The Gift in Giving (1st of 2 Parts)

CEBU, Philippines - The core of charity - of true charity, not just the act of giving loose change to a beggar then move on - is one which alienates those who are not familiar with it, but rewards those who are patient and in-the-know of what it truly means.

For the Brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor and volunteer advocates for its cause, the rewards have been bountiful, to the tune of what charity's true rewards are.

Established in 1981, the international monastic order of Brothers known as the Missionaries of the Poor (M.O.P.) has been of service to the poorest of the poor in different parts of the world, committed and dedicated to "Joyful service with Christ on the Cross."

With mission homes based in Jamaica, India, Haiti, Uganda, Kenya, the United States and in the Philippines, the first M.O.P.-maintained mission home in the Philippines is based in Naga (founded in 1993), with its 2nd mission home in the country located in Cebu (founded in 2004), now with sites in JM Basa Street, Sawang Calero, Cebu City and in Uldog Street, Poblacion, Talisay City, Cebu.

Home to a number of physically and mentally handicapped abandoned elderly destitutes, M.O.P. in Sawang Calero is also the base of the Little Lambs Center (LILAC), Cebu's first permanent residential facility exclusively catering to children suffering from multiple physical and mental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and Down's Syndrome.

"Since its opening in 2006, the Little Lambs Center has helped physically and mentally disabled children cope with the challenges and medical treatment necessary for their conditions, as well as helped parents who are not in the financial capacity to afford the proper treatment and care for their disabled children," shares Rev Brother Louima Israel, Director, Little Lamb Center.

"To date, our site is home to 40 disabled children and 32 elderly men, with the oldest of our residents aged 102 years old." Israel further shares.

With the Little Lamb Center's facilities capable of housing at least 60 children, the site is also the venue for Sunday Mass gatherings with the children and their parents, with priests from various congregations helping the Brothers. The center is also the venue where Catholic faith is taught to children, with catechism lesson modules for elementary and high school levels.

To date, the M.O.P. mission home in Sawang Calero can no longer accommodate any more elderly men, but operations in expanding its mission home facilities in Talisay, the Holy Cross Monastery, are geared to resolve the concern.

In living up to the core values which had founded M.O.P., the M.O.P. sites in Sawang Calero and in Talisay have done well in living up to the core values of true service and charity.

With the help of equally conscientious and genuinely helpful partners, the order continues to humbly spread Christ's true message, which has never been about telling us do's and don'ts, but has always been about empowering us in making decisions based on the Golden Rule.

For more information on how you can help those in need, the Missionaries of the Poor mission homes in Cebu is located in JM Basa Street, Sawang Calero, Cebu City (Tel no 261-0017) and in Uldog Street, Poblacion, Talisay City (Tell no 516-9697).