Friday November 23, 2007
Today we had a first real intense exposure to the poverty here in Manila. We drove through the highways, and all along the sides were fields of shanty houses, some nice homes, and then more fields of shanty houses. Then further down the road were huge malls that took up acres of land and exuded an air of extravagance. The extent of poverty was overwhelming! Especially the huge contrast of rich and poor here, in very short distances.
We arrived at a jeepnie station along the side of the highway. (A jeepnie is a type of decorative and cheap fare city bus). Here is where the rugby boys live. These boys spend their days sniffing contact cement solvent to numb out the feeling of hunger and to cope with the daily hopelessness of being homeless and without food and money. We got introduced to these boys by Gabby, one of the young men that ministers to these boys under the Mercy Ministry. This ministry brings the message of hope of Jesus Christ to them, so that they can realize they have value and that they can get out of the pit of addiction and poverty they are in.
Today was just a visitation. Next week, we will minister to them along with Mercy Ministry. We got to talk with them and take pictures with them, which they absolutely loved! They kept asking us to take another picture, and then got extremely excited to see the playback of their pictures on our cameras. It was pretty funny to see how excited they are to see themselves in pictures!
We then left and drove further along the highway to meet a couple which lives by a bus stop. We were upset to find that their child, who was about 14 months, was sitting on the filthy ground, naked and being looked after by a friend of the couple. The mother had left to visit her husband in prison. The child was malnourished and without any hair. Seeing where they live (in the dirt with a tin roof), and how the child was dirty and left there really broke our hearts. His four-year old brother soon came by after having had a bike ride by another sitter. He too had no hair and was malnourished. He looked as if he was 2 years old. He had ridden the bike naked, and sat on the metal rail of the bike during the ride.
Nancy held the baby for a while, we spoke with the people there and left money so that Gabby could feed them. We had to go.
We were so upset by this scene, we prayed for these kids once we got back in the van.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
My goodness! I read your post and it brings the poverty that we read about real close.. All of a sudden you have given poverty a face, because you are there and I know you.
I am so glad that you were able to give something to help that one family feed their children. It does not solve everything, but to that one family, you were a blessing.
We are praying for you!
Wow. What an honour, to be able to hold a baby, and provide some funds, and carry some love to the very littlest of "the least of these".
It is not easy.
But I believe that God's blessing goes with hugs and smiles and food, and God stays with them, even when you have to leave.
May God continue to fill you all with His strength and His compassion today. We love you! And we are praying for you.
P.S. We have heard about typhoons and hurricanes hitting the Philippines. Since you haven't mentioned that, I assume this weather hasn't affected you?
How incredibly humbling.
And yet again, perspective on the riches taken for granted by us North Americans.
Thinking of you; praying for you.
Lynda
wow, guys. thank you for sharing those stories. we're praying for you -- God will continue to use you there as he already has - you're not just accomplishing a few little things, you're serving divine purpose there.
It was good you were able to help out even in a small way. It must be heartbreaking to see all this poverty, especially the children. What we consider poverty here really isn't poverty at all, compared to what you are seeing. At least we have food banks and free medical care.
Post a Comment