First we like to thank you for the friendship, trust, help and support you have given us this year! The projects and activities you supported this year wouldnt have been possible without you and your generosity! The children that were taught, the livelihood projects that were started, the houses that were rebuilt after the earthquake and typhoon Yolanda hit the region, and much more are part of your doing! God bless you

When we look back on this year, we look back on many happenings! Besides STEPS school throughout the year we moved to our new mission center between March and May, we started our Friendly Waters private preschool in July, there was the beginning of the waste management in Panglao at the end of August, many trainings seminars and livelihood projects throughout the year, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol at Oct 15 and typhoon Yolanda on Nov 8 that affected the whole Visayas region, and many Christmas programs in December. We put together a slide show with pictures of this years projects and activities:

This month we moved our STEPS school to the new mission center; beginning of the Mom´s Handirafts, a crochet teaching project for STEPS mothers.

First Trainings Seminar about Seaweeds in our new Missions Center; Start of STEPS Summer Classes

Blessing of the Bellevue Family Mission Center and Moving in; STEPS Summerschool; Set-up of our Organic Garden

STEPS Summerschool Graduation; One-week STEPS Seminar in Manila for Kindergarten Teachers

Upgrade of our 3 Class rooms, 50 new STEPS Students in 2 Groups; STEPS Seminar for Parents; Extension of our Trainings Seminars, such as Carpentry, Crochet, Cooking & Baking etc; Start of our Private Preschool Friendly Waters.

Waste Management in Municipality Panglao with Trainings Seminars and Hands-on Workshops; STEPS School for 2 Groups; Friendly Waters for 2 Groups.

Earthquake relief Work, bringing Food, Water & Medicine to many affected Villages and Towns; Trauma Relief Seminar for 100 Bellevue Staff; STEPS School and Friendly Waters" Preschool for 2 Groups each daily.

After typhoon Yolanda, the earthquake victims had to go back into evacuation centers. There were power outages and no water. Even today there are still brownouts, and many people live in tents and other temporary housing. In the past weeks we have been busy helping people rebuild their homes and lives on Pangangan island, and newly in Loon and Maribooc. We have brought Aluminium roofing that was donated by the Swiss Philippine Business Chamber in Manila to Pangangan island, and many families have already moved into their new houses. The same is in the works in Loon and Maribooc.

With your help and the help of ALPS (AidLine Philippine Swiss), and donations from abroad, we have the possiblity of helping towards the building of houses for families. It takes lots of time to identify the ones that are most needy, and we have already done many trips to far-away villages. Here you see some of the new houses and happy carpenters receiving the donated working tools.

During this month we have been doing Christmas shows in the earthquake affected areas, with games, stories, prayer and gift-giving for many children.

We had teams going to help with Yolanda disaster relief, bringing many thousand packages with food, water, medicines, and now during the Christmas season, Christmas gifts. So far, the teams have made 3 trips! Any donations that we received for typhoon relief work was passed on to the respective teams.

We thank you for another year of friendship, trust and teamworking. Together we are working on making this place a better place. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, and may God bless and keep you and give you a happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year! With lots of love and prayer, Manny, Joel, Eveline und Team