Last week there was a fire that ravished a community of squatters in Manila. 150 “homes” burnt to the ground. A community of people lost everything they had… which wasn’t very much to begin with. One of the people amongst the many is Joy. Joy is 17 years old, although when I first saw her, I guessed 9, maybe 10. Joy is probably just over 5 feet tall, with arms and legs the size of 3 of my fingers put together. Her bones are seen protruding sharply from her skin, and she wears several hand-made bracelets to try and cover her tiny little wrists.
Joy is one of eight children. Their mother, Rebecca, is a widow, and has worked as hard as she can to provide for her family, most weeks falling shy of the necessary funds. Unlike America, when I say necessary, I literally mean NEEDS…. food, clean water, shelter, and clothes. For Rebecca, and many other families in the Philippines, eating 3 meals a day of plain white rice would be a dream come true, if only they could afford it.
Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy road for Rebecca and her children. Losing a husband/father, fighting to provide enough food and clean water on a daily basis, and then on top of all that, a fire comes along and burns down their 5×6 meter one-room shack that 7 of them called home.
Last night, Joy came to stay with us at the Yun Jin Ministry Center. Although very shy and very sad, she is being accompanied by a Filipina staff member of the Jeepney magazine, a local street magazine, to get nursed back to health. She is severely malnourished, has some form of arthritis, and quite possibly, a long list of other infections and illnesses. She will be making a trip to see the doctor soon to get blood work and other tests done.
Unfortunately, this morning we received even worse news. Joy’s mother was hit by a car last night and is now in the hospital. Just when it seems like it can’t get any worse, this family continues getting attacked from every angle! We don’t know many details about Rebecca at this time, but we have been told she is in stable condition. We have also decided to refrain from telling Joy at this point, because she is already having such a hard time as it is.
Right now, Joy, Rebecca, the rest of their family, and those caring for her here at K.I.M would dearly appreciate all your prayers for this family and for others affected by the fire as well. Several people here, including short-term workers from Korea, Hong Kong, America, as well as long-term works associated with the Jeepney magazine and K.I.M have already begun to step up to the plate and help as much as we can. Last week we were able to bring hundreds of bottles of water and some clothes to those affected by the fire. This week they have begun working to rebuild a home for Rebecca, Joy, and their family.
If you would like to send any money to go straight towards relief for these families, I would be more than happy to get that money right to whom it needs to go… it is a long road ahead of rebulding, medical expenses, and food needed to nurse this family (among others) back to health. Please do not understimate the necessity and importance of your money when put to a good cause. I’ve used this example several times but I don’t think anyone has really quite gotten yet…. the money you spend on eating out ONE meal is roughly equivelent to feeding a large family for a week.
We like to think we don’t have money a lot of the times. I’m guilty of it too; saying I’m broke. But the truth is, we don’t know what broke is. And we don’t know what it’s like to go hungry. But we can help someone who does. If you would like to send any money at all, to help get food, medical attention, shelter, and clothes for these people. Please, send a check to my mom, Jackie Albaugh, at 11392 Magnolia St, Corona, CA 92883. My mom will deposit the money into my account so that I can use the money here to begin providing for their NEEDS. Can you skip one meal out this week?
