The street boys of Manila
When we walked up to them, I was completely overwhelmed. We had come into the city of Manila to pick up a group of boys that live on the streets and bring them back to Camp New Beginnings for a 3 day retreat. In total there were 17 of them. When we walked up to their group, the boys were very hyper and excited to see us. My first impression and reaction to them was perhaps a typical American reaction and not one that I am proud of. They were extremely dirty, they smelled, had lice, and some of them were high. I didn’t want them to touch me and I clung to my belongings so they wouldn’t steal them. I knew in my mind that this wasn’t the reaction I should have, this was surely not how Jesus would react.
Slowly my heart started to soften, realized that these were also God’s children, and I became humbled. Crossing a busy street of insane traffic, some of the boys grabbed my hands and led me across to make sure I made it safely. I began to see that these boys were actually sweet and caring, despite their hard outside appearance. As we stood in line for the jeepney, I watched some of the boys take their last huffs before throwing away their bottles and rags. I also watched as some older street girls gathered some of them to give them solvents to take, she was a ringleader of sorts. This made me angry. These young boys were clearly being led astray and other than yell for Rhayan to intervene, there was nothing I could really do. People huffing solvents is not something new, I’ve seen it in every third world country I’ve been in. They huff things like glue and perfumes to get high and take the hunger pains and reality of life away. It allows them to forget for a short time about their pain and struggles, but what they really need to understand is there is someone greater (God) who can take that pain away and heal them.
On the jeepney rides to get back to camp, I continued to be softened. I could see a clear change in the boys’ demeanor. You could actually see their facial expressions become softer and their guards go down because they knew they were safe and going to be cared for. They would get showers, clean clothes, 3 meals a day, clean bedding, ministered to, and have lots of play time to just be kids. At one point, Rhayan bought them a snack from a street vendor (large piece of ensaymada) and he split it up and handed it out. Some of the boys took a bite and then turned to us and offered it. How sweet was that! These boys who were clearly starving, still had the sincerity and unselfishness to make sure we were taken care of. When we switched jeepneys in Cogeo, I could see how loyal these boys are, even to a stranger like me. It was night time, and it isn’t very safe for us to be out on the streets at that hour. One little boy in particular, Renzo, would not let me out of his sight. He would come up behind me and give me hugs and always wanted to hold my hand so he could make sure I was safe. I appreciated this. I was very humbled by the fact that this little boy didn’t know me at all, but was caring enough to show me love and protect me.
My favorite moment of the day was when we got off at the stop near the camp, in the pitch dark, and we walked down the dirt road hand in hand under the starts. I had absolutely no idea where I was or what I was stepping on, but that didn’t really matter because I knew that this 12 year old wouldn’t let anything happen to me. We had only just met these boys, but I was already learning a lesson in love and unselfishness. It’s funny how you can go into a situation thinking you are going to minister to someone, and they end up teaching you the lesson.
Throughout the approx. 3 days they stayed with us at camp, we: Prepared meals for them, served them, played games (football, soccer, rope swing, dance competition, scavenger hunt), hiked and had devotionals at sunrise, built a bonfire, watched movies, had Bible lessons from Rhayan, and lots of conversation and quality time. I enjoyed learning more about some of these boys and watching them just get to act their own age and be kids. Several of them are in street gangs (in a week we will have boys from the rival gang). Some of them are in school, others have dropped out. Many of them have families/relatives with homes, but their home life is so bad that they choose to live on the street. They are some of the sweetest boys when they are placed in an environment where they can just be kids. It’s heartbreaking to think about how they live on the streets and the hardship and struggle that brings, but I’m thankful that there is a growing ministry like this that is taking the time to minister to these children. Rhayan and his youth pastors do a phenomenal job here! For more information on the work that is going on here, you can visit Grow International Ministries website.
If you could keep my team and our hosts in your prayers that would be appreciated. Please pray for this ministry to have God’s favor. For myself/team, adjusting to life living on the race is extremely difficult and we have had many struggles with the transition. Please pray for strength, peace, God’s guidance, and that we can overcome our struggles.
