"Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me"
Luke 9:47
A GIFT OF LIFE
by Evelyn Bonilla
The Observer, Bayonne, NJ
It is said that everyone has a "purpose in life" and that we are all on this earth for a reason. Some individuals are able to find their purpose, while others are still searching. For Jude Tiner from Bayonne, NJ that purpose was revealed to him at a prayer meeting. In the summer of 2006, while at the meeting he got an incredible urge; he announced to his prayer group that he wanted to go to the Philippines to visit a mission. As soon as he arrived home he booked a flight to the Philippines. Unaware of where he would go, he credits his inspiration to the "hand of god". Tiner explains, "At the time, I didn't know why I said I was going to the Philippines and why I was booking the flight."
...he credits his inspiration to the "hand of God".
While he waited for his trip he received a phone call from his friend, Ray Masserelli who asked him if he was still involved with the Filipino community. Masserelli informed Tiner that there was a trip scheduled to Bishop Luis Amigo Friendship Home a mission in Manila, Philippines and if he was interested. Tiner quickly agreed, and in the summer of 2006, Tiner set out to the Philippines. During his visit to the Philippines, Tiner had the opportunity to visit the Teknotropheo Mission. This mission focuses on bringing up the nation's youth to total development, physically, socially, intellectually and spiritually. They have done so by reaching out to the Mangyan Tribal Community of Abra de nog on the Occidental Mindoro Island in the Philippines. It is there that Tiner realized the true purpose of his visit. While there he was approached by a frail young girl about the age of 5. Her personality and spirit were magnetic and Jude Tiner watched as the young girl smiled at times that others seemed exhausted. He approached the woman who ran the mission Criselda Malicdem, who would later give Tiner the news that the little girl was diagnosed with a rare abnormality called Tetralogy of FaIlot.
This condition is a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the ventricles) and can cause many levels of obstruction from the right ventricle to the lungs. The little girl named Meraly Mariano was diagnosed with having two holes in her heart and her only hope would be to have the holes in her heart repaired. Soon it would be time for Tiner to leave and with that he would leave a sick Meraly behind. As soon as Tiner arrived back home from the Philippines he searched the Internet for answers. He decided that his mission would be to help Meraly Mariano with her condition, and to search until he found a way to do so.
He approached City Council Member Ted Connelly for help, and with Connelly's help he was lead to Rotary Club 7490. Ray Hough and Harold Kawalek of Rotary Club 7490 Meraly Mariano informed Tiner of the "Gift of Life Foundation." This foundation helps to provide cardiac care to the children who do not have access to such services. Tiner quickly sent for Meraly, who arrived in Newark Airport on September 2007 and after undergoing preliminary testing she was ready for the surgery which took place at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson earlier this month.
Now after a successful operation Meraly Mariano is a vibrant, energetic 5 year old girl, who will be celebrating her birthday on December 24th of this year. Tiner would like to thank everyone who helped and got involved to help Meraly. "It's amazing how many people got involved to help. He would like to thank Rotary Club 7490 and the Gift of Life Foundation, the Bayonne community and the Filipino community, doctors, nurses and so, so many others who offered a helping hand."
When asked why he did what he did and how he felt great response he received, he replied, "I now know that something was taking me to the mission, that it was a calling. The joy I feel inside is my greatest reward. If I had the opportunity I would do it all Jude Tiner is definitely an as to the individual that must be admired. With his sincere dedication and his total devotion, he has unquestionably provided Meraly a wonderful chance at life. This is truly an inspiration and a wonderful example of a "gift of life." Interested in leaning more again." about the Teknotropheo Mission www.teknotropheo.org.
Brave Mangyan Girl Desperately Needs Help and Heart Surgery
By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com
ybchavez@gmail.com
Like most children her age, Meraly Garcia Mariano is a fun-loving bundle of energy. The 6-year-old girl is a lovable spotlight hog who enjoys singing her heart out at school programs.
A stranger might say that her contagious joy must have come from having an easy life and a solid family background.
Unfortunately, that is not the case for Meraly.
At an early age, Meraly has already survived an unspeakable heartbreak: A few years ago, she witnessed her mother commit suicide.
On top of that devastating trauma, every single day, this brave little girl also deals with the pain of having, literally, a broken heart.
Meraly, who belongs to Occidental Mindoro's Mangyan-Iraya tribe, is suffering from a rare heart condition called pentalogy of Fallot.
"Her heart has two holes, one hole is bigger, and there are three other parts (in her heart) that needs correction," said Criselda Malicdem, a Filipino social worker from Teknotropheo Missions, a Philippine mission group that helps tribal children.
Meraly needs an expensive open-heart surgery which her caregivers couldn't afford.
Without it, doctors say that Meraly would be lucky if she can survive till her 16th birthday.
Currently, she already looks much smaller and thinner than her classmates. Malicdem says that doctors attribute Meraly's growth problem to her heart ailment.
"She also easily gets sick because of her very low immune system," Malicdem adds.
Teknotropheo and the Nangka Mangyan Tribal Community in Mindoro have been taking care of Meraly ever since she was brought to their community center by her family in 2005.
Meraly's family was worried about her frequent fainting spells.
She was brought many times to a government hospital but Meraly never received a complete diagnosis from them.
She became weaker. On several occasions, she lost consciousness.
