We've been in Boracay for five days now, and I'm posting here for the first time. Frankly, we've been too busy for me to sit down and do this, but I've also been struggling to process this whole experience.
Boracay is one of God's jewels, I think... an amazingly beautiful, tiny (1 mile by 7 miles) island in the Philippines. The water is a crystal clear vivid aqua color, the sky a deep blue, the sand on the beaches is pure white and powdery soft. The temperature is perfectly warm and not at all humid. The nearby islands are mountainous and green, creating a lovely, picturesque backdrop. The stars in the sky at night are countless. The natural beauty of Boracay is amazing.
And then there are the people. The people we've encountered here are the children of the poor and the poorest of the poor. We're working with a ministry here that has feeding sites located in the most impoverished areas of the island, providing meals to well over a thousand children each week. They come for a Bible story and songs, first aid, a vitamin, and a meal. We've been privileged to be a part of five feeding sites now, and our eyes have been opened to need like we've not ever seen first hand. Chickens, pigs, and mangy dogs roam around. Homes are literal huts. Garbage strewn everywhere. Little children with their teeth rotting in their mouths. Children with no shoes and even some with no pants. Children thrilled to get a sticker on their hand and a bowl of rice porridge. Children smiling and singing about Jesus inspite of their dire circumstances. A fifteen year old the size of an eight year old, probably from lack of nutrition, and unable to go to school because he must care for siblings. A little one I pulled onto my lap for a quick snuggle who stayed and stayed... we are told that many of these children's parents have no time or inclination to provide even basic care for their children. Children who are also God's jewels.
We are trying to process all of this that we've seen and experienced, rolling it all around in our heads and hearts, along with Jesus' words about "the least of these."
The feeding sites operate in the late afternoon. For a few hours each morning and early afternoon, we've been able to join with an international school group from Korea in working at a construction site where the ministry is building on a structure that will eventually house a medical and dental clinic, Christian school, and adult Bible training classes for the needy. The building has been in process since May 2007. They build as funds and workers are available. We've been shoveling sand and gravel for cement, cutting and twisting wire to secure re-bar, applying the wire to the re-bar joints, and even doing a bit of jackhammering. Tomorrow several cement pillars on the second level will be poured; we're all excited to help make that happen and know that it is due in some small part to our efforts.
In between construction and feeding sites, we've done a little swimming at the beach that is less than a hundred yards from the doors to our rooms in our spartan little hotel that faces the azure water. We've had long, relaxed dinners at restaurants with tables set up on the sand, under the starry sky.
Tomorrow we will go to the construction site again. We will go to yet another destitute area of this beautiful island and feed the children that gather there. And then for the next two days before we leave, we will not go. We might go on a snorkeling excursion to another island. We'll play at the beach. We'll eat in another restaurant. We might go sailing at sunset. But the children will still be hungry. They will lack options in their little lives. But because of the wonderful people here who have committed their lives to serving the least of these, they will hear about Jesus and experience His love.
And we will go home changed. And then what?
Boracay is one of God's jewels, I think... an amazingly beautiful, tiny (1 mile by 7 miles) island in the Philippines. The water is a crystal clear vivid aqua color, the sky a deep blue, the sand on the beaches is pure white and powdery soft. The temperature is perfectly warm and not at all humid. The nearby islands are mountainous and green, creating a lovely, picturesque backdrop. The stars in the sky at night are countless. The natural beauty of Boracay is amazing.
And then there are the people. The people we've encountered here are the children of the poor and the poorest of the poor. We're working with a ministry here that has feeding sites located in the most impoverished areas of the island, providing meals to well over a thousand children each week. They come for a Bible story and songs, first aid, a vitamin, and a meal. We've been privileged to be a part of five feeding sites now, and our eyes have been opened to need like we've not ever seen first hand. Chickens, pigs, and mangy dogs roam around. Homes are literal huts. Garbage strewn everywhere. Little children with their teeth rotting in their mouths. Children with no shoes and even some with no pants. Children thrilled to get a sticker on their hand and a bowl of rice porridge. Children smiling and singing about Jesus inspite of their dire circumstances. A fifteen year old the size of an eight year old, probably from lack of nutrition, and unable to go to school because he must care for siblings. A little one I pulled onto my lap for a quick snuggle who stayed and stayed... we are told that many of these children's parents have no time or inclination to provide even basic care for their children. Children who are also God's jewels.
We are trying to process all of this that we've seen and experienced, rolling it all around in our heads and hearts, along with Jesus' words about "the least of these."
The feeding sites operate in the late afternoon. For a few hours each morning and early afternoon, we've been able to join with an international school group from Korea in working at a construction site where the ministry is building on a structure that will eventually house a medical and dental clinic, Christian school, and adult Bible training classes for the needy. The building has been in process since May 2007. They build as funds and workers are available. We've been shoveling sand and gravel for cement, cutting and twisting wire to secure re-bar, applying the wire to the re-bar joints, and even doing a bit of jackhammering. Tomorrow several cement pillars on the second level will be poured; we're all excited to help make that happen and know that it is due in some small part to our efforts.
In between construction and feeding sites, we've done a little swimming at the beach that is less than a hundred yards from the doors to our rooms in our spartan little hotel that faces the azure water. We've had long, relaxed dinners at restaurants with tables set up on the sand, under the starry sky.
Tomorrow we will go to the construction site again. We will go to yet another destitute area of this beautiful island and feed the children that gather there. And then for the next two days before we leave, we will not go. We might go on a snorkeling excursion to another island. We'll play at the beach. We'll eat in another restaurant. We might go sailing at sunset. But the children will still be hungry. They will lack options in their little lives. But because of the wonderful people here who have committed their lives to serving the least of these, they will hear about Jesus and experience His love.
And we will go home changed. And then what?
9 comments:
What an amazing opportunity for the family!
yes. and then what?
Absolutely amazing Lynner. Thank you so much for your post. But you're right...we do these missions, and then what? We have to trust that you have planted the seed and the Lord will somehow provide - through instruments like yourselves and the others. That's the other part of the equation...trust.
Thanks for spending your vacation like this. I love you.
It is hard to know what to say to this amazing information. Thank you for posting. You help bring perspective to me as an American. I would love to be with you. I would love to treat them medically. The world is so large and vast. Yet, this is a reminder that so are the instruments of Jesus, such as you and the other people with you. and still they have given you many gifts as well, quite evident from your writing. I think I will think on this some time. Thank you.
Lynne, there are so many ways you could have spent your holidays yet you and your family chose to go and serve children in the Philipines, you have chosen to go and have your heart broken by what breaks God's. All He is asking of us is just obedience and faithfulness.
It is not a mere random circumstance that you and your family is righjt there seeing , feeling, touching, experiencing this reality in which these kids are inmersed, The Father has appointed this time and He will use it if you continue to be faithful in becoming his feet and his hands.
I so wish I was there with you.
Love you.
Thanking our Father for this experience of yours. "Life is the Journey" nailed it. Pr*ying for you all to hear the HS in what to do next as you are obedient to the Lord to bring these that you saw into His glory to worship Him with the multitudes.
Thanks Lynne. These are the places my dad used to tell me about. This is the life of my mother in Philippines. Leaving home at 12 to be a slave to someone else. But God in his rich mercy brought a man of God to her. She has her own story of redemption. I needed to be reminded of this when I sit and don't understand my relationship with her. Lord fill us with grace and love for the hurting.
Lisa
Sure gives us quite a bit to think and pray about.
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