Imagine yourself standing in the middle of some forgotten slum nestled in the alleys and back roads of a third world country. Can you see it? There’s no grass, no fences and certainly no trees for the children to play in. All that exists, all that they have, are cinderblock shacks that droop like willow trees from the skinny wood planks and nylon advertisement posters that frame them. Close your eyes and soak in the poor, the starvation, and the desperation. In your mind, try to wrap your vision around true poverty.
Now devastate it. Burn it all to the ground. Destroy every house, every storefront, and every tent until all that remains of this scene are the charred remnants of their homes covered in black soot. Once clothed children are now naked and caked in dirt. Adults once burdened by crippling poverty no longer mask the pain that their faint smiles attempt to disguise. 166 homes consumed in flames have left 166 families with no place to go.
And there I am, standing in the midst of this burned down community: stunned, heart broken, helpless and crying out to the Lord.
Psalm 121: 1-2, 5,7 “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”
As I’m sitting, talking and praying with Mrs. Abigail, she began to explain her feelings of heaviness and shame for the responsibility of starting this fire. I found myself explaining that material things don’t compare to the gift of freedom we have in Jesus. I found myself praying for peace. I found myself praying for an increase of faith that Jesus is present in their despair.
Simultaneously, I found my heart convicted.
I sat there with a full stomach. I sat with her knowing I’d be going back to KIM with dinner waiting, a shower to wash off the soot and a bed to rest my body. I sat with her knowing I had all of these things as she has nothing.
I sat with her knowing MY faith needed to be increased. My heart was yelling “Jesus help! Jesus where are you!? Jesus I need to know your faithfulness.”
Then that still small voice shook my body.
Jesus answered, “I am here. I am standing in the middle of this rubble with my people. I love them. I never said I’d rebuild their earthly homes but I have given them an eternal home with me.”
THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. JESUS SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR US.
2 Corinthians 5:1-2 “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.”
I’m leaving month 2, trusting that Jesus is faithful. He is faithful to rebuild our hearts. He is faithful because no matter what happens, He never gives up on us. He is faithful because He endured death on the cross to give us eternal life with Him. Jesus is faithful because He loves us unconditionally.
Will you pray for Gods people please? Pray for the people of the Philippines. Pray that they will come to trust His faithfulness. Pray that they will fall in love with Jesus the savior, not church and religion. Pray for Kids International Ministries, that they will stay strong and trust in the Lords provision for their programs and ministry.
Sincerely,
Katie B
