Tent City …
It was a community in and of itself. It’s not tents though. Just tiny structure after tiny structure, as far as the eye can see …
I went there with some girls on my squad and our squad leader, Kevin, on Friday morning.
Here in Manila, one of the ministries that KIM does is called a “feeding,” which is just that, feeding the people in the community. It’s kind of like a rice, carrot, something soup/porridge, I’m not even sure, but we ladle it out … 2 scoops a bowl, or a plate, or a pitcher, or anything really.
People in the community bring whatever they have to hold some food, and they come excited for what may be their only meal in days. How is that possible? How can there be 8 billion (slight exaggeration) malls in Manila, and then in Tent City there are so many people starving. There are malnourished babies. There are children taking care of other children. There is so much hopelessness. How do these families break this cycle of living in nothing more than a structure, barely surviving sometimes. Going days without food. It’s not right.
And then, the worst part for me … The food started running low, we could only give a scoop or a half a scoop to try and finishing feeding those in line. Then, we ran out, in 15 minutes. Two giant containers of food, gone in a matter of minutes. Then you see the mom coming up with a bowl to get food for her family, and you have to tell her “no more food.” It seems like we can only do a little dent in a problem so big here in the Philippines. It’s not fair that these families have to go hungry.
I think I’ve had blinders on for awhile, knowing problems exist, thinking things could be better; but here in Manila … God is breaking my heart for these people. I just want them to have the chance to change the course their life has taken up to this point. I want their kids to believe that they can be something in the future, that they can truly change the course of life for their future kids. I don’t know how I can change anything, but I can pray. I can pray for God to intervene in their lives and to give them the hope found in Jesus Christ. And, I can go out and help serve food. I can’t feed everyone, but if I can help feed some, it’s worth it.
Here on The World Race … we change ourselves, we walk into the truth and the freedom that God has called us to so that we can be better servants for Him. My life has made a radical change these past two weeks, and in turn, my heart has been expanded for the community here. My heart has been expanded for doing the Lord’s work. Every donation to my trip is helping me to serve “the least of these.” My life is changing while I”m here on the field. God is still at the center of everything we do, and He is still seeking to mold me into the woman of God that He has called me to be. At the same time, donations are being used to further His Kingdom, and in this case, to feed the hungry.
Please continue praying with me as I finish my last week in the Philippines, and please pray about supporting my journey this Christmas season. There is still so much ministry left to do, and I thank you for being a part of this journey with me.
*Photo by Peggy Randell*
