Filipinos and other missionaries, even those sent out by ACM, the Asian Center for Missions, have given up family, friends, and indeed the usual in life, to serve God.

But their sacrifice is not in vain. In fact, their work is making a tremendous difference in the lives of the people they serve.

Tutunwin and other Burmese refugees like him don't mind walking for one whole hour just to get to a particular meeting point. Here, a total of 148 children are picked up by Filipino missionaries Roselyn Sanchez and Pappet Amihan and are brought to the Elpis School for tribal children.

"Elpis" is the Greek word for hope. It is a fitting name for the school because it has given new hope for these Burmese children, and their families who have sought refuge in Thailand. By faith, Elpis School was built by Roselyn and Pappet with the help of the children and their families.

Teacher Pappet describes the incredible change that the school has brought the children who have been displaced and traumatized by the war in Burma. She said, “If your mind is captured by fear, it’s not open to learning, and they have this traumatic syndrome in their mind.”

But as the children came daily to this school, their fear vanished.

Pappet explained why, “They see us, everyday, show them the love of the Lord. Eventually they open up. And as they open up, their emotions and their minds become open to learning.”

She added, “Some of our students love school so much they cannot understand why we have to close school Saturday and Sunday or even have a summer break.”

This same enthusiasm for learning can be seen at the New Hope School for orphans in a remote place in Cambodia. There, another Filipino missionary, Alice Asong runs the orphanage.

She shares how she struggled at first to do the ministry God had Called her to do, “I cried because I didn't have the heart for orphans. Besides, I found out the area I’d be in is the hideaway of rapists and murderers. But when I learned that some of the children had parents who died of HIV, and some were abandoned, and others about to be sold as prostitutes, then I felt great compassion for these orphans.”

Aside from health and sanitation, Alice taught the children how to speak English. But more important, Alice taught them how to talk to God in prayer.

The children learned to pray even at dawn and their prayers yielded big answers: a new fence, a water pump, and healing for the sick children.

It’s only been two years since Alice, Pappet, and Roselyn began their ministries among the orphans and the displaced children of war, but already their work has borne much fruit.

And, who knows, from among these children may rise the future leaders who’ll make this world a better place. All it takes are people willing to heed God's Call on their lives.