As the sun is starting to set on the afternoon Carly and I sat and talked with Atte Emily (Miles) about the story of baby Jason. We were winding through the streets of a new province we have yet to drive through since getting to Cainta Rizal. She began telling us the story of how Team Malachi had come some time ago and found him. She explained that he was born with a severe cleft palate and that when they first met him he was extremely malnourished; they were worried that he would never be able to get enough nutrients to survive.
After about 30 minutes of winding in and out of small streets and alleyways, we came to a parking spot where we got out and walked the rest of the way between homes and buildings to get to Jason. About five minutes later we got to his home. Hands down, one of the most adorable babies I've ever seen and played with in my life. There is just such an immense joy inside of him. It definitely gave light to the idea of a childlike innocence. He could care less that he had a malformation or that he's had a hard life or that his whole family of 8 lives in a small room and shares 1 bed every night for rest.
Baby Jason is the youngest of 6 children, he has two older brothers ages 10 & 11, and three older sisters one that's 7 and the other two twins that are 3. Both his Mom and Dad are fortunate have a job, however his dad works as a sewer for a polo company (they do all of the uniforms for a local popular restaurant) so this means that he only gets to be at home with his family one day a week because his job is so far away and transportation is too expensive. This means that Jason's mom takes care of all 6 children by herself along with working her job every day. Their combined income per month is only about P10,000, which translates into roughly $300.
$300 to pay for bills, special milk for Jason because he still needs lot of nutrients to make up for not being able to breast feed normally, pay for their 3 older children to be in school, transportation to get to work, food for the family and whatever medical expenses come along the way.
As we sat and talked with this family about their lives and struggles they face every day, they answered every question with a smile knowing that Jesus is good, but when Emily (Miles) told them that Operation Smile had agreed to look at baby Jason to take care of his procedure to fix his cleft palate they knew in that very moment the grace and mercy of Christ. His mom just sat there slack jawed with the slight giggle that comes right before tears of joy. They were so happy. You could see the relief come over them. The peace of Christ rested in their inner beings, and every struggle they knew in that moment disappeared.
As we walked away from our time with them the sun was setting over their province and the glory of the Lord illuminated the rooftops of the homes with justice for this family.
So as I sit here telling you the story of baby Jason and a snippet of his life, I sit before you joyous at the thought that Team Liberators gets to be an integral part of the ultimately God ordained puzzle as we travel with Jason and his family on Saturday to be checked and cleared for surgery some time in the near future.
Can't wait to tell you how Saturday goes!
Baby Jason!
Carly and Jason
Jason loves playing Superman
I loved being his cape
The whole family
The sunset
