Living Stones Orphanage cares for about 30-40 children each year.  Some of them go back to their biological parents, others are adopted locally or internationally, and still others continue to call Living Stones home year after year.
 
Sixteen children are resident at Living Stones Orphanage as of July 2009.   Eight of them are infants. 
 
Kia Althea was brought to Living Stones in June 2009.  Her mother was 19 years old, jobless, and an orphan too.  Khia Althea's father is Chinese, who abandoned Khia's mother when she was three months pregnant with the baby.  
 
Maria Viktoria (eight months old) had a 2D Echo Test at a local hospital last May. The result confirmed what we have been praying for-- NO HOLE IN HER HEART ANY MORE!  Glory to God for His healing touch!  Even though Maria Viktoria's birth mother (a garbage scavenger) could not care for her, LSO stepped in to meet this precious little girl's needs because we believe every child is valuable in God's eyes. Now Maria is up for local adoption, and if no parents are found to take her in Davao, she'll be going to a family overseas. Please pray that God will help us match her up with a family that will raise her to love and honor the Lord.
 
Natalie (seven months old) is ready for local adoption matching with parents in the Philippines.  If no parents are found locally, she will be matched up internationally with a loving family.
 
Jestonie is 18 years old.  He spent three years on the streets from the ages of 6-9 years.  During that time, he would get food from the garbage bins behind a popular McDonald’s restaurant in Davao.  He came to Living Stones when he was 9 years old, along with his brother (who chose not to stay, and has since been in and out of prison).  Jestonie is presently studying in his final year at a local high school and his future looks bright.   He plans to go to college next year and we are looking for a sponsor for him for that.  As the oldest resident at Living Stones, Jess has proven to be a blessing by showing love to the other kids.  His help lightens the load of the other staff.

Nehemiah, nine years old, is one of our long-term residents and he is loved by all!  Miah came to Living Stones when he was five months old.  He was born with cerebral palsy.  Not ready or able to care for such a difficult case, his mother abandoned him at the hospital.  Miah can neither walk nor talk, but he sure can smile! 

Leo is a cute boy, one year and eight months old.  He came to Living Stones when he was only three months old.  He was surrendered by his paternal grandmother who is very weak and poor. The grandmother cannot afford to support the baby given her poor health.  Leo’s parents left him with his grandmother when he was only a few weeks old.  His biological parents never came back.  Leo has four other siblings, none of them went to school to study (the oldest is 13 years old).  Living Stones is looking for new parents for Leo.

Franco is one year and nine months old.  The mother was abandoned by Franco’s father when she was six months pregnant with him. She cannot provide for the basic needs of her son because she has no job. Her relatives could not help her because they too are financially hard up.  Franco is the product of an illicit relationship. His parents could not take care of him.

Alexander Tristan was born in Davao in early July 2009 and arrived at Living Stones the same day he was born.  In fact, he didn't even have a name, so one of our nurses named him!  Alexander's father abandoned the mother and her three other kids as well, because of another woman in his life.  The mother of Alexander could not care for him.
 
Nina (3) was recently brought to Living Stones.  The first week at LSO, she was only laying or sitting down because of rickets. She was very weak, but after one week of better food and special milk formula/vitamins, she was walking and playing, even though she was still limping.  Now, she can walk and loves to play with other children her same age.  Before she could not raise her right arm but now she can raise it. Praise God!
 
Mikael & Rendon were reunited with their parents in Davao on July 1, 2009.  Mikael arrived at LSO earlier this year at four years old and weighed only 11 kgs. (he was malnourished).  He had been abandoned by his mother and brought to LSO by his father. His father could not raise Mikael and his brother Rendon. His income was not enough to meet the needs of his children.  Rendon is one year old and seven kgs. (also malnourished).  He is the youngest brother of Mikael.  They are very poor.  In fact, Rendon and Mikael had only two shirts and that’s all.  When they first came in, the father explained that he cannot provide basic needs for his children. He only finished Grade One and works as a car washer.  Apparently, the situation has improved, so the kids are back with their parents now.

Myca Jinyl is almost four years old, but was very manlnourished when he arrived at LSO last month.  He was only 11 kgs. (about 25 lbs.) a few month ago.  Myca is the only child of his mother, who voluntarily surrendered him to LSO for permanent shelter and possible adoption.  She cannot provide for the basic needs of her son because her income as a pedal tricycle driver is not enough for their daily consumption. The child's physical appearance during admission was thin with pale color of skin.  He's doing much better now.

