Coming face to face with suffering is one of the hardest things.

Coming face to face with real suffering is one of the hardest things.When you have done all you can do to try and alleviate their pain and you feel so helpless, all you can do is cry and pour out your heart before God for them. Doesn't matter how many times you see the injustice of suffering. It doesn't get easier. I'm thankful we believe in the God who feels....

This is Mary Chris (on the left)

This is Mary Chris

Yesterday Mary Chris and her family did not know Ron and I were going to do a house visit. When we got there we found the mother and husband of Mary sitting crying. They are heartbroken. They are all suffering.

20 year old Mary has been diagnosed with malnutrition and tuberculosis. She had been confined in hospital until the family were told by staff that "the government has run out of money for treatment" and so she was sent home with a long list of medicines and other items she was supposed to buy. Her husband Babie  works all hours collecting and cleaning plastic bottles.He is a hard worker but could not even begin to afford most of the items on that list. Yesterday he was so loving with his wife. He held her skeletal frame and kept gently rubbish her arm. He told her in front of Ron and I that she was still beautiful.

We are so grateful that several people have responded and have made it possible for us to buy the medicines, daily needs and pay for hospital fees. This was the news that we gave them yesterday. Their tears of despair turned into tears of relief and thankfulness. They said they knew God had heard their prayers after all. He saw them cry.

We were able to spend a long time with this lovely family yesterday. We have come face to face with much suffering before and I could probably count on one hand the times when we have actually cried in front of people. I personally find there is a strength that takes over and allows us to focus on trying  to help rather than be consumed by emotion. For me it's when I go to the secret place and am physically away from the site that the tears flow for them. When I go and sit with God to talk about what we have seen or cuddle up beside my husband , many times its then I feel the real burden and pain of the situation.

But when I sat face to face with Mary yesterday holding her frail hand. When I felt her skinny fingers cling onto mine and saw the pain in her beautiful but sunken eyes I could not stop myself from weeping.When I saw how she was in agony trying to move her position because of the pain of her bed sores, no words came.As we watched her do her very best to take sips of the vitamin drinks but vomited most of it straight back up, I could do nothing but sit quietly.

I felt totally and utterly useless.

We all wept and prayed together calling out to Jesus to heal her. We all cried from our hearts that God would step in and fix all that needed fixing. We all thanked God that He did hear our prayers and touched the hearts of people to respond in giving quickly.

                                                       Would you pray for this family.

I'm so glad we serve a God who feels. I know His heart beats with love for Mary Chris and her family. I know he cares.

I think of my own step dad at this time. He too is suffering greatly with cancer. I am physically far away but I know my family who have watched him fight so bravely and become so frail are hurting. I'm sure they feel helpless. I do.I know God cares.

I know our God is the only one who can change these situations.I trust that He knows best.

 I think each of us are called to do everything we possibly can to help those who are suffering.Our hearts tell us its so unjust and we are compelled to act. Yet our feelings of helplessness remind us that our efforts seem so small in comparison with one touch from Jesus.Everything in our being tells us that we need Him to step in and take over.

Please God, step in and take over.

A letter from a Rose

Have you ever been going through a time where circumstances or people could potntially really discourage you and then at the perfect moment someone or something would encourage you to the very core? 

Below is a letter written from a Rose amongst the trash. It's to a group of our ministry partners from Bransgore Community Church who are sponsoring her further education in teaching.
I asked her permission if it was OK to publish her letter here. She said yes!
Today this letter lifted my spirit and reminded me that God is at work, motivated me to continue and lifted my heart to bring to mind that lives are being changed.

 

Rosemae ready for her first day at college

Hi!



My name is Rosemae S Melendres. I’m 16 years old. I live in a dump site in Tondo, Manila. I am one of the teachers in Kids Church. I’m teaching the 7-8 years old class.

