The video below is a short clip from our time in Tent City. The young boy in the video is about three years old and living there because of a typhoon that wiped out his home. Everyone who lives there has lost everything and has been exiled from their homes to live in this community of extreme poverty. I, along with some other World Racers, teamed up with Kids International Ministry to provide food and medical care. It’s one of those places that when you leave, if you’re perspective doesn’t change then you should check your pulse.
We drove into the community with two containers full of food and stopped near a canopy. Under the canopy was a water well, which was powered by a hand pump, and people were bathing and filling up water containers. As I looked out into the community, there were hundreds of tin houses lined up in an orderly fashion. For a second, I thought the locals would be embarrassed that we stopped right where they were bathing. They were not though. That would be prideful and these people can’t afford to be prideful. Pride can lead to hunger in their situation. While we were feeding everyone, my heart was just breaking for all the people. It was hard to smile and play with the kids because I just kept thinking, what if this was me? What if I lived in Tent City and I had to live like this? How different would my life be, if my opportunities were limited as much as theirs are? I truly don’t know what to think about the experience and I can’t wrap it up in words.
I know life is not about material things and a life without Christ,
is a life of vanity, however, these people have both physical and spiritual needs. Kids International Ministry is working with two local pastors in the community, but they can’t do much because they’re just as poor. The Pastors are struggling to feed themselves, much less provide for a whole community. It has to be hard to hear good news when you’re stomach is growling and you don’t even know if you’ll get another meal. There are so many people in this world that have both spiritual and physical needs. We know it, but the more you see it, the more it changes your perspective.
As for my little friend in the video, I started playing with him towards the end. It seemed as though no one knew who he was. He was just a little boy wondering around looking for a meal. So I figured we would have a little fun together. I would have him jump off the back of the truck into my arms. It was funny because at first, he was really tentative and he didn’t trust me. It took only a few jumps however, for him to begin to build trust in me. At first, he would go towards the end of the tailgate and stick out his hand to grab my hand before he would jump. As time went on he built up more and more trust and by the last jump he took a leap of faith and jumped directly in my arms. Wow, it was just one of those moments. It was such a moment, that it still affects me today. When it came time to go, one of the local ladies tried to take him out my arms, but he would have nothing to do with it. He cried and screamed refusing to let go of me. My little friend had to be pried out of my arms, kicking, screaming, and crying. I had to watch him slowly fade away as we drove off. His eyes were full of tears and his little hands were reaching for me in hope that I would come back. He never stop reaching and he never stop crying as I drove off out of sight. This was another moment we shared together and the impact I hope to keep with me for the rest of my life. I’m grateful, but I also feel a responsibility to do more.
