Hello everybody!
I know this post is a bit overdue, but an internet connection that lasts longer than 2 minutes has proven to be more difficult to secure than expected. Although we’ve only been in the Philippines for about a week and a half, it feels like months! There is so much I want to tell and so many stories I want to share that honestly, even thinking about what to write is a bit overwhelming.
After arriving here on September 11th, our squad was more than ready to pitch our tents and sleep. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we were driven to a center with mattresses, pillows, showers, 3 meals a day, and craziest of all, a pool (with a water slide)! It was amazing, but we felt a little guilty staying in such luxury when just outside the gates were hundreds and thousands of hungry people. We soon learned that this center was specifically built to serve those same people. Many missionaries are here all the time and in fact, the pool was built by a former World Race team to teach the local kids how to swim. Often times, many of the deaths caused by typhoons occur because people panic in the water, not knowing how to swim, and end up drowning. Our missionary contact here in Manila, Jeff, is very passionate about teaching the children to be comfortable around large amounts of water.
Everyday, there are dozens of ministry opportunities and I’ve been blessed to work in a number of them, meeting the people involved and learning their stories. One of my main activities has been spending time at the nearby pregnancy center. Volunteering at the center involves many things: preparing and leading Bible studies, weighing each woman and charting their vitals, handing out pre-natal vitamins and eggs, and even attending to the occasional delivery. Since being here, our squad has been a part of bringing two beautiful little people into the world and we’re hoping for another later today! But my favourite part of being there is meeting the women and building relationships with them, learning their stories. Everyone comes from a different background, bringing excitement, nervousness, anxiety, even dread, but most importantly, tremendous opportunities for hope. One woman is seven months pregnant and weighs only 75 pounds. Another is 16 years old and has no home support or source of income. Women who have had four miscarriages and are hoping this time will be different, and women who already have 5 kids and wish there wouldn’t have to be a sixth. Seeing hope and strength grow from a seemingly bleak situation has been so incredibly rewarding and it wouldn’t be possible without God constantly working in the hearts of the local women and of the volunteers.
Other days have included tutoring grade one students in the local school, playing with kids at the children’s center for orphaned and abandoned kids, helping out with girls Bible studies on Saturdays and attending services in both English and Tagalog at the church next door. However, I am starting to fear this turning into a book, so I’ll plan to write again in a few days and wrap this up for now.
Everything has been so surreal and if I’ve realized one thing so far, it’s the importance of loving people. Jesus had unconditional love for absolutely everyone. If we’re seeking to follow in his footsteps, we should be serving people just as we would serve him, were he right in front of us. How can we stand by and not love the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, and the sick, when clearly we have been blessed with so much more than we deserve? Everyone has an incredible story and our hearts should be breaking not only for the people in third world countries but back at home too.
I challenge you to go out of your comfort zone today and show someone love. Genuine love. You don’t necessarily have to even know them, but every moment we have choices to make. Live in love.
Thank you all so much for your support and your prayers, I can’t wait to share more about what God has been doing in my life! Until next time, mahal kita,
Maddy
“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”
Matthew 25:35-40
