Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
st1″:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-style-parent:””;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;}
“These kids are without, but they don’t know it. And, they
will be elated to see you.”
These words were spoken to me about the ministry where my
team will be serving in the Philippines
for the next three weeks. (Tears immediately pooled in my eyes upon hearing
these words.)Our team is living in a hostel in a red light district in Manila. During the day,
we will travel to the city dump, where 5000 people live. Yes, they live off the
dump. In the middle of the dump, there is a school for kids in pre-k through 5th
grade. We will be serving there. It was about these kids that the above words
were given.
My heart was and has been broken for these people and I
haven’t even met them yet. Who am I that they would even desire to see me? I come from a country where I am in want for
nothing. I am overcome and humbled by the very real responsibility of sharing
Jesus’ love with those considered unlovable, untouchable, and excludable.
Even as I walk the streets in the city of Manila amongst skyscrapers and department
stores, I am overcome by the homeless five year old children that approach me
with hands open wide, pleading with eyes well-trained to beg. Even within the
city, my heart seeks understanding and retribution for the acts that would subject
these innocent babies to lives on the streets. I can only imagine the
devastation I will feel while working in the dumps. At the same time, I am
convicted because I know that back home, I have done next to nothing to help. I
may think to myself, “Can’t they just go to a Salvation Army or homeless
shelter?” Yet, have I even worked in one of these places that seeks to help the
homeless? I am humbled again by my position and can only promise that I will
not ignore the lessons I am learning here in the Philippines in order to carry them
forward.
