We have been in San Mateo, Philippines for a week and it feels like several weeks. I am sitting on a balcony, staring at a beautiful view of the mountains, lush with all shades of green and a cool breeze rustling through the leaves. Not only did I not have a clue what to expect upon arrival, I definitely was not prepared for this majestic place. Life is so simple and not a second of the day is wasted. We wake up around 5:30-6:00am and we go until about 8:00pm by which time we are ready for bed. Projects vary from helping to build new fences or cages for the animals in the micro farm, cutting wood for fires, helping to chop vegetables and prepare meals, visiting with women who come to the free clinic for pre-natal and well baby check-ups, to going out in the community to spend time with people. Being up on this mountain has erased my need for internet, the constant wondering what everyone else is doing, and fully embracing what is going on within our 2 teams here, and the people we are working with.
Rhayan, Michele and their 4 kids, Titus, Gabriel, and Margaret, & Alicia live here on property and they prepare all of our meals. It is hard for Filipino people to ask for help, especially from us because they consider us guests. However, I have taken initiative to ask when they need helps and I can clearly see that there is a lot of preparation to be done for each meal. I love being in the kitchen and it has been such a wonderful experience to learn to prepare Filipino meals such as Shanghai Lambia, Adobo, and Menudo. The recipes are so simple, mostly containing chicken or pork, carrots, cabbage, ginger, garlic, onion, and rice. However, the different combinations with a few other ingredients added has been some of the most flavorful and wonderful food.
Rhayan is a humble hero. He will not take credit for anything, but he puts every ounce of his energy into loving his family and also running the ministry here on site. He is up early in the morning, taking about 1.5-2 hours to prepare each meal, planning activities and ways to go out and network with the community, and delegating chores to 3 boys who live here for the ministry. Ehman, Noi, and Emile are 17, 18, and 19. Ehman and Emile are brothers, and Noi is Michele’s brother. They live here on property and are the heartbeat of keeping everything sustainable. They are each in charge of feeding the animals, cleaning, building and interacting with the kids when they are here.
This weekend was one where Rhayan, our ministry host, picks up street boys from Manila and brings them to the camp for the weekend. We play games with them, feed them, give them a safe place to sleep and just watch them be kids. Each morning we took them up the steep path to the top of the mountain for a devotional time and a few worship songs. Some of these kids speak good English and some know little to none. I have learned a few basic phrases of their native language, Tagalog, but it isn’t much to get through a regular conversation. At first, I didn’t know how to interact with them and was more worried about getting lice than loving them. As they were here and I played with them and observed them, it was beautiful to see them being kids and free from the negative activities in the streets. I couldn’t even picture them begging, stealing, fighting or sniffing glue. It broke my heart for the reality to sink in that we had to send them back Saturday afternoon. I was as present in each moment as I could be and sometimes took a break to use the bathroom or just go and think about all of it. I sat with them while they ate, watched them play soccer and asked their names in Tagalog.
By the time they left I felt my heart sinking. Several of them came and hugged me and a few said they would miss me. Renzo, Laren, Alvin, Martin, Christian, Tim, Jim Jim, Richard, Ricardo, these are only half of the names I was able to get and remember. Watching the boys snuggle on their sleeping pads and make sure they each had a pillow and blanket was so precious. They looked out for each other much like I imagine they do on the streets. Several of them had cigarette burns on their arms to signify gang initiation and a couple had tattoos to signify jail time.
Some of them have families that they choose not to live with and go to school because they can make more money begging. $1 US Dollar = approximately 45 Philippine Pesos and they can make about 100 pesos per day begging. That is almost $2.50 USD per day and $75 USD per month.
A decent meal here costs close to 100 pesos and not all of these kids spend their money wisely. Sniffing glue or solvent to get high is a big thing on the streets and regardless, they are malnourished. Jim Jim the youngest boy in the group is 9 years old and is the size of a kindergarten student back home. Comparing my almost-10 year old cousin, Noah, to the teenagers, they are about the same height and body size.
The ministry that Rhayan, Noi, Emile and Ehman do for these boys is incredible. They’ re able to eat 3 meals per day, play, hear a devotional about Jesus and have fun while learning about respect and responsibility. They cleaned up after each meal and earned treats from the games throughout the weekend. They were given shelter from bugs, cars, and violence that runs the streets through the night. They were able to turn off survival mode.
I wish I could have promised to see them again, but I was not able to do so. My prayer is that the seeds of love and truth that were planted would continue to be watered and bear fruit in each of their lives. These boys from the streets of metro Manila will forever have a special place in my heart!
The beautiful thing I have seen in these 3 boys is maturity. They are so responsible, and have actually been given director titles over different areas of the ministry. I look at them and just am always stunned at their ability to do things so efficiently and still be able to have fun while they do it.
I have also had a lot of time to sit and talk with Rhayan while helping prepare meals in the kitchen. He has had a rough life but you would never know because he is always so full of joy and laughter. He lights up when these street boys come to camp, and when he is visiting with the people in the community. It is so refreshing to see someone who lives in a small room with his wife and kids, has what Americans would call “nothing” and they make it work. They still eat, sleep, clean, do laundry, raise their children and minister to people all over the area. I am truly amazed at their ability to remain so delighted in the Lord.
Since being here I have not really worried about what is going on back home. Sure, I have been antsy to update everyone, but not to the point that I was held up at home. Every quiet moment was filled with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, text messages, and e-mails. Here, I honestly wouldn’t know what time or day it was without my watch on. Life is so relaxed and calm and nothing is a hard and fast plan. Times are approximate, and the time spent building relationship is of utmost important. For several of us, this adjustment has been hard, myself included. I like to know when and where to be and for how long until the next thing. However, since the Lord has been preparing me over the last year or so to be more flexible, the transition hasn’t been so hard. It is so stress-free to just take each moment as it comes and not worry about what is next or where you have to be and rushing to get everything done.
It hasn’t really 100% sunk in that this is my life for the next 2 weeks here in the Philippines, much less the next 10.5 months of 2015! I am learning how to live in constant community, how to take my insecurities first to the Father and to continually be in prayer for myself, the people around me and the people we encounter. This reliance has been a crucial part for me to grow in trusting the Lord. Yes, I trust that He will not harm me, but there are some areas that I haven’t always trusted Him in. Providing for me, keeping me safe when I am vulnerable with people and stepping out into new activities are the main areas that come to mind.
The World Race is not only about leaving everything that makes you comfortable behind, but learning to step into full dependence on God to take care of us. If we can keep our focus on Him and what He wants us to do, the rest will fall into place. I shouldn’t worry about what I will eat or drink, or when I can shower or change clothes… all that should be on my mind is how I can be obedient in serving Him whether it means cleaning dishes, loving on children, praying for people, or feeding animals. There are so many ways that God will connect His people, and if we stay in tune to His voice, we are able to step into His vision for our lives.
