This past week, Team Gozo and Team PLJ had the privilege to go into Tondo(the garbage dump) and Navotas(the city within the cemetery) and build a house. We split into teams, and PLJ went to Navotas.
We were sent to help Berlita, an elderly woman, who lived in a house that really wasn’t a house. There wasn’t a roof, just layers of plastic bags, sticks, signs, and scrap tarps to cover her head. It was “built” right on the low level of trash, and the ground was wet and soggy. We helped to tear down the house she was living in. Inside she had very little; we took out her possessions and carried the rest to the sea.
The second day we came to help, the locals didn’t really let us do any work. We wondered what we were really there for, but there were lots of children that I was able to love. We played together, and they even bought me candy(pop rocks and bubble gum). It was so sweet. Even though I was unable to do physical labor that day, I was so filled up by the children. There was purpose for us that day even if it wasn’t building the house.
I just wonder how many people come to just love them??
We found out later they didn’t want us to work, because we were guests. The next day we worked so hard. They let us do everything(our contacts informed them that was our mission), and by then end, we were trying to get them to help us. We were exhausted. The house has come together with a lot of help from the locals. We are grateful for all of them.
Last night, Ron and Joanna shared with us that people living around the area we were working came to church for the first time. Wow! It may not have been about the house at all.
Sometimes, we will never know what one action could mean to someone…it could save them. I see this in Ron and Joanna. God is using them to transform the community in Tondo. What a great place to start this World Race journey!!
here is a link to a BBC look at Navotas. Click below.
