We went with all the
kids to Rizal recreation center on Monday and Tuesday. We had such a great
time. There is so much to do there. We played ping pong, volleyball (in the
rain), swam in the pool where there is a huge water slide, played basketball,
badminton, chess, watched movies, and had an all around good time hanging out.
I had so much fun playing with the kids at all the different games. I’m amazed
at how good they are at chess. One of the kids, Ronnel, completely destroyed
me. It was great to have some good competitive games though, and we had a lot
of fun.
I
had to lead devotions one night. For those of you who know me well know that
public speaking is not one of my favorite things, but I actually looked forward
to talking in front of them. We had a little over 40 people there that I was
able to talk to. I shared with everyone my Bible reading challenge that I have
given to the boys, and I also challenged everyone there to start a Bible
reading plan. I tried to impart how important it is to read the Bible daily
because it is God’s word to us, and how it is all applicable to our lives in
every situation. Joshua 1:8, Romans 15:4.
Today,
Wednesday, Toto took a few of us to visit one of the churches they built a
couple of years ago. It is right on the beach, and because there was a typhoon
the other day the people hadn’t eaten in three days. We brought with us about
15 boxes of food for the church to hand out to the surrounding community.
I
was amazed at the poverty of the area. The people live in mostly tiny huts made
of bamboo with metal roofs. They make their living by catching fish, but
because the water is crazy right now so they can’t do much of that. There were
kids all around the beach digging through the sand because they were finding
coins that were wasting up on the beach. Seeing the swollen bellies, contrasted
by the ever-present smiles was an interesting phenomenon. Though they are dirt
poor they always seem to find joy in the little things. It’s hard to explain my
feelings because I want to help them so much by giving them things, but maybe
they are living the right way with no attachments to earthy goods. Maybe I’m
really the one that needs help. It really made me start thinking about helping
the poor, and how Jesus kept that issue at the forefront of His ministry. I’m
amazed at how loving the poor are. I hope and pray that I can repay their joy
with even more.
The preacher of the
church made lunch for us, and I’m still amazed. He was honored to have us, and
he shared what little he did have with us. We had some Tuna and rice, and I
also tried my first squid, which was surprisingly really good.
I can’t get over the
happiness of these people. They literally had nothing. Their houses were feet
away from the ocean, and in some cases the ocean was slapping up against the
bamboo boards of their houses. Yet they were happy with nothing because they
have EVERYTHING! They have Christ in their hearts, and their ministry by the
beach is as real as any I’ve seen.
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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