They're Rugby Boys, Don't You Know? in Christian Books Only Review Group

Dec 22, 2014 Angela Castillo rated it it was amazing

Natalie Vallecott, a Christian Police Sergeant from England agreed to join a Logos Hope team on a ship to bring Christian literature to the world. What was intended to be a routine stop of three weeks at a port in the Philippines turned into a stop for repairs that lasted for months. During that time, Natalie's life was forever changed by a group of 'invisible' street children known as the Rugby boys.

Rugby was an addictive substance these boys would use to get high on during the day because it h ...more

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Feb 17, 2017 Eric rated it liked it

A while ago, Natalie friended me on Goodreads, but I never figured out what the connection was. She seemed like an interesting person with a heart for mission and people, so I thought the connection may be OK and accepted her request.

I've been doing domestic US mission work for over 20 years, and international missions for 14, always short term of about a weeks or just a little more. Her experience in the Philippine's sounded intriguing so I read her book while on a pleasure cruise this past wee A while ago, Natalie friended me on Goodreads, but I never figured out what the connection was. She seemed like an interesting person with a heart for mission and people, so I thought the connection may be OK and accepted her request.

I've been doing domestic US mission work for over 20 years, and international missions for 14, always short term of about a weeks or just a little more. Her experience in the Philippine's sounded intriguing so I read her book while on a pleasure cruise this past week. This was oddly fun that it was while on a ship (a connection), yet fairly posh and comfortable (a contrast) compared to her experience. Life is short, so finding fun ways to connect to stories is always more exciting. ;-)

With this in context, the book had many interesting layers, which I'll try to touch while not giving things away.

First, the writing is very casual. It looks like she took her journal entries and compiled them for this book. There are a few proofing errors, but this was more annoying than a real problem. She also used a lot of passive voice and past tense. I think the exciting parts of the book could benefit from some more movement in the language, which puts the burden on the reader to feel the emotions of her experiences, which I'll get to later. ;-)

Next, her identifying herself as a missionary. She started out very naive and challenging in her time in Olongapo, Philippines. Her understanding of mission and the needs of poor countries was rudimentary at best. I should also say I didn't research the ship she was on, as she referenced that mission and experience in another book. I was, however, left wanting as the mission she was sent on seemed very odd and counterproductive, while I need to share also that she grew through this in her experiences. Here is where I would love to know more! She may have been naive in the beginning, but her passion for people comes through, even if not in the language of the written page. She has some great ideas, and is not one to take 'no' for an answer when facing problems. I loved the way she engaged the community and found ways to make a difference when things seemed hopeless - and I'll stop here to keep from sharing spoilers which are worth the wait.

Her Christian faith is what drives her call to help the boys she meets in Olongapo. Her view of Christianity seems very simple, if deep. Natalie has almost no understanding of other faiths, and especially their own calls to service. She has a warm faith, herself, and shares it with a passion in what she does. My faith may be similar, yet different, in that I've seen (and in many ways instructed by) people of other faiths, and even no faith, who have similar passions and stories.

Natalie's story is one worth following, and one I will continue to include in my rounds of following missionaries and faith work in the world. She seems like an amazing gift to those in need, and I pray she continues to grow in her journey of both mission and faith. ...more

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Sep 10, 2015 S.R. Piccoli rated it really liked it

“The things described here are the grateful response of a Christian who has been rescued from a life of sin and death and reconciled to God for a life of hope and an eternal future in heaven.” That’s what the Author says in the biographical note (“Natalie’s Personal Story”) at the end of her book. In fact, Natalie Vellacott believed God’s promise that, ‘All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved’. And “God, by His grace, planted true faith in my heart and I determined to live a new life “The things described here are the grateful response of a Christian who has been rescued from a life of sin and death and reconciled to God for a life of hope and an eternal future in heaven.” That’s what the Author says in the biographical note (“Natalie’s Personal Story”) at the end of her book. In fact, Natalie Vellacott believed God’s promise that, ‘All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved’. And “God, by His grace, planted true faith in my heart and I determined to live a new life before Him,” as she herself recalls a few lines above.

