“I see you”–God. These are the words that God has spoken to me through squad mates and through the feedings that we have been able to be a part of. This month our main focus for ministry has been directed at going into many parts of the city to bring food to the community. Every Saturday, we get split into different teams and go into different parts of the city asking the Lord to direct our path to where He wants us to go. The goal is to make connections with parts of the community who need feedings so the ministry, KIM, will be able to work with them after we are gone. We have also been learning how to prepare the food to help take some of the weight off of the host.
This past Saturday, the team I was with was prepared to meet with a pastor at a nearby church. Once taking a trike, a jeepney, then another trike, we successfully made it to the neighborhood we were directed to. It ended up being a middle-class neighborhood and no one had ever heard of the church we were searching for. But naturally God showed up. A woman in the neighborhood informed us of a squatter community that was also located in the neighborhood. We walked to the dead-end she told us to go to and felt like she may have been lying because there was no way another entire community could be anywhere near there. It was pretty much a Harry Potter moment where they get to the Hogwarts train station by running through the train column between 9 and ¾. We went into a tucked away alleyway on the right into what seemed like a completely different world. As soon as the 6 of us entered in, we were obviously some of the first people to have come that did not live there. We went into the center of the area and within seconds, there were a little over 100 people that came out of their houses to see what was going on. One thing that God always reminds me in my life is that we should live with as much joy and excitement as children do. Despite the poverty that was so evident in this community, the kids came running up to us with massive smiles on their faces, giggling, and wanting us to entertain in any way we could. While 4 of us played with the kids, 2 others went around trying to find a pastor or church inside the community. We found out pretty fast that the kids were pumped to show off their English skills. I don’t think I will ever forget the sound of the collective chant of counting to 100 between these kids. It amazes me with how much hope and happiness these people have. It was a huge reminder to me that God sees all and wants to reach everyone. He simply asks us to go and He will lead us to exactly where we need to be. I am praying that all of these people will hear God say to them “I see you.”
We found out that there was no pastor or church but did get to talk to what seemed like the coordinator of the town. She was extremely interested in partnering with KIM to do feedings they so desperately need. This month has been stretching for me in the fact I have not personally felt God’s presence until a few nights ago. A squad mate spoke the words “I see you” over me saying that the Lord said that was something He laid on her heart for me to hear. He is so good and always so sovereign. We are His children. He loves us. He cares for us in the midst of troubles. He seeks us. He sees us.
Please pray that everything will be aligned where KIM and this community can partner up to do feedings and also that they will come to know the Lord and His love for them.
