Hard Hats Required

This last week has been a week where the Lord really moved me in a special way. It was Children’s Ministry week and we put together 3 children’s outreaches as a team. It was definitely a time where I saw the Lord working and just giving me a heart for children. This week I truly came to terms with how blessed I really am. To have clothes on my back, food on the table, and other “luxuries” that most of the world does not have like a bed, a kitchen, bathroom, etc. There’s a place in Iloilo City called Calajunan. It’s the city dump!! Going to the city dump was a very humbling experience. I cannot even put into words what it was like. When we arrived at the city dump, I had no idea what to expect. We walked through piles and piles of trash that extends for miles. I bet you’re all wondering why we would walk through the city dump, but there are actually about 3000 families that have built a place to live all along and inside the dump. When we visited the dump, what surprised me the most was the amount of children that grow up in this environment. There were even a few NEWBORN babies that were born in the houses in the dump. These kids don’t have shorts/pants/diapers/shoes. Their clothes are torn and dirty. I can’t even put into words what it was like to experience such a sight

This picture was taken of us while we were walking in the dump. A picture is worth a thousand words, but there are thousand other things that need to be said.  The smell alone was soo intense that there were a few times where I felt like I was going to vomit. You cannot see the trash that lies behind us and how high the trash REALLY goes to the left. We walked along this path, and it was just a sight that will forever be engrained in my head. You can see how there are houses all along the dump and inside the dump.

You can see the emptiness of people’s faces as they wonder if this is all their life will be. We only experienced it for 2 hrs, but these people live it everyday of their lives! They walk on the trash barefoot, live on the trash, and breathe in the trash. This is their life, and this is all they know. They are living in a place where people’s trash are dumped. Where the forgotten belongings that was once held in our hands were placed. They are in the midst of piles of the forgettable things. Piles of papers, rotten food, McDonald wrappers, broken cd players, etc. As they walk amongst the things that are forgotten, there’s a God who has not forgotten them. They are loved by God just as much as He loves us.

This last week was a true time of seeing the hand of God on our team. The purpose for visiting the dump was so that we could plan a children’s outreach at the dump. In total, we put together 3 children’s outreaches; 1 on Thursday and 2 on Saturday (morning and afternoon).

Two of the events were done at the center that we have been helping at, and the last event was at the dump. We invited all the kids and made sure that they could experience the Love of God in a powerful way.

During the 3 events, I was able to lead worship in a new and exciting way that I never was use to. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but the Lord really led me to step up out of my comfort zone and reach my inner child =).

At the first event, I led a bible lesson about the Good Samaritan. For the second event I was able to create a memory verse puzzle in the local language. It was boys vs. girls and they had to put the puzzle together and learn the memory verse. The kids had a great time and they seemed to really enjoy themselves.

I’ve learned a great deal about children’s ministry and the best ways to communicate the gospel to children. I enjoyed it alot!

Our last children’s event was done on Saturday afternoon at the local dump. When we visited the dump earlier in the week, we visited a lot of the families and had invited the kids to come to the children’s event for the afternoon.

I led worship for the event and all I can say that it was EXTREMELY HOT during the day! The kids seemed to really have lots of fun. We had a lot of fun interacting with the children and God really met some of the these kids where they needed to be met.

At the end of the event, we were able to distribute snacks and drinks for the kids so that they could leave with something in their stomachs. The kids had a smile on their face and I guess, at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Sharing the Love of Jesus to these kids so that they can go and be a light to their families. A lot of the moms came and sat and watched and it was evident that they were blessed by the event as well.

At the very end of the event, I was able to pray for a young a girl who has had heart problems. It broke my heart talking to this girl because when I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she had no response. To her, with all her heart issues she wasn’t sure if she’d live much longer. I told her that she was beautiful and special, and she didn’t believe it. I was floored! This girl is so precious and God has a plan for her life. I was able to pray over her and speak life into her. It was an unbelievable experience.

So my journey continues. Next week, our team will be flying to another island to teach at a Bible School. AAAHHH!!! I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. Please continue to keep me and my team in prayer!! God Bless!!