Sidney Haren: Journey to the Phillippines

Hello, Brethren friends! My name is Sidney Haren, and I am a proud member of the Ivester Church of the Brethren in Eldora, Iowa. I’m also a recent graduate of Iowa State University, and while my academic adventure has come to a close, a new adventure awaits: spending six months in the Philippines.

As a teenager, I began to feel God nudging me to serve. Participating in Brethren workcamps all over the nation planted a special seed in my heart; a passion for serving others. Over the years, God watered that seed by showing me how much loving your neighbor can make a difference. Now, I feel God calling me to one of the 7,641 Filipino islands to volunteer at the Village of Hope Philippines.

On November 11th, I will board an airplane in Des Moines, Iowa, and streamline to Chicago, South Korea and Cebu before boarding a boat to Bohol, the island on which I will serve. Village of Hope is an orphanage in Talibon comprised of four different houses that are home to 10-12 children and a house parent, and I will stay at one of four locations from November to April. My plans involve assisting the house parents, spending time with the children and using my journalism degree to help Village of Hope better tell its story. The orphanage is located in an area with few Christians, however the leaders in this particular community are dedicated to God’s teachings.

As we sing at camp each summer (shout-out to Camp Pine Lake!), “Love is something when you give it away.” I very much look forward to using my spiritual gifts on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. I hope to be a conduit for God on this journey; allowing his light to shine through me in the Philippines.