Let me let you in on one of our jobs that
we get to do while in the Philippines. We are working with a new organization
Food for the Hungry. One of the things that they have asked us to do, is to go
to the houses of children that are being sponsored and interview them, and take
pictures. I was so excited to know that we were going to have the opportunity
to do this and then write success stories, and update stories on these kids.
But what I didn’t realize is that I my heart would be so broken for these kids.
We traveled to 3different communities today. One of which was in the middle of
a cemetery. Pretty freaky, but I hiked through the weird smells and got through
it.
I want you to read of a couple of stories
that just stole my heart today. The first one, her name is Donna who is 12years
old. I was the interviewer for my group, so I was really excited. Donna has
been in the sponsorship program since 2006. When I first saw her I noticed
something just wasn’t right and there was something that she was holding in. So
I began to ask the few questions that I knew I had to ask, then I really
started to ask her questions about life. That is when she told me. Her parents
had separated, and her mom completely left her and moved. Donna ended up moving
in with her aunt who already has kids, and is continuing to go to school. When
Donna isn’t in school, she is taking care of her cousins. As she was telling me
her story, she began to cry. The minute she told me she had been left, my heart
dropped. She just cried through most of my interview with her. When I asked her
if she could have any dream in the whole wide world what would it be? She told
me that all she wanted was to be with her mom. Can you imagine? I looked in her
house that she is living in, it is like a shack I would say, where they cook is
across the street, and most American bedrooms are bigger than her whole house.
Imagine a mom, dad, and about 5kids living in something that small. Make you
think a little more. But the warm feeling you get when you enter into one of
their houses is priceless. I had the honor of sitting down with a family in a
small little room, and watched how all they wanted to do was make me feel
comfortable when yet, they are struggling so bad and some don’t even know when
they will get there next meal.
The 2nd story I want to tell you
about is about a valedictorian names Virgel. He lives in a REALLY REALLY poor area but is
just the smartest little boy. So many times we look at our status quo and think
that we will never amount to anything. This boy changed my life. As I was talking
to a boy the age of 12yrs old. I felt like I was talking to a high school
graduate. His English was so proper and well spoken, and if anything he taught
me a lot. It was such an honor to interview someone who doesn’t let where they
come from affect there future. When I asked him who his role model was, he told
me his parents. He understood that they worked REALLY hard to give him the best
even though its not really anything. I asked him again, if he could look up to
ANYONE even be a famous person who would it be. He told me again his parents.
Then I asked him if he could give advice to other people what would it be and
he then gave me a quote that blew my mind that someone his age would even
articulate so well.”Keep your feet on the ground, always be humble and pray to
God.” Then I asked him what other advice would you give to anyone. He then told
me “Word are powerful, choose good inspiring words.” These might sound like
simple quotes, but the way this little boy spoke them so clearly and you could
tell that he really meant it at such a young age blew me away. When I was
asking him about his future, he told me, “I want to try and have an
interpersonal relationship with others so I can see and know those less fortunate.”
REALLY?!? This little boy has his focus WAY off of himself. He wasn’t coming
from a wealthy home,but He wasn’t going to let that stop him from helping
others. I was so honored to have interviewed him. I was very challenged by a
12yr old. Because of the sponsorship
program he is able to go to school and get an education.
The last and final story I want to share
with you is of a parent interviewed that lives in the middle of the cemetery.
Her son is in high school, but really cant go to high school because of his
asthma is SO bad it’s a stage 4. She told me that the other day during the
typhoon he had an asthma attack at 2am. They had to find transportation and
take him in for a treatment, because in the community that they live in,they
don’t do treatments and to buy a machine it is to much. As I was interviewing I
felt like I needed to ask more about the machine and cost. So I did. And the
thing about me, is ive seen a lot of poverty, ive seen a lot of people in need.
But I just COULDN’T let this one slide by. So I found out that when they go to
the hospital, they have to pay for transportation, and the medications, but the
machine is free. I thought to myself, how much more would they save if I could
get him his own machine because his asthma is so bad. I talked to a couple of
my teammates and we will be purchasing a machine for him, and some medicines to
get him started. So at the end of our stay here we will be able to bless them.
It is way cheaper here than in the states. With jobs being bad here and fathers
finding it hard to get jobs, I feel like this is going to really help this
particular family out. I don’t tell you this to get credit, I tell you this
because God loves this little boy enough to send us to be able to bless him.
There was just something about this lady that we knew we had to do more.
I am LOVING this part of my mission here.
It’s what im passionate about. My heart breaks for people, but at the same time
I rejoice knowing that just because they aren’t in the best of situations that
they are still dreaming and succeeding. I cant wait to continue to interview
more! I am SO excited about this part of my mission here. I cant believe our
time here will be coming to an end in a week and a half. Thanks for all your
prayers.
