Welcome to The Spring of Marah Library

"Though God may, for a time, order his people to encamp by the waters of Marah, yet that shall not always be their lot. See how changeable our condition is in this world, from better to worse, from worse to better. Let us therefore learn both how to be abased and how to abound, to rejoice as though we rejoiced not when we are full, and to weep as though we wept not when we are emptied. Here were twelve wells for their supply, one for every tribe, that they might not strive for water, as their fathers had sometimes done; and, for their pleasure, there were seventy palm-trees, under the shadow of which their great men might repose themselves. Note, God can find places of refreshment for his people even in the wilderness of this world, wells in the valley of Baca, lest they should faint in their mind with perpetual fatigue: yet, whatever our delights may be in the land of our pilgrimage, we must remember that we do but encamp by them for a time...

"The greatest joys and hopes are soon turned into the greatest griefs and fears with those that live by sense only, and not by faith.

"God is to be acknowledged, not only in the creating of things useful for man, but in discovering their usefulness."

                     - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary on Exodus 15:22-27

Working for the enabling of a library was conceptualized several years ago (book collection also began), and ground breaking in December 15, 2009, and the foundation was laid down on January 5, 2010.

I am happy to share with you, that The Spring of Marah Library was consecrated and commissioned on Friday, December 17, 2010. In attendance, among several, were the priest of the local parish, several pastors of several denominations, barangay and municipal officials, the principal and several teachers of the local high school, and the leader of the indigenous Aetas and members of the community.

Full work began, the Monday following, although the library began serving the children since last July 2010.

I am very happy to report that beginning one week before its commissioning the library consistently registered between 80 to 95 students who used the library, and we consistently lent out over 100 books daily.

The library opens 20 hours per week for 4 days - to synchronize with the schedule of the local high school. The high school has about 900 students from 1st to 4th year, and there is an elementary school with about 600 students about half a kilometer down the road. The elementary school students may use the library but with adult supervision. As of the present the Library has over 12,000 books and magazines.

A librarian was found who began orientation work on Monday, January 3, 2011.

The library needs more books, especially the Filipiniana Section [that specializes on works and writings of Filipinos]. BOOK COLLECTION WILL CONTINUE. Anyone who desires to share in this effort; you may send books by Balikbayan boxes to the following:

Rolando & Ely Gange
Liningwan, Ma-abay
Sibunag, Guimaras, Philippines

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If you have relatives and friends in the Chicago area, they may deposit their books at the following places: (Sending them personally to the above address is preferred)

Isla Filipina Restaurant
c/o Bro. Rhay Espiritu,
773-968-1401

5-Star Health Care
c/o RWB Vince Cabrera
President, AFFI (Association of Filipino Freemasons in Illinois)
Cell 224-766-1423

The Library needs your help and prayers for continued usefulness.