Church of God missionaries Tom and Margaret Tioaquen share about the good news coming out of the shelter for abused women and children in the Philippines.
We were recently informed that three of our girls from the shelter had been removed from school without our knowledge. We filed a report with the barangay of Amsic (authorities), who came to the house and made a report. The barangay later came to the house wanting to know if we had the correct permit, license and papers to operate the shelter.
In fact we do have all the papers except certification with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). However that is in process. The barangay came as if to threaten the shelter and the work being done with the babies and children there.
I called an emergency meeting to work on our DSWD papers and to qualify. Our two representatives went to the DSWD and had never been treated so nice. All the questions were answered and they were told we have no problem with DSWD because we are in the process of getting the certificate. They also said the barangay has no authority to question our existence and work at the shelter, which is for abused and abandoned children and women.
After hearing that I could not but praise the Lord. But that is not all: the reps also inquired about our babies and what we can do concerning the future. We learned that there is a way to have them declared as a “foundling” and they become in a great sense the children of the shelter. We have to do some adjustments, but that was expected. Praise the Lord!
We also found that after this process the babies could be adopted!
Tom and Margaret Tioaquen
Missionaries to Philippines
Project Number 0650466
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