Malicdem then brought her to a private doctor who immediately diagnosed her congenital heart disease. She was prescribed medications to help with her symptoms.
"Since then we have been taking care of Meraly and everything she needs including her food and medicines. But we could not afford her surgery," Malicdem said. "That is why we have been asking help from others."
Malicdem's organization, which helps many other Mangyan children, has very limited funds. They couldn't even afford a regular doctor for Meraly.
"Her doctor changes every check up because they are resident doctors in the outpatient department of the Philippine Heart Center," Malicdem said.
In her quest for a miracle for Meraly, Malicdem has found an ally in Jude Tiner, a New Jersey native and a Vietnam veteran who traveled to the Philippines last year on a personal goodwill mission.
The good Samaritan is a member of City Chapel where he first learned about the plight of Filipino children in need in some areas in the Philippines through its Filipino parishioners.
Tiner, who works as a longshoreman in New Jersey, is currently coordinating efforts to find donors in the U.S. for Meraly's surgery.
He also sits as a board member of Bishop Amigo Foundation, a non-profit organization. Its vision, according to its website, is "to provide a holistic development program to children and youth living under specially difficult, harmful and risky conditions in the Philippines."
Although Tiner and Malicdem have been tirelessly working to find sponsors for Meraly, they have yet to find enough people and organizations to help her.
With so many other organizations all over the world asking for help for so many people in need, getting donations, even for someone with a serious condition like Meraly, is not an easy task.
In the meantime, they are growing increasingly worried because Meraly's condition, if left untreated, could easily take a turn for the worse. Her very low immune system is a constant concern.
As it is, Meraly's growth is already somewhat stunted. She is shorter and weighs less than other kids her age.
But this does not dampen their belief that with the surgery, Meraly can make a full recovery.
"She is able to walk, she's not bedridden anymore. She's allowed to play also, although it's limited because if she gets too tired she might collapse," Malicdem said.
Her physical limitations notwithstanding, Meraly inspires everyone who meets her with her indomitable spirit.
The eldest of two girls, Meraly was born into a household where family members considered themselves lucky if they ate their meal of mostly just cassava and root crops twice in a day.
When Meraly was younger, his father was unable to adequately provide for the family, sources say. He was a farmer who grew crops on a very small piece of land in the mountains.
Meraly's mother took the brunt of the family responsibilities. When it all became unbearable for her, the Mariano family's life took a turn for the worse when she hung herself.
Meraly's mother apparently suffered from an undiagnosed post-partum depression, a social worker who interviewed family members later said.
A few months after the tragedy, Meraly's health problems grew more serious.
And yet despite the hard hits that life has dealt her, this spunky girl, all of 35 pounds, is undeterred in her active fight to live, and to be as happy as she can be.
"She's so different from other Mangyan kids who, by nature, are timid and quiet. Meraly is not shy and could connect easily, even to strangers," Malicdem said. "She's also a leader. She leads other kids when they play."
Meraly is aware of her serious health problems. Finding joy even in unlikely places, she looks forward to her trips to Manila, her greatest luxury, for her check-ups. She follows her doctors' instructions to the letter.
Meraly is audacious in her hope that one day soon, her dream of being treated by the best doctors in the U.S. can come true.
“Punta ako America, dun ako magpapa-opera para gumaling ako,” she said.
Meraly's supporters are hoping that kindhearted Filipinos can help make her dream come true.
Unlikely Heroes
by Jamie Reiner
Crossroads
Changing Our World. . .One Life at a Time!
When you think of a hero, what comes to mind? The real heroes of God's kingdom, the unlikely ones, aren't recognized by the greatness of their works, but by the sincerity of their selfless, humble service. "whoever wants to become great among you mush be your servant." (Matt. 20:26, NIV)
To meet this month’s unlikely hero we travel to a small corner of the Philippines, Mindoro Island, where we find the Mangyan tribe. Forced from their land into the mountains to wander in search of food, they struggle through each day just to meet basic needs. You’ll find Criselda “Cris” Malicdem walking among them, one of the missionaries Cornerstone supports.
In 1997 Cris started a ministry called Teknotropheo Missions, with a vision focused on bringing physical and spiritual care to Mangyan children. (Teknotropheo comes from a Greek word that means “to bring up the children”.) Cris and the other workers at Teknotropheo meet health needs, provide schooling, teach daily living skills, and conduct evangelism and spiritual training.
To learn more from Cris about how and why she got involved in the ministry, click here.
In this past year, they completed the first floor of their Mission Development Center, even while working through the rainy season. This will eventually be a permanent two story concrete building that will function as a worship and training center, living quarters and a classroom for students, and space to take care of basic health needs. While waiting for God to provide funding to finish the building, they now use the first floor for some of their ministries.
Other events of last year include starting work on a water project to bring spring water down from the mountain and expanding their “Faith Garden” project. They’ve had some exciting answers to prayer, like Jerome, one of their second grade students. Jerome had a wound on his foot that didn’t heal for many years. Last August, one month after his mother died of tuberculosis, the doctors recommended amputating Jerome’s foot. But God has answered prayers, and by September his foot finally began to improve.
Cris sets high standards for the students at the Development Center, providing a well rounded program. Pray for Cris and her co-workers, that God would multiply their efforts.