Higher Walking

Prayer Letter

Street kids Special!!!

Fall 2011
in this issue
Do you know US? The Starfish Story My Fathers House Dont forget US!

hank you, thank you, thank you to all the readers that have encouraged me to go on with this news or prayer letter! One friend came up to me and told me nice newsletter. Thinking he meant the design, I replied Its all templates. After talking with him a bit, I found out he really meant the content. Wow! It seems there are people really reading this newsletter!! How surprising to me What started out at first as a school assignment, became a useful tool to bring glory to God. I praise Him for this privilege. Since I have missed several months and because God has been pushing this specific topic in my life (again), I will make this a special issue, which might well mean it is longer than usual (Relax I put a lot of pictures to make it look like a lot less ). As you might have found out by now, God has put a burden for street kids on my heart. In the next pages, I would like to share this burden with you as you might be more engaged to pray for this special group of small peoples. They are the least of the least and I believe a lost generation full of promise.

Do you know us?

A street child can be between 0 and 17 years of age (yes, even babies can be found on the streets).

today in the life

The total numbers of street children in the Philippines: estimates lie around 250,000 to 1.5 Million (one street child is one too many). Street children are generally male (67.7%), 10 to 15 years old, who have been physically or sexually abused at home or neglected, and whose parents are separated or whose families are dysfunctional. As a result, they seldom go home to their families. The largest group of street children belongs to the 6 12 year-old age bracket (47%), closely followed by the 13 15 year-old group (31.5%). Three categories of street children: 1. "Children on the streets" make up approximately 75% of the street children in the Philippines. These children work on the streets but do not live there, having a home to return to after working. Some of them even continue to attend school while working long hours on the streets. 2. In contrast, "Children of

the street" on the other hand make their homes on the street. They make up 25%-30% of the street children in the Philippines. These children often create a sort of family among fellow street children. Some of them still have family ties, but do not visit them and some even see these ties as bad. 3. "Completely abandoned children" have no family ties and are entirely on their own for physical and psychological survival. They make up about 5%-10% of the street children in the Philippines.

Do you know us now?

Do you know me?

Do you know me?

Do you know me?

But actually they are more than numbers; they are human beings with a name and a story just like you and me. Unlike you and me however, they are underprivileged and which by definition means they are deprived of many of the rights and privileges enjoyed by most people in society. Whenever, I would stay in the Philippines, it would always bother me, when I saw a child begging at three in the morning around the party areas of Manila or when I would see them sleeping on the sides of the streets. In a TV report about street kids, they showed parents who

Do you know me?

today in the life

were not minding that their kids are selling themselves into prostitution. These are just my own experiences and Im sure there are more and worse cases out there. What makes it worse; of all people, these little ones did nothing to deserve this life. They were simply born into this cold and brutal reality. Presumably, because of some wrong turns their parents made in life, they have to now pay the price. In all this, I never saw any hope for them in the past and just always looked away. The problem was just too big for me...

Do you know us?

The Starfish Story

ne day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, What are you doing? The youth replied, Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I dont throw them back, theyll die. Son, the man said, dont you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You cant make a difference! After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said I made a difference for that one.

Do you know me?

My Fathers House
Big House by Audio Adrenaline is a great song! If you havent heard that song, listen to it on YouTube while you read on. OK, now imagine just as the lyrics imply A BIG BIG HOUSE! With lots and lots of food, rooms and a huge yard where all the kids can play! Thats exactly the house we are NOT trying to build in Manila, Philippines right now Why not? Well, first of all, I think that song is about heaven and we dont want them to be too comfortable here on earth and second, my mother and I have never done this before, so I think it would be wise to start small. However, we do feel that quality should go before quantity. After all, we are called to disciple and not just convert masses. So yeah, it has been a crazy and long journey, but we feel God has called my mother and I to work with Him to fulfill His vision and reach out to the street kids in the Philippines. So far, as you can see in the pictures below, we are well on our way to put up the first house. We have other lots, one of them is being used to plant vegetables so that the children can learn to eat healthy and in the future maybe in this way provide for themselves and their family. We believe every child should get to experience what it is like to be a princess or prince of the King of kings. However, we also believe that a princess or princess should learn to read, write and eventually wash the dishes After all, Jesus showed us what it meant to follow Him by serving others. Since the need is so immense, the work is to be done by the Church of the Philippines. Meaning to say, we will be working together with local Churches to encourage and empower them to do the same on their own. As mentioned, we have never done this before and we are completely walking in faith and obedience to God in this matter. However, as you will see in the next page, He is providing and walking alongside with us in this project. When He calls, He will do His part. The more incapable we are, the more He can show up and therefore the more He can be glorified. This is our ultimate goal.

Dont forget us!!!

We thank God for these blessings:
We received the permission to use an empty

lot to plant vegetable for the kids!

We needed a social worker and God gave us

this divine connection. We thank God for her life and service! trained in a homeschooling program. wife are readily helping us right now.

My mother had an opportunity to be

Relatives of ours and even a pastor and his

who is siggi?
People call me Siggi and I am a living proof that God can change a life for the better. I am enjoying this new life by living it out to the fullest and giving what I received from God. Just look how happy we are

Please pray for the following:

For all paperwork for our foundation status

to go smooth and that this home will be established officially and without any legal hindrances. the first children home and that all costs will be covered.

No complications during the construction of

Although, many people have been set on

our path, we need more helpers. Pray for God-fearing and child-loving ministers who are willing to sacrifice their life for these kids. ters will cross our paths willing to train locals to reach out to street kids and help mend broken family ties with the power of Gods Love. for health and their needs to be met.

Also pray that experienced children minis-

All members of this project needs covering Please pray that we may use the lot for the

find me
back2church@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/siggi.winkler http://higherwalking.wordpress.com/

vegetables forever or at least until Jesus returns. stantly guiding us in all our steps! We need all the help He can give us!! Love you all!!

Finally, please pray that God will be con-