Beauty in Tondo

He was precious. He smiled up at me and caught my hand in his little one. Then he pointed to the moon in the sky, and said “Look!” with great excitement and joy. He looked at me and pointed again, and we stood staring at the moon shining in the sky, at the stars all around it. Turning to me, he reached his arms out to me and I picked him up. He once again pointed to the moon. We started at it, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. As I hummed softly, he laid his head down on my shoulder. Within minutes, he was asleep. It was peaceful. It was wonderful. It was beautiful.

Beautiful. In the midst of Tondo, one of the ugliest, dirtiest, smelliest places I have ever been. Walking into Tondo, you would wonder if there is anything beautiful, if God is even in a place like this. A place of darkness. A place where trash litters the streets and has blackened and stilled the river. A place where sewage water rises and floods the streets. A place where murders take place in broad daylight and violence happens each day. A place where prostitutes stand at the corner each night and children run through the streets unattended.

This month has been hard. No, hard isn’t the right word. This place has been draining. It is not a peaceful place.  Tondo never seems to sleep. We fall asleep to the karaoke down the street and wake up to the roosters crowing and dogs barking at 3am. There is noise and busyness all day and all night. You can’t escape it. Much of the month has been spent battling sickness, exhaustion, and frustration.

But then, God will give us a beautiful moment. A beautiful moment like the sweet child in your arms who fell asleep looking at the moon. The moon God created. The moon God placed in the sky to remind us that He is here. To remind us there is beauty in the ugly streets of Tondo.