As I explained in my last update, the story behind The Iselin Center deserves a full post.
Ministries Without Borders Philippines Inc. was established by Noralv and Tone Askeland, from Norway, eight years ago when they felt the call from God to work among the poor and needy in the country.
Noralv's niece Iselin Østerholt had visited the Philippines and seen the work that MWB were doing there. She was particularly touched by the work in Mindoro-seeing how the new center reached out to the poor, especially the indigenous people. She was planning on returning to the Philippines to work, but a month before her trip she sadly died in a terrible accident whilst walking in the mountains with her father. Her parents Kari and Lars Martin Østerholt wanted to honour her wish of helping the poor in Mindoro, so at her funeral they explained that any money donated would go towards the work in Mindoro she had so wanted to be a part of. As a result the Health Center was financed and given the name Iselin Center in her memory.
The center is
used as a birth clinic, medical center, health information and a dental
office to people who have no money to pay for such services.
Her parents continue to help the work in Mindoro-financially and practically. She is a dentist and he has a master in business administration, and they come to the Philippines for two weeks every year along with some friends and volunteer their services in many of the projects.
It was great to meet them and spend the past to weeks working alongside them-seeing their strength that can only be from God, and the passion they have for the ongoing work here in the Philippines.
Two of the women helped to give birth to their babies in the Iselin Center.
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