The following “story” I’m going to share with you is quite tender to my heart. To me it’s not just a story, though that may be the result of me attempting to convey the essence of my heart into words. You may have heard similar testimonies, it’s simple, but it’s so much more to me than that.
Saturday was going to be a long day, and I wish I could say that I was up for it…but I wasn’t. I needed reminding how badly I had wanted to see the Lake Taal Volcano. We had a rough start getting going in the morning, but with it all being said and done I had a great time. The weather was perfect and the scenery beautiful and lusciously green. When we got home I couldn’t deny that I had a good time, though no one was able to ask. As soon as we got back I hopped into the taxi to meet the other Legos for a family pizza and bowling night. (future world racers, VERY IMPORTANT: set aside fun time with your team)
I found my family at Greenwich restaurant saving me some pepperoni pizza! We started catching up on our days and then moved to a different location for dessert courtesy of Chad and Iris (loving supporters via Elizabeth). Thank You! We had oatmeal cookies alamode and a small ice cream sundae, which always makes us happy. Before going bowling some of us wanted to check out some movies being sold just down the way. Christy, Silas, and I left as the others went to get the bowling shoes and lanes arranged.
It’s a small little area of about 10-15 booths the size of an average (American) bathroom. By the time we walked to the end booth, where the movies were being sold, we had been asked about 8 times each by children if we wanted to buy some woven pot holders. I was looking for an inspirational sport grouping, and quickly found that they didn’t have any to sell. I walked around glancing to see what the other vendors were selling feeling for all the child beggars that I’ve seen in each country we’ve visited so far. In frustration and despair I asked the Lord in my head, “What would you have me do?”
There was nothing I was interested in buying so I sat on the platform of a closed shop next to the movie booth where my two teammates were perusing. As I waited the children came up to me, at first to again attempt in persuading me to buy a potholder. Then some of the older children sat next to me and we began to watch each other and the people around us. They spoke no English, but we laughed together as people avoided the large cockroach crawling on the ground. As other children came and went running around chasing one another. At one point a middle-aged gentleman sat next to me who spoke English. He translated for one of the little girls telling me that I had a big nose. It made me smile, sweet honesty and observance. The man then proceeded to ask me where I was from and what I was doing. So I told him I was a missionary traveling the world to share the Gospel of Jesus. He then asked me why Americans travel around the world so much. 
I shared with him my thoughts and then asked him where he was from. He told me he was Muslim and traveled from elsewhere in the Philippines to Manila for some type of festival. Our conversation gradually died from there and the children came running by a younger girl wearing the shoes of another older girl. I had noticed that the children’s feet were dirty, but sad to say I have been desensitized to much of these poverty indicators. I just enjoy playing, trying to communicate, and loving on them.
As the older girl asked for her shoes back, I realized I was to get the younger girl her own pair of shoes. I shot up and went to one of the two booths that sold shoes, the first only had adult shoes. Not sure of her exact shoe size I beckoned the children over and tried to size her feet and noticed another child needing shoes. The vendor would only show me shoes that weren’t practical and too fancy. I was afraid they’d be stolen or sold and she’d be left barefoot again. Silas and Christy found me as they had finished looking at the movies. I told them what had happened and they full heartedly joined in the pursuit of finding shoes. We walked back to the department store only to realize that it was past nine and they had closed. The three of us returned to the shoe booth swarmed by children. The two needing shoes and the others excited to see what was happening. (I was impressed that none of the others had ditched their shoes; they weren’t greedy) This time the vendor was able to find the proper sizes in the practical shoes. As we slipped them on their tiny little feet Silas shared with them the name of Jesus and how much He loved each one of them.
I was so overjoyed on the walk back to join the others for the rest of our family night. My short prayer of frustration came to fulfillment! In fact, it wasn’t
any opportunity I created on my own, it was orchestrated by our Father in Heaven. AND it was shared by my brother and sister! There is so much to be praised! I was full of love and thanksgiving. If it wasn’t for my teams commitment to each other, I would have gotten away with the excuse of being exhausted from my days adventure. Instead, the best part of the day was being loved and sharing that love with God’s precious little ones!
P.S. The shoes had superman printed on them, hence Pairs of Superman.
