Stepping off the plane onto Filipino soil, I have to admit I had no idea what to expect. Perhaps because I never gave much thought to anything past Africa on this trip – or perhaps because by now I have gotten used to being thrown into the unfamiliar every 3-4 weeks – I entered Asia basically clueless. After spending a week fighting jet lag and dehydration, I’ve now had time to soak it all in.
Here’s a snapshot of my life this month: living at a Christian camp/orphanage called Mount Moriah nestled in the mountains of Mindanao, a southern Filipino island. I’ve found myself surrounded by pineapple plantations, sugar cane stalks, bamboo huts and bustling streets full of vendors selling fried fish…parts. Everywhere you look there are short, friendly people – and nowhere is this more true than in the locals serving at the orphanage. I have never met such hardworking individuals, particularly the house mothers living in and working at the New Faith Family Children’s Home (part of Kids International Ministries). Their dedication to the children is more than admirable – it’s truly a reflection of the way Christ loves us.
This has been a month of freedom where we’ve had the opportunity, besides working at the orphanage, to take part in various ministries in Malaybalay City. There have been groups visiting inmates at the local prison, college kids to hang out with at the university’s Intervarsity Christian Fellowship chapter, and I have taken part in feedings to rural school children and sugar cane workers.
I was astounded to learn that the sugar cane workers make only 120 pisos – roughly $2.70 USD – per ton of harvested crops. While they are working in the fields they live in makeshift shelters of cots covered with tarps that reminded me of a scene out of MASH. Yet when we brought them lunch, the first thing these guys did was promtply cut down sugar cane stalks as a gift for us to try. As I sampled the juicy treat, it was the bittersweet taste of poverty that lingered on my tongue. No matter how many third world countries I visit, the vast differences in what constitutes normal everyday life for people as compared to the United States never ceases to amaze me. How I wish that all Americans could see what I’ve seen so that more people would beinspired to do something about it.
For now, I must be content to do what I can – to love these children and this community so that they may see Christ in me. Please pray for this ministry, for these kids and for good health for everyone here. Many of the children at the orphanage as well as my fellow World Racers have been getting sick this month. Please also pray for energy and for emotional strength – we are on month eight now and many of us are just feeling weary, myself included. I can’t believe we only have a little over three months left – but I know God’s still got some big plans for these three months in Asia. I am praying that I will take advantage of every opportunity He gives me, and I pray that you will do the same wherever you are. Be blessed!
