Monday November 26, 2007
Today we got to visit the Dump Site ministry, called "JCOBS House". This ministry is amazing. They minister to people who have built their shanty houses on top of a garbage dump site. Many of the children can't afford to go to school. They teach these children the basics so that they can one day enter into the public school stream. Education is the only hope for these children to get out of poverty and get some kind of employment.
This ministry also feeds the children once a week, and gives the parents a weekly bible study. This bible study has been instrumental to give the parents hope. Many have stopped doing drugs and gambling as a result of their transformation. JCOBS house also teaches the parents new types of livelihood, like learning how to make and sell soap, and starting a fishing boat making business.
In the pictures you can see us walking on the dump site and playing with the kids on the dumpsite. All of the colourful and white looking objects on the ground are actually garbage. These children run around and play in these dumps, and many do so without shoes, despite the broken glass, feces and garbage laying around. Nancy even saw a child with an infected foot, probably from what they walk on no doubt.
The children here were lovely and brought us to shelter when it started to pour rain. Once the torrential downpour started, they all started to scream, grabbed our hands and took us under one of the overhanging tarps attached to their homes. They were all laughing and happy. Frank almost started playing cards with one of the men there, but the rain stopped.
Here we got to play with the kids, play tag and sing songs with them. It was a great experience to see such innocence and joy despite their circumstances.
10 comments:
What unbelievable stories and pictures you are sharing. Thank you so much (Sofia??) for taking the time to write out these stories with so much description.
It almost feels like we are there!
Praying for you today.
We love you guys!
Hey you guys - I just got an email from Esther Hawkins, and thought I would share it with you - she is in Manila today!
"Maybe you could keep us in mind today. I have been sick for a week -- not food poisoning!!!!!!!!
After some tests at a very local hospital this morning, it is looking like a colon infection which is settling in the appendix. So we are on our way in minutes to Manila to a larger, cleaner (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) hospital for another opinion, possible surgery. Hope someone knows how to do the three hole trick. So much easier for recovery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Esther Hawkins"
So Lord ... be with ALL our Crossfire people in Manila today; bring healing to Esther, and keep our team in good health.
... praying for you all...
Wow great pictures and posting everyone!!!
They really keep us up to date on what you are doing and what things are looking like over there.
We are praying for you.
Sorry it took so long for me to blog, I have been following your postings but had trouble with my google account.
God Bless, stay safe!!!
I am sitting at my computer in awe at what God is doing! You are in the Philippines, Jack and Esther are ministering in the same area, I am in Hamilton, and we are all interconnected and praying for each other. I love it!
Nancy, have you hugged your thousandth child yet?
Frank, how are you enjoying the food? I havn't heard anything about the food since that first blog. Have you become acclimatized so quickly?
And Randy - I assume that you are quietly watching, and thinking, and keeping everyone on track.
Thanks to all of you for making this experience possible! You will come back and Crosifre will not be the same!
great blog. So good to see your pictures and hear your reflections. May God fill you with strength and courage, and discernment, and love, as you continue to give and to recieve from the Filipino people.
Alison Witt
It's hard to know what to say. I am in awe of what is going on over there. What a priviledge and opportunity to be a servant of God.
May he bless you and keep you all as you go about your work.
hi guys! this is helen, your tagalog teacher! :) hope you remembered some of the words we tried to learn.... i have been following your journey and have always been "jealous". we prayed for you today at our team (IT Team) prayer time.
Have you tried balut yet?
Thanks for sharing...
I know you're getting ready to come home in the next couple of days - we are praying for safe travel foryou!
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