My Story of Love In and For The Philippines

Having resided in the Philippines since July 12, 2022, the day I married Malia, I have come to love this country. Our story of love is remarkable. We call it "A Love That Burns." Having known each other for two years and three months before marrying online on December 17, 2021, first, we finally saw each other in person on the day we married on July 12. Then, with a quick trip back to the states in early September, I returned three weeks later and have been here ever since. I've wondered why God placed deep in my heart to search for a wife online and in the Philippines. I am beginning to understand why one day at a time – though I never will be able to grasp just how wonderful God has been to me. This experience has revealed how radical we have to be sometimes – if we want to be radically blessed.

The people, the authenticity of life, the food, and the attitude of hope, regardless of the hardship so many people face daily, are what I experience daily here in the Philippines. You will always see smiles and hear laughter. The willingness to share what they have and to again and again – HOPE is always evident!

As a Christian minister and poet, I want to sow seeds of eternal hope, love, and forgiveness by inspiring the hearts of the beautiful people in the Philippines to know the Love of Jesus Christ in action. Only some nations embrace the same things we do in America. However, that is different in the Philippines. The people here love our country and are praying for us. They realize that many educational and employment opportunities happen for their people in America. When you look around, you will see many Filipino people living and working and pursuing an education in America. Those who work send money back home to provide for their families because the exchange rate is so high. I know in my heart that God sent me here on a mission that wasn't always crystal clear. It first started with meeting my wife, Maila.

Having enjoyed my honeymoon season (that we are still on and will always be) while getting acclimated to my new surroundings, home and family, I discern it is time for God's Kingdom purpose to be pursued. The Saving of Souls in the Philippines!

The vision is to use the gift of poetry that God has given me to draw the people to these events held in various locations throughout the Philippines. The events will feature my poems that speak of hope for the weary soul, love for the outcast, and forgiveness of sins for all humanity, no matter what we have done. I will be joined by other Christian artists from the Filipino community. Musicians, dancers, and singers will be a part of this artistic expression of faith for the holiday season. The timing couldn't be better for you to join me with a gift that can touch thousands. When I say thousands, I mean it.

The housing here in the Philippines is not like your street in America. They are more like small buildings and sometimes huts in every crevice you can see. Down the road, up the street. To the left to the right. By the train tracks, three, four, and five stories high. Many live on the streets sleeping on thin cardboard with their children.

This opportunity is even more of a blessing because many Filipinos don't have the funds to afford entertainment. So you can imagine our turnout for them to share in an event featuring poetry. Oh yeah, did I mention that they love poetry! The poetry movement is relatively new in the Philippines! Who would have ever known that but – GOD? Having me come to a nation that loves poetry when I use my poetry to win souls is no coincidence. Remember, as I toured the streets of America, I used poetry to share Jesus. Now God has transitioned me to the Philippines to do so. I'm in awe!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Our need is small compared to what we can achieve with the American dollar. With every American dollar worth nearly 60 pesos right now, we can accomplish tremendous things in spreading the gospel and ministering to the needs of the poor. To put that in perspective, a pizza in America that costs $18 would be about $5 in the Philippines!

An integral part of this outreach will include providing shoes for children. Most of the children here walk in flip-flops. Their feet are never covered, and you can tell by how dirty they are. So our vision is to have the shoes of children my friends in America no longer need to be given to the children in the Philippines.

Let me share with you how God placed this burden upon me. While resting at a jeep (bus) stop sitting on a bench, a little girl walked up to me and, in her language, pleaded with me to buy her some shoes. Though I didn't understand her language, I understood it when she showed me hers with a broken latch. It would not stay on her foot, so she had to almost slide in the shoe to keep it on. I confirmed her need when a Filipino next to us translated her words for me. I immediately found a shoe store around the corner to buy her shoes. I couldn't help but follow her. If you have about 6 minutes, you can experience it with this video I shot on my phone. Well, she left with a new pair of shoes. I purchased them for P270, which is about $4.65. The joy on her face was just beautiful. Initially, she wasn't excited because she wanted pretty shoes, but I knew she needed reliable shoes. She grabbed the bag and started to take off. I grabbed her and told her, "Jesus Loves You!"

Since then, I have kept seeing her face and the faces of other children who need shoes to put on their feet. A few clothing items would also be a wonderful gesture of love.

God has given me the mandate to have thousands of pairs of shoes collected and then sent to the Philippines from my friends and friends of friends in America. We will also include those used clothes that your family no longer needs.

I invite you to be a part of clothing the naked and, in some cases feeding the hungry in the Philippines. How can we honestly talk about hope, love, and forgiveness through poetry if we don't meet them in the most basic need of poverty? What would words mean, no matter how poetic, if we don't demonstrate those words by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry?

Your contribution towards their most basic need would touch the hearts of these children in a way they would experience every day when they reach for those shoes.

Remember, just $5 of your American dollars will give us in today's value P290 pesos. We can conduct a 2-hour event on a local basketball court for just P300 pesos.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness in helping me place shoes on children's feet in the Philippines. We aim to have a few boxes sent in time for Christmas. While we wait for your shoes to arrive, we are preparing for several poetic worship experiences where we will give away the shoes. We will keep you posted as to our progress at www.Americasaltar.org. 

Our first event is scheduled to take place next month. Once we secure the first location, we will let you know. The events will be videoed for future playback! Where possible, we will even use Livestream.

Send your shoes to:

Bundy Christian School

C/O Shoes for Kids in the Philippines

23411 Bundy Canyon Road

Wildomar, CA 92595

Contact Me At 307-655-7177

(This line rings in the Philippines - Exactly 12-hour difference EST) 

WHY DO YOU NEED $25,000?

To be effective with our first set of poetry events, we must set up 10-15 in advance. Travel costs, sound, and day laborers are other expenses we will have, along with security. We are also putting together a team to help distribute shoes and, most importantly, the discipleship of souls. The shoes will be the gift that opens the doors to children and their parents. Then, we can share the gospel message and trust Jesus to open their hearts to salvation in Him.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SHOES AND CLOTHS

Please tie the shoestrings of each pair of shoes together so that the pair will not separate. If there is no shoestring, use a zip tie or masking tape to hold them together. Do not place them in a plastic bag. We need to be able to see them upon opening your package. If you are sending clothes, please wash them first. 

HOW WE GET THEM TO THE PHILIPPINES

Once we gather the shoes at the above address, they will be placed in a container and shipped to the Philippines.

SEND A NOTE

If you want to make your gift special, send a card or note with your shoes written by your child. It will mean a lot to both of them. In addition, it will give your child a memorable experience of giving to another child in need. 

WE WILL SHOW YOU

We will document the entire process with pictures and video and let you experience the joy on the faces of the children as they receive their pair of shoes given by your child.

HOW TO INVOLVE YOUR CHURCH OR GROUP

If you want your church or group to get involved, contact me, and we will arrange a way for them to be collected as a group and sent directly to the Philippines.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE FUNDS WE RAISE

Shipping the shoes to the Philippines is our priority. We then use the funds to secure venues for the poetry event, transport the shoes and other gear to the location, and, when possible, provide lunch for those in attendance. 

WHO IS AMERICA'S ALTAR - www.americasaltar.org 

America's Altar is a non-profit organization that has taken the altar of prayer throughout America and invited people to pray. William Owens is the founder and is now residing in the Philippines, most of the time taking the gospel there.

WILLIAM OWENS & FAMILY

William | Maila | Yakobu| Yuri | Mei