Sunday, after about a two hour jeepney ride, we arrived at our home for the next three weeks in Tondo, Philippines. We dropped off our packs and headed to church, which is in the dump. The garbage dump has homes built on top and trash and sewage everywhere. We are teaming with PCF(Philippine Christian Foundation), and this month we will help with the feeding program for the local families, working to clean up the garden area behind the church, building homes in the dump, and whatever else they need.
Today, we held and loved on the local children during church. They were dirty and smelly, but they lept into my lap, and I wrapped my arms around them. I was happy. This is the poorest place I have been, but it feels like we are “home”. I can’t really explain it, but there is beauty and joy here. Also, we helped in the toddler room, coloring and drawing. The children are so loving(although, some punched each other), but they just want to be loved. I held a small little boy and helped to feed him lunch. I loved it! He is so sweet.
After we finished up at PCF we had to get groceries for the week, and we went to the mall. It is always difficult to jump from the poor to the wealthy mall. Any thing you can think of was there. Nicer than most USA malls. We got to have a little fun walking around. We needed a little bit of a release after being in the garbage dump. So what did we do? Sarah and I sang karaoke with these men working at an electronic store. I don’t sing karaoke, but when in the Philippines…why not?! They were such great singers; we butchered the songs.