Myca and his mother basically lived on the street since he was born. The mother of Myca is 21 years old. Her parents were separated when she was twelve years old. She revealed that for the nine years since the separation of her parents, she didn’t have a house to live in. For those long years, and after Myca was born, they spent the night in the street, or in a billiard hall or even in the tricycle that she’s driving. She was also engaged in scavenging just to earn money. She has relatives but they were not willing to help her. Also, she cannot read or write. She got pregnant with Myca when she was 18 years old. She was raped and the father of Myca never supported them.
 
Vergilio was four days old when he arrived at LSO on July 20, 2009.  His parents are jobless and could not take of his needs.
 
Trisha Marie is three months old.  She arrived at Living Stones six days after her birth.  Her mother is 16 years old, a high school student and jobless.  Both mother and daughter were abandoned by Trisha's father.

Renz is one year and three months old.  He arrived at LSO on April 8, 2009 along with his brother, Remi, three years and eight months old.  Their father, a fish vendor could not take care of them, after the family was abandoned by the the boys' mother. 

Kristine is almost eight years old.   Her parents never married, and her mother, a waitress in a small restaurant only earns about $35/month while working 14 hours a day!   It's not enough to care for her children, Kristine and Carlito (five years old) who have been at Living Stones for nine months now.
 
 
Re-united with their parents:

James--  parents came back together as a couple and picked up James at LSO on June 24, 2009.

Richard, Rody and Dave were reunited to their biological mother last May 29, 2009.

Rodney, Glydel and Wendell were reunited with their mother on April 15, 2009.  They had stayed in LSO for seven months.

S. was reunited with her mother on June 8, 2009.  Her parents had an illicit relationship, so S. was at LSO for a few months.

Janna was abandoned by her father and after several months at LSO was reunited with her mother on Feb 13, 2009.

Kids adopted in the past year:
 
Jomarie ("Bam Bam"), a charming and sweet 12 year old girl and Joshua & Jessie (energetic twins, 3 yrs. old) came to Living Stones in April 2007.  They were surrendered by their biological father for adoption because of poverty. The twins mother died of anemia two weeks after the boys were delivered.  The father was left with eight children and little means to care for them properly.  The twins were actually given coconut wine to drink (rather than milk) when they were infants.  Shortly after that, they were brought to Living Stones.  These three kids were adopted (just in time for Christmas 2008) by a wonderful and loving couple from Kansas, USA.
 
Adrian, a precious three year old boy, was picked up in May 2008 by his new adoptive family in Quebec, Canada.  Adrian had come to Living Stones when he was one year and 9 months old.  His mother surrendered him for adoption because Adrian’s father abandoned them.  Adrian’s two other brothers stayed with his biological mother.

Daniel, a two year old boy, who was picked up by his new parents from Finland (August 5, 2008).  Daniel had come to Living Stones on his first birthday.  The mother was left by her common-law husband and she has no means to support the child.  Daniel has an older brother who is being cared for by his mother.  Daniel already has a new Filipino brother, who was adopted two years ago from Manila and is now four years old. Both boys already speaks Finnish!  
 
Jeffrey came to Living Stones when he was only five days old.  Jeffrey was surrendered by his biological mother because the father of the child would not extend support to him and his mother.   He had a tough first year in this world with a couple of extended stays in the hospital where he became a favorite of the nurses.  (Who wouldn’t love an orphan baby!?)   He is now with a family in Australia who have adopted him and who love him dearly.   Jeffrey now has a Filipina sister (adopted from another orphanage in the Philippines) and two Australian big brothers!
 
Samantha is a precious little girl who was adopted in 2009 locally by a couple who are a doctor and a nurse.
 
Rodan came to Living Stones in April 2008 when he was only three weeks old.  He was recently adopted by a sweet couple from Australia.  His new Dad is a surfer, so maybe Rodan will take up the sport when he gets older.
 
Denise is a six month old girl. Her mom, a stay-in domestic helper (maid) was raped and could not take good care of Denise after she was born.  Denise was recently adopted locally by a couple who are both involved in business.
 
Loyd is a baby boy who was adopted in Dec. 2008 by another local couple involved in business.

Everest is a little boy who was adopted in June 2008, by a Filipino couple who are now pastoring a church,
 
There have been scores of other children come through Living Stones’ doors!  These are lives that have been changed forever to the glory of God.  Please consider making a donation to help Living Stones keep those doors open!  God bless you!