His name is Dagul. He is 7 years old.
He lives on the streets of Manila, begging for food and money.
He came to the camp with no shoes on and dirty clothes.
His hair is streaked with red/rust color, a telltale sign of malnutrition.
Some of the kids say his parents were killed, but we don’t know for sure.
Others say his mom does cocaine and gives it to him as well.
He doesn’t interact much; when we talk to him he doesn’t respond, and when he does talk his words and sentences don’t make much sense. He sleeps a lot, more than he should.
The other kids say he’s a little crazy… I think I would be too if I had been through everything he’s lived through in his short life of 7 years.
My heart is breaking.
I wish more than anything I could help him, I could give him a safe home, a family, the care and proper nutrition he needs.
The boys spent 3 days at our camp, and during that time I loved on him, held him, and prayed for him as much as I could.
Dagul’s story is only one of so many kids who live on the streets. I wonder, who decides our lot in life? Why do some kids grow up addicted to drugs and begging on the streets, while others grow up with everything they could need or want, and a loving family, like I did?
I long for justice in their situations. It’s hard to believe that God is good when there are children suffering and life seems so unfair for them.
But God’s heart is breaking too. These are His children and He longs for the day when He can gather them into His arms and there will be no more pain or suffering or tears.
“He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor…..
For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and those who have no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; precious is their blood in His sight.”
-Psalm 72:4, 12-14
