Literally right across the road from where we stay is the “container”- where all of the construction workers stay. They’ve been across the street the whole time we’ve been in the Philippines- yet I just started to know them a few weeks ago. And man do I love them. They’re the sweetest brothers ever.
These guys work from sun up to sun down out in the Philippine heat. In FLIP FLOPS and LONG clothing while lifting rocks, spreading cement over rocks, making roads of rock, etc. But when the day is over, they hang out with us every single night. When they could go rest, they choose to sit and talk (even when the language barrier makes it super hard), teach us Tagalog, learn English, sing head, shoulders, knees, and toes and swim with us.
These guys, ages 15 and up, live away from they’re families for months at a time to be able to provide an income. Heat, sweat, blood, a bed of wood, showers from a well pump, sand, sun, and the sweetest smiles I’ve ever seen. A lot of the guys are on the younger side (16-22ish) working a full time job- while in America that age range is still in school. I can’t express the amount of respect I have for these guys.
After they finish work and we finish ministry, a few of us girls go across the street and hang out. A few days ago, we went swimming with them. Immediately a sand fight began outside of the ocean. We all ran in and then the best splash fight ever occurred, followed by picking up sand from underwater and throwing it everywhere and rubbing it allllll in our hair and faces. At home, I would never allow that to happen… I hate sand. BUT, I can honestly say that night was one of my favorite nights. I’ll never forget it. It was one of those nights I’ll look back on and tear up. I already do.
Darian had to go to the doctor because there was so much sand in her ears. It was still worth it.
The next day, we wanted to help them do some construction work after our ministry. Darian and I walked over and after they told us we don’t need to help them, they finally let us. We fit right in with the guys as we passed rocks and cement down the line. I loved it. It seems to always be the littlest things here that bring so much joy.
I stepped back for a minute to watch Darian work, and it was such a beautiful moment. Seeing her humble herself and genuinely want to help them, even though we are white and we are women. It was such a precious moment. (Super side note- They wear long clothing, hats, and shirts on their faces to prevent themselves from getting darker. The guys offered us their hats so we wouldn’t get burned, even though that meant they would get darker. In several of my other posts, I mentioned the culture and how “dark” skin means not beautiful. These guys have told me over and over again that they’re not “guapo” (handsome) because they’re not white. Not only have these guys said that, but many many many other people I’ve met. I tell them time and time again that they are SO handsome and SO beautiful, but the culture says otherwise. I ask that you pray for that cultural mindset to change because they are so so beautiful. If my only purpose for being here was to tell people that they ARE beautiful, it was 10000000% worth it.)
The very next day, we had a part 2 of the sand in face experience. Also super fun.
Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to prepare my heart for going home. I know it will be hard and I know I will miss my dudes. But I know that the Lord will walk me through it. My heart has been set on praying for the guys. “Little boss,” as they call him, told us how “fond” the guys are of us and how happy they are when we are around. It makes my heart happy to know we’ve made some kind of impact. With that being said, if I’m being completely vulnerable, I have a ton of guilt about leaving. Of course I’m happy about seeing my family soon, but I also don’t want to leave this place. I can’t imagine how hard it will be on those guys. It’s like I’ve built these relationships, and then I’m just leaving. Leaving it all behind, leaving them, leaving our friendships, breaking trust. I don’t want them to think that I’m just gonna forget them and that our friendship was only for the time I was here. No. I want this friendship to be life-long. I wanna come back next year and pick right back up where we left off. Friends for life. I mean, I couldn’t forget those dudes even if I tried.
However I am trying to look at it from a different perspective. One that says, “it’s better to be sad and hurt about leaving that to never have built any relationships at all.” I once heard a quote that went something like, “what a blessing it is to have met someone that it hurts so much to say goodbye to.” & wow, what a statement. What a blessing these guys have been. What a blessing these friends are. What a life this is.
I can’t seem to put into words these guys or my heart towards them, but it doesn’t matter because they know and the Lord knows. I’m just so thankful for them.
Mahal kita, my dudes.
