This month my team and another team are working with Camp New Beginnings in the town of San Mateo, Philippines. The camp is a couple hour jeepney ride from the loud hustle of city life in Manila, into the quiet green hills. It is located down the road from a community full of welcoming people who constantly smile and wave as we walk by. Little children with dirt-stained shirts and bare bottoms shout “hhheeeelllllllloooo!” during our stroll down the path to the community basketball court. The walk may stop suddenly for a goat or chicken that crosses the road—a water buffalo may pop out of what was thought to be a mud puddle. Children hold your hand, dance, jump, run or play. Adults start up conversations and welcome you into their home and life. People remember your name after meeting you just briefly. This place is special. There is a peace and a joy here.
The camp property is a place that is made to feel the presence of God. From every corner of the property you are surrounded by the green hills, varying trees, leaves 6-10 feet tall, birds of paradise and sunny blue skies. There is a stillness here. It feels safe. It encourages getting to know God better and to find your identity in Him. It has been a place to enjoy living with 14 other Racers as well as our host, Ryan and his family. There is a feeling of community here.
Camp New Beginnings was started as a place where boys who live on the street can come and experience God’s love. The owners of the camp, Mike and Natalie go into the city a lot to spend time with the boys and to build relationships with them. They also hold a clinic for woman and children at the camp on Wednesdays. Ideas for the camp continued to expand over the years; and a farm and garden were added. They hope to also start having church services and have a coffee corner here. Something that stuck with me the first day I met Mike and Natalie was their vision for the camp. They emphasized being out in the community and just spending time with people. He talked about showing people God’s love through building relationships with them—that it isn’t about numbers or statistics; but about taking the time to build a foundation of trust with the boys. It’s a simple thing that I think churches can lose focus on back home.
This past week started with gathering bamboo, fixing the pig pens, helping weld a gate, digging a hole for a catfish pond, building bamboo nests for chickens to lay their eggs and working in the garden. The joy in this place even came through as we spent the day shoveling a large hole. On Wednesday we were able help in the clinic and with child care. We decided to do something fun and gave pedicures while the woman waited to be seen in the clinic. It was so fun to get to know the woman in the community a little while we washed their feet with essential oils, massaged their feet and painted their toes fun colors. There is love here.
Later in the week, boys left the city’s streets and joined us at the camp for three days. The days were filled–playing soccer, tossing a football, running an obstacle course, playing with a toy made from coins, sermons, chess, basketball, juggling, worships, bonfires, and scavenger hunts. We all had a blast. I feel lucky to have met these boys. They have tough lives; and yet really love and depend on one another. When they had food and water, they would offer what they had to others—making sure everyone had some. They would use each other as pillows and would check each other for lice. They added so much happiness to the camp. They reminded me that we are all human, sometimes make mistakes and that God loves us through everything. That our lives are not so different.
I am so thankful that I have a few more weeks of serving here.