Miss Vellacott, a former English Police Sergeant turned missionary to the Philippines, describes in her book, They’re Rugby Boys, Don’t You Know? how she unexpectedly encountered and fell in love with a group of street teenage boys addicted to what the locals call “rugby”—a solvent used for repairing shoes in the Philippines which also has the effect, if inhaled, to temporarily ease hunger and depression, and is known to be one of the major causes of addiction to teenagers and even children.

The book chronicles some of Natalie’s ups and downs, victories and frustrations of dealing with the “rugby boys,” the many mistakes she made and the many lessons she’s learned along the way. To her each one of the boys was worth God’s love and hers as well. “My biggest piece of advice,” she writes, “is ‘start small.’ One of the smallest things we did which had the biggest impact was to learn the names of the boys and to use them. Whoever God calls you to help, I encourage you to treat them as individuals and demonstrate through this that their lives are important. Constantly remind them that it is God who loves them and that this is the reason for your concern. Don’t expect dramatic change straight away, but; be Patient, Persevere, and Pray.”

They’re Rugby Boys is an inspiring read, it’s thought-provoking, emotional, and uplifting. I am very happy to have read it.

This book is not for profit and all royalties will be paid directly to “Olongapo Christian Help and Hope” for the ongoing support of the ministry.
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Oct 12, 2016 Josiah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: christian, 20th-century-ad, nonfiction-pacific

Plot: B
Writing: C
Vocabulary: C
Illustrations: none
Level: Easy
Rating: PG (children living on the streets, drug abuse, petty crime)
Worldview: Street people may be invisible, but they are cherished by G-D and so we should do the same.

This book tells some of the adventures missionary Natalie Vellacott had while stationed with the ship Logos Hope in Subic Bay, Philippines. She writes about her outreach to a gang of street boys she encountered while working in at a book fair on a city bridge. This rea ...more

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Jul 08, 2017 Christabelle added it

I am so thankful for this book. In it, we see the persistent love of God poured out on the "invisible" children of Olongapo in the Philippines. These are boys addicted to a substance called "rugby" that they take while living on the streets. Natalie personifies Jesus as she seeks to redeem the boys from their circumstances when they can offer nothing in return. Her faith takes on feet as she seeks to minister to "the least of these." But the story also takes on heartbreak as not everyone is cont ...more

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Dec 23, 2014 Hock Tjoa rated it really liked it

This was an engrossing read even though the story had no plot and the characters were many and did not “develop.” The staff of the Logos Hope persisted in this first person narrative through repeated stories of glue sniffing abuse, petty theft, and not so petty willfulness and abandonment.

Conventional wisdom says that to do the same thing repeatedly expecting different results is the very definition of insanity. Yet what the author speaks of is repeated acts of compassion and constant prayer for ...more

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Aug 11, 2015 Joshua Jones rated it really liked it

Have you ever read the book The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson? If so, then you have an idea of what sort of book this is. It recounts Natalie’s unexpected journey to group of street boys in the Philippines. The term ‘rugby’ doesn’t denote that they boys are into sports, but rather refers to chemicals they were sniffing to get high.

Natalie’s pastoral heart comes out all throughout the book. She cares for each one of these boys - the stories of 10+ are described or referred to. For ...more

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Jul 30, 2015 Erica Kramer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Every now and then I come across a book that moves me not because of how it was written but because what WAS written. This book is such a book. Natalie did a great job of transporting me right into the Phillipines with her. I could smell the polluted water, see the bridge in which they situated themselves and the boys being mischievous in the neighborhood. I felt the hopes and pains Natalie felt. I was truly drawn into the lives of "the Rugby boys."

This is a great and moving read. All Christians ...more

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