Tuesdays and Thursdays are my "slow days" here in the Philippines. I don't have to teach art classes, but instead I can choose to do other things like work in the nursery or do feeding ministry. I wasn't feeling well on Monday at all so I thought if I was getting sick I probably shouldn't be cuddling with the babies so I went out to do feeding ministries at 10 AM and 4 PM.
The 10 AM place broke my heart to see some of the medical needs of the youn children. They have mange, lice, infected cuts, big bits, rotten teeth, blisters, pink eye, you name it. A small team of medical people came with us and began to care for them, but the need is just so great. Alana, Addie, and Angie were all serving food so that left me to either help the medical team, sit around, or play with the kids. I chose the latter and became human jungle gym, human swing, a tickle monster, and a person to chase. I loved it. The kids really came alive and tired me out. The smile never even left my face, even when I slide through poop. I loved them like Jesus loves them and I hope it showed.
The 4 PM feeding was in a different place. We piled back into the pick up truck along with the medical team. We had to walk the last 1/4 mile to get to this village, but boy was the walk beautiful. Two of the teen girls came from the Children's Home with us and they served the food, leaving Angie, Addie, Angela, and I to play with the kids and scout out medical needs. Yeah I just played with the kids the whole time. The taught me some Tagalog and we drew pictures in the dirt with sticks. I brought my camera with me and let me tell you kids in the Philippines LOVE to be in photos! When it came time to leave we said our good-byes and began the walk back to the truck.
This is where my heart broke. Walking back to the village after school was a group of girls probably about 8-12 years old. They all said "Oh you girls are so beautiful." And I said "YOU girls are so beautiful". Then one little girl stopped and said,
"You are beautiful because you are white, I am not pretty because I have dark skin."
And then she kept on walking.
I didn't know what to do or say.
I was speechless.
Why didn't I say that's not true?
Why didn't I tell her beauty is more than skin deep?
Why?
Why?
Why?
WHY did I just let her walk away?
The only thing I could do anymore was pray about it.
Father, I am sorry I didn't fight for your daughter. I am sorry I let her walk away believing the lie that she is not beautiful. Beauty is more than skin deep, it based off more than the color of your skin. We truly live in a twisted world don't we? Girls in America will do almost anything to darken their skin, and the opposite is true here. Father I ask that you speak to this daughter of yours tonight. Work in her heart to break the chains. Unblind her eyes father so that she may see what beauty is. Give me the chance to go back again and met her. In your holy name, Amen.
That's all I can do for now.
Did you know that they have skin creams they can buy to make you whiter?
Did you know some of the girls won't play outside during the day so they won't get darker?
Did you know they carry umbrellas around if they have to go out to keep the sun off them so they can have lighter skin coloring?
It breaks my heart and I want to scream….."PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!"
Today when I walked into the 3rd grade classroom to teach art the boys sat me down and sang
"When I see your face There's not a thing that I would change Cause you're amazing Just the way you are And when you smile, The whole world stops and stares for awhile Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are."
It definitely brought a smile to my face, but I wonder how many times have they sang that to one of their female classmates?
Maybe from now on I will sing this song to every woman or girl I pass on the streets. Maybe it will help or maybe I'll just get weird looks. Nonetheless, I think I want to figure out a way to make girls here realize that they are beautiful!
