

Bookshelves: likely to be built for us but supplies and labor approximately $60/₱3000 per shelf and I would hope for a minimum of 6

Printers: I’ve been told these can vary in price but the max would be approximately $160/₱8000 per printer and I would like a minimum of 2

Computer(s): I would like to purchase these in the US and have not priced them, but I would like to bring 1 new laptop and 1 new desktop.  The laptop designated for our use and the desktop for student use.  I am expecting $200-300 per computer.  There is a possibility in the long term I would want to purchase tablets for classroom use, but those would be purchased in the Philippines and I have not priced them yet.

Textbooks: Occasionally we purchase books for the lending library as well as teaching resources. Prices vary.

Paper/Writing utensils: A lot comes in donations in boxes from the US, but we have to purchase a minimum of one team of paper per month.  Approximately $25/₱1250 per month.

General Classroom Supplies:  Approximately $20/₱1000 per month.

How can supporters and friends keep in contact with you?
See 'Contact Information' link on the top left side of this page.

How can care packages be sent to you or the ministry?

See 'Contact Information' link on the top left side of this page.

What is the community (Juagdan and Cagting) like?

Think rural and backwoods country that is still developing. There is green everywhere in this country so no need for "green space" laws. Only about 2/3 of the homes have a steady water connection either by family well or barangay supply line. I'm finding out there are even a number of homes without electricity. Our house will even be without both things for a while yet.

As soon as the sun is up so are people. It gets pretty noisy by 6:30 am most days and often loud until about 9 or even 10 pm. Most places are within a 15 minute walk otherwise you have to drive the half-hour to Ubay Poblacion. There are lots of local "sari-sari" stores that sell various necessities like groceries and person care items. These are usually just the front room of a private house with a big window for transactions. Many families rely only on them and have "credit" lines for when they don't have money in hand.

Each section of the barangay is called a Purok and has it's own local "kagawad" or deputy of the head "barangay captain" and a Catholic chapel. The is one preschool and an elementary school for each barangay, but only one high school for the closest 5 barangay and it happens to be in Cagting. Some of the more advanced and studious kids go to another highschool about 15 minutes away and they call it a trade school so they cover a larger variety of subjects early on and tend to actually be more competitive. In the central area of each barangay there is a Catholic church, the school(s), a health center, a basketball court and local government unit(LGU) offices. Juagdan doesn't have much else except the "born again" church that we are a part of and two "carendaria" where you can get limited ready made food dishes. Cagting has a couple of bonuses that mean we don't have to go all the way to Ubay. We have a barber shop, a small bread bakery, and a hardware store. Now most of the sari-sari have bread, but it's fresher and a little cheaper at the source! Also, the hardware is more limited, but they can usually order the things we need from Ubay and their profit mark up is still cheaper than the gas/time needed and saves the hassle of transport it just takes some additional time.

Who are your potential students?

This is a question I wish I had a better answer to. The original goal was adults, but has been quite a variety. Since Covid most of the high school and college students don't have the time because it's so much harder to do their studies on their own. I've had mostly elementary students recently ranging in age from 4-14. My Mabini group however still varies widely with the core being a group of twenty-somethings and a senior citizen. With the move to just behind the high school we will focus on involving the 12-20 year olds in school, but Christine will still maintain the classes in Juagdan for elementary level basic English as long as there is interest.

What level of English are you going to be teaching?

This is just as complicated of a question as who my students will likely be. Each class varies and unfortunately I end up having to "teach to the middle" despite the training and desire to be at all levels. The biggest two reasons: 1. The range in an individual class can sometimes be huge (only "what is your name" up to fluency even in writing!) AND 2. What we would consider "cheating" or "copying" from your neighborhood is the norm and expected experience here. I fought it at first, but it is so ingrained in their regular schooling I couldn't stop it.

What is the long-term plan for the program?

Excellent question! Classes have already morphed from the original expectations and continue to do so as time and situation calls. Although we are still hosting classes on church property we are fairly independent from their "rule." The original idea was to bring people in to the church and invite them to church events, well they don't do much for the elementary age and so outreach hasn't happened in the expected way. Now we are editing the program to include scripture directly. Classes will rotate between book studies, basic vocabulary, and Bible lessons. Book studies include: Chronicles of Narnia, Little House, and perhaps some Roald Dahl (like Matilda, Charlie & Choco. Factory). Vocabulary units include: food, clothing, body, etc. Bible Lessons will be both Old and New Testament characters and events as well as Jesus' parables and miracles.

What language do they speak and are you going to learn it?

The Philippines has two national languages: Tagalog and English. You might be thinking, "Then why do you need to teach them English if they already know it?" The problem is English is mostly used in education and government so if they don't complete their education or get a job using English they quickly lose any they have learned. Also, the Tagalog is not common in the area we are living in, so I am not going to be working towards learning it.
The local dialect is Cebuano (aka Visayan). I have been studying bits of it have an idea of how it works and some basic vocabulary. I have acquired some materials to support my language study, but I learn more easily from everyday interactions, lesson prep, and classes.