If there was ever a place that made me want to give up on
the World Race or stop doing ministry for reasons of living conditions, it
would be working at the dumps in Tondo,
Philippines. Yet
my squad mates didn’t give up or whine! With joyful and servant hearts, 12 new
world racers in their first month shoveled trash, poop, and God knows what
other sorts of waste in what I can honestly say was the worst living conditions
I have ever seen in the world. And that even includes all the places I went to
on my first world race trip.
the World Race or stop doing ministry for reasons of living conditions, it
would be working at the dumps in Tondo,
Philippines. Yet
my squad mates didn’t give up or whine! With joyful and servant hearts, 12 new
world racers in their first month shoveled trash, poop, and God knows what
other sorts of waste in what I can honestly say was the worst living conditions
I have ever seen in the world. And that even includes all the places I went to
on my first world race trip.
2 teams from my squad partnered with PCF (Philippine
Christian Foundation) in Tondo, Philippines, only one-two hours away from Manila. Sure many were
excited when they heard they would be working with youth at a school and
church, but little did they know that this school/ministry center was in the
center of a city dumps. Say goodbye to home boys and girls, and welcome to the
World Race…
Christian Foundation) in Tondo, Philippines, only one-two hours away from Manila. Sure many were
excited when they heard they would be working with youth at a school and
church, but little did they know that this school/ministry center was in the
center of a city dumps. Say goodbye to home boys and girls, and welcome to the
World Race…
In my few years of traveling around and being apart of
various ministries around the globe, I have seen so many different places
called “home” by people. Sidewalks that smell of urine, shacks built of rusty aluminum
metal, mud huts with no air circulation, bamboo houses filled with rats… the
list is too long and painful to look back on to share completely. I can
honestly say I didn’t know what to think when I first saw this place. It
literally was a garbage dump that people lived in. Those who could afford rain
boots wore them where they walked because of the sludge that filled the area.
Imagine going out to your drive way and going to the bathroom on your trash,
then letting it sit out there for months while it rains and shines all over
your mess and neighbors walk all over spreading it around like its no big deal.
Multiply that by a million and you have this town. Oh I forgot to mention that
another section of this community was built on a graveyard. Yep a cemetery with
tombs that people live around and kids play on. I’ll let your imagination run
from there, because whatever you think of might be fairly accurate…
various ministries around the globe, I have seen so many different places
called “home” by people. Sidewalks that smell of urine, shacks built of rusty aluminum
metal, mud huts with no air circulation, bamboo houses filled with rats… the
list is too long and painful to look back on to share completely. I can
honestly say I didn’t know what to think when I first saw this place. It
literally was a garbage dump that people lived in. Those who could afford rain
boots wore them where they walked because of the sludge that filled the area.
Imagine going out to your drive way and going to the bathroom on your trash,
then letting it sit out there for months while it rains and shines all over
your mess and neighbors walk all over spreading it around like its no big deal.
Multiply that by a million and you have this town. Oh I forgot to mention that
another section of this community was built on a graveyard. Yep a cemetery with
tombs that people live around and kids play on. I’ll let your imagination run
from there, because whatever you think of might be fairly accurate…
Yet, because the joy and love of God trumps any emotion,
people walk around as if nothing is the matter. And why should they. It’s all
they’ve ever known. Children’s laughter and singing fills the time in between
the garbage trucks driving up and down the roads. Karaoke parties (Filipinos
LOVE karaoke!!!) take place where smog clouds haven’t taken over just yet.
people walk around as if nothing is the matter. And why should they. It’s all
they’ve ever known. Children’s laughter and singing fills the time in between
the garbage trucks driving up and down the roads. Karaoke parties (Filipinos
LOVE karaoke!!!) take place where smog clouds haven’t taken over just yet.
These people make the best of it
because they have no other choice. 
They have
no choice…they don’t even know what “choice” is! This past summer I got a
headache because I stood in the cereal aisle for too long and couldn’t choose
which kind of cereal I wanted to buy. That’s where I come from, a place of
endless options. These people only have one of two thoughts, choose to survive
or give up. It’s no way for a person to live. I was so proud of these teams for
enduring their time in this location. Thankfully the teams were able to live in
hostels away from that area where they could have their own bed and take
showers. But to be honest, it was still hard to hug them or give high five
since they smelled like poo. Oh well, they know I love them. Great job team
Gozo and PLJ.
They haveno choice…they don’t even know what “choice” is! This past summer I got a
headache because I stood in the cereal aisle for too long and couldn’t choose
which kind of cereal I wanted to buy. That’s where I come from, a place of
endless options. These people only have one of two thoughts, choose to survive
or give up. It’s no way for a person to live. I was so proud of these teams for
enduring their time in this location. Thankfully the teams were able to live in
hostels away from that area where they could have their own bed and take
showers. But to be honest, it was still hard to hug them or give high five
since they smelled like poo. Oh well, they know I love them. Great job team
Gozo and PLJ.
