This month we’re worked with street kids, average ages from 12 to 17, from Manila and bringing them up to the mountains for camps. Pouring out hope and loving them where they’re at. Some don’t have families, while others do but choose the freedom that comes with life on the street. They often turn to sniffing glue to suppress hunger and forget the pain inside. Girls turn to prostitution so they could have a place to stay and earn money for food.
The ministry has been working with them for couple of years now by bringing them up to a 3 day camp once a month. The first week was the boy’s camp, and the next was the girls. They go pick up 15 kids from the city, have them shower at camp, give them new clothes, and feed them. In the mornings they have devotional and then spend the rest of the day giving them as much attention as they can by playing basketball, painting their nails, braiding hair, haircuts, swimming at the river, bon fires, and watching movies. We’ve gotten to see seeds being planted, seeds that are growing, and see full harvest with lives changed 180 degrees! The Lord’s work is powerful and beautiful. One of the street boys lives and works at camp now and encourages and lightens their lives by pouring hope into the lives.
Yes, some turn back to their old habits after camp. But being persistent with them and loving them where they’re at makes them want to start a new life. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
But besides the main ministry we did have chores, which we divided amongst the teams. We had a cook team that would prepare meals, wash dishes and the kitchen floors. Another team would feed livestock and water plants, and clean around the camp site. We also had a project to work on painting a store our ministry hosts wanted to open for the community which is another way of reaching out to the locals.
Our ministry host Ryhan, has blessed me and our team this month. A man with a golden heart who works 24/7. He lives at the camp site with his wife and five young kids, cooking all meals for everyone, and is a pastor at the church. Honestly, without him none of this would have been running. His cooking…AMAZING! I got to learn from his cooking skills, and even stole some recipes.
Honestly, I can’t complain. My heart is content. My soul comes alive living in the mountains. One morning as I was talking with my Father and looking over the mountains He pointed out the bare patches and scattered fires amongst the green bushy mountains. His beautiful creation being destroyed. We too, try to destroy the beautiful life God has given us, and some of us have. But that’s why He pointed out those bare burnt patches and scattered fires. There is HOPE for recovery. God CAN and He WILL if you let Him. We can’t see the bigger picture, those big beautiful mountains and how we are destroying it. I hope for those reading this, I hope for the street kids, I hope for my loved ones, I hope for the world to believe in the bigger picture. Whether you are destroying, or you destroyed God can plant a new seed.
For there is hope.
