I am so happy to be back in the Philippines. When I came here in May of 2012 a little boy told me to beware the first night because I was going fall in love with this place and I would have to come back. He was right. I fell in love with this country and am so excited to be back. If God ever calls me to do long term missions overseas I am pretty confident this is the place he will call me to.
I love our ministry this month. I love the contacts we are working with and just the vision they have for the street kids. We are working at a drop-in center where currently about 15 youth age kids come to shower, eat, go to school and to hang out. The goal is to get these kids off the streets, off the drugs they are addicted to and to give them an education so they can change the course of their life. It works on a child by child basis. Currently there is one boy who is off the drugs and living in the house and one girl who is not addicted to drugs but has two younger siblings that are (who come to the center). Her siblings rarely come home and if she goes home without them she is beaten. A lot of these kids are physically abused at home, a lot of the kids come from very poor families where their parents cannot afford to feed them. The stories I have heard about what these kids have been through breaks my heart and I just want to show them the love and redemptive power of Christ.
This month has shown me what perseverance looks like. The people who work at street light ministries are some of the most patient, graceful and most dedicated people I know. It takes A LOT of love, energy and patience to change the course of the lives for these children. Quite frequently there will be fights or angry outburst by the kids, sometimes a kid can be making progress saying they want to change their lives but then something happens or there is a moment of weakness and they are back on the drugs. Some of these kids don’t see hope for their future. But step-by-step, little by little these missionaries are helping these kids reclaim ground that was lost for them. They are showing them the love and grace of Christ and the plans that God has for their future. They are showing they love and care about each kid and want to change the course of each kids life.
It is very tempting for me to want to quit the race and stay here with these kids. I know that the race is where I need to be and where God wants to use me but that doesn’t make the thought of leaving these kids any easier. I am not with these kids for a long period of time. I can’t stay with them through the journey of transformation they are or make a lasting impact the way the missionaries here can but there are some things I can do. I can help with maintenance and yard work of the center to relieve that burden from contacts, I can support and encourage the people at street light ministries giving them strength and perseverance to continue. I can be an extra set of hands to give these kids love and attention and let them know that there are people who love them, who are rooting for them and who want to see their lives changed for the better. One month is not a lot of time but it is enough time.
Thank-you for everyone who has been supporting me and encouraging me. I love hearing from each of you and your words and prayers mean a lot. Thank-you for everyone who has supported me and made this trip possible. My next deadline is December 1 and I need 11 000. You can donate by clicking on the support me link on the right hand side of my blog. Thanks again!
