First month in the Philippines

During my first month here, several students and I have returned several times to a downtown area in Manila where several families live in the street. The first time was on the way to a coffee house (run by a co-op of dwarves) for a time to relax. We never made it to the Hobbit House, but as we cut across a small side street we met the street people we would soon call friends. I soon learned much about the life of these families. One 29 year old lady named Jenny was sick with TB. We met her on a Sunday and by that Saturday, she was dead. One of her friends told her story of being sold by her family (to whom and for what, I don’t know). She lived in a small plaza under a small umbrella. Jenny’s wake was yesterday with a glass jar over her rental casket to collect enough money to pay for the wake and burial. She has no traceable family.

Another lady we met told us about how she would sleep up in trees to escape having all her things burned and being thrown in jail. She had a limp from falling out of a tree trying to escape police. Today we visited a mother who had a baby with a fever and dehydrated from diarrhea. These are the daily lives of many of the families that live on the street. While walking around the city, there are so many needs. Some can be solved with simple medical intervention, some with money (such as to pay for funerals, hospital bills, and daily food), and other with a couple hours time spent with needy people.

The situation is the same for the entire human race. Jesus healed the sick, spent time with the outcasts of society and gave to all who were in need. Redemption. Jesus redeemed our souls from destruction, death, and hell. When we are able to lift another from danger, sickness, spiritual deprivation, depression or poverty, we are imitating the example Christ gave us during his life on earth. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:35, the Samaritan said he would repay WHATEVER costs the treatment incurred. So many times I have to stop and ask myself if I am willing to give whatever it takes to redeem someone and to what extent I am willing to do that.