This month my team did what the World Race calls Unsung Heroes, and so this past month has looked a little different than most months on the Race. Instead of being partnered with a particular ministry, we are searching for new ministry contacts that the World Race will be able to partner with and send teams to work alongside in the future. We are now in our last week of meetings here in the Philippines and so I want to highlight one of my favorite ministries we have had the opportunity to visit with.
This past Sunday morning we traveled to the other side of Makati to visit Reach Youth Ministries, which is a ministry that serves the poor youth of Metro Manila. Our team had the opportunity to join in on their Sunday school outreach and feeding programs that take place in a number of different communities within the San Andres area. We split into pairs and teamed up with the different Sunday school teachers and followed them to their respective locations. As we arrived in the “squatter” community, I was expecting some sort of classroom, or at least chairs, but this Sunday school took place on the side of the street – half on the sidewalk, half in the road – and it was awesome!
When we first arrived, the kids were instantly fascinated with us. The teachers had brought a big box of books with them, and as soon as we sat down the kids surrounded us with the books they wanted us to read. After about 15 minutes of reading, the teachers were ready to start. We joined them as the teachers led the children in their songs sung in Tagalog and then Raquel and I shared a little bit about ourselves and our journey on The World Race.
The teachers then split the children into three different age groups and went on to teach their morning lesson. After the lessons were complete, my teammate Raquel and I were able to serve a soup-like chocolate mixture and hard-boiled eggs to all of the kids who had attended.
So much joy!
Sisters enjoying their lunch together:)
To wrap up the morning, we had the opportunity to spend time with the kids and plays games with them in the street.
As we jumped into the truck to leave, one of the boys ran over to hand each of us chocolates. It struck me, because the verse that I had gone over that morning was 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. What better example of this passage than a boy, who owned not much more than the clothes on this back, giving away his chocolate to us. Although we only spent a morning with this ministry, I will forever remember the love and generosity that these children showed us.
If you’d like to learn more about Reach Youth Ministries, you can visit their website at: www.reachyouth.org.
