Hi Friends!
We’ve been super busy at Kids International Ministries but I wanted to give you a quick update on what I’ve been doing!
On Saturday we woke up early to get a head start on ministry that day. We were heading to Tondo, a slum built on trash, that is home to more than 600,000 people.
Working with KIM, we have had the opportunity to go out on feedings every day within the community. Tondo is about 2 hours away and was unlike anything we have experienced so far.
The first feeding we did was at a location called “Happy Land”, and let me tell you, the people were just that: Happy.
As we walked through trash and mud, we were greeted by smile after smile. It was so beautiful.
Something that I have been learning about the people in the Philippines is that they know the Joy of the Lord more than I ever could in this lifetime.
A huge reason why I decided to go on the World Race is because I wanted to escape a life of materialism. I wanted to know what it was like to experience Joy without conditions.
As Genesis, one of the team hosts for KIM, translated a bible story that Sharon and Krista were giving, I looked around at the smiling faces of the parents who were so happy to see their kids learning about their friend Jesus. I heard the screams of joy from the children as they listened to the Bible story. I felt my soul longing to know Jesus like that.
Before our next feeding, we were able to visit the Church we were partnering with in Tondo that day. We got to have some praise and worship time together, hear some testimonies, and fellowship while we ate our lunch before we got back out there for our second feeding of the day.
The next place we visited was Smokey Mountain, also known as Trash Mountain. The mountain is made up of 50 years of Manila’s trash and is called home to many.
In years past, residents of Trash Mountain would sift through the trash to find things they could sell in order to make a living.
The dumpsite is now closed, but the residents need to make money some how. They are constantly burning wood in order to make charcoal to sell, hence the name “Smokey Mountain”.
Another cool part about feeding the kids at Smokey Mountain, is that we also had the opportunity to help them wash up a bit. Any kid who wants a meal, gets their hands washed first. Bathing is rare for them, as the price of water is astronomical in their area.
Me and three others had the job of washing and we were all reminded of when Jesus washed the disciples feet before He went to the cross. It was beautiful to see these kids so happy to be clean. It felt like we were giving them back the dignity and humanity that they so rightfully deserve.
One little boy named Romeo was covered in ash from head to toe, so we decided to bathe him completely!
What a squeaky clean, happy little baby!
After everyone was all cleaned up, the kids waited patiently to hear a bible story. They learned about David being picked as King! A teammate, Eva, spoke about how David’s dad originally didn’t want David to be an option for King and that even when others overlook you, God doesn’t.
We also had time to hang out with the older girls from the Church, hear their stories and encourage them. This is me and a teammate with a few of them! Isn’t the view from Smokey Mountain beautiful?!
As you may remember from my previous blog, the Lord did some major work on my heart and I no longer am bound by the lie that I’m not good with kids or that I wont be a good mother one day.
Has the Lord ever promised you something that you may believe in the moment, but then just a couple of days later you are full of doubt again?
I knew that this ministry day would consist of a full day of playing with children and I laid awake the night before wondering if His promise would turn up void.
It wasn’t until the ministry day was completely over that I realized how many kids I played with, loved on, and felt so comfortable around without even thinking twice!
“For no word from God will ever fail!” Luke 1:37
On the way back to the Church, I taught a couple of girls a hand game (double, double this, this…remember that one?), and they taught me the Filipino version.
Overall, it was an amazing day that reminded me exactly why I wanted to go on the World Race. It was exactly the kind of ministry that I pictured when I thought about how I wanted to bring Kingdom to this world and I can’t wait for more opportunities like this one!
Thanks for reading!
AWESOME NEWS! I am $3,720 from being FULLY FUNDED! Thats right!! Not, just my next goal, but FULLY FUNDED! WOOOO! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
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Thanks!