When I was 11 years old Kuya Ron (big brother) and Ate Joanna (big sister) first visit to Tondo they teaching Sunday school. I'm one of the first 12 kids in the room. If you are listening to them and if you remember what they are teaching you get points every week. If you get 5 points you get a reward bag of grocery and  I always get points. Its 5, then 10 and it become 15.Ate Joanna asked me if I become her assistant in Sunday school. When I’m 12 years old I become Ate Joannas translator. I don’t know how I can translate. I only know me and Ate Joanna  pray before we start  teaching then I understand everything she say. It’s a miracle for me because I'm only 12 years old and I don’t have a dictionary or a teacher to teach me how to understand English. I know it is a blessing from God. Now I’m teaching 7-8 years old.

Before when Ate Joanna and Kuya Ron come here the first week there are only 12 children. But it become hundreds and hundreds. Now my whole family are in church. My mother is a volunteer. She cooks in the kitchen for the children and my father is guarding the church. Another miracle.

First of all I would want to thank God to giving me a sponsor and I want to say thank you to all of you who give me a chance to study in college. I thought before that I’m not going because the income of my family is not enough to college. But God is always there for me and he know that I really want to go to college and to become a successful lady. It’s not only for me but for my parents and my brother and sisters and to help the children in our community to help them know the love of God.

I don’t know how can I give back the help that you gave to me. I don’t have anything to give back. What I only have is Jesus. I pray to him all of you and to give you a good health and better life with Jesus.

God bless you and thank you very much.

 Rosemae :)

We have had the privilege of watching Rosemae grow up into a beautiful young woman who has a heart for God and a heart for people. She has been a faithful translator and I would have been lost for words (literally) on many an occasion without her. We have watched God answer her prayers for he family as they have come to know the Lord one by one.God is so good!! We are excited to see how God will shape out an amazing future for her.

Diamonds in the dirt.

When you think of a community clean up what do you envisage?

Picking up cans and empty crisp packets? Painting over graffiti?  Black bin bags stuffed with litter along the roadside? Regular stops to have a nice cup of tea and a cream bun?

That sounds like a day out compared to the meaning of a community clean up within a dump site area.I'm really not a writer so I'm finding it hard to even think of words that properly describe the physical appearance and smells within the place. I vaguely remember at some point in primary school the teacher saying to write down all the "describing words" before you start a story. I am stumped so here goes!

BLACK, THICK, TOXIC, RANCID SMELLING GOO, HUMAN EXCREMENT,LIQUID METHANE, FERMENTED TRASH LIQUEFIED, RATS-DEAD AND ALIVE, A RIVER OF TAR LIKE MUSH, A SMELL THAT CLINGS TO YOUR BODY AND CLOTHES LIKE AN UNWANTED SICKNESS, DISEASE RIDDEN SLUDGE.

This is Kuya Dodie
His "work".....
- To dive under the toxic mush with his eyes closed feel around for the trash and unblock the drainage.
As Ron told him last week- HE IS A HERO!!

I wondered before if it sounds like we are exaggerating when we talk about the infested waters in our newsletters, but they really are infested! They seep into the church hall after it has rained for any length of time. but much worse, they pour into the homes of the children. Its hard to even begin to imagine the disease in it. We have often seen the children play in it and then come to the activities with their skin actaully peeling off or discoulred.

Every few months Ron leads some of the team to help do a "clean up". The goal is to try and make the area a bit less flood proof. Garbage blocks every crevice leaving the molten liquid trash no where to go. So at least by removing as much as they can from the drainage it helps for a while. The community always get on board. There are amazing men, women and children who come out to help. It's really a team effort!

The people  who come out to wade through the muck are diamonds. Some of the kindest people I have ever met.There is a real sense of community here in spite of all the problems. When there is tragedy and crisis they pull together. This community is so resilient.They don't just pull through- they spring back! I have witnessed them experience great loss and they don't just survive- they recover. We have seen them recover from floods and typhoons where some have them have lost every earthly possession they had. We have watched them rebuild after fires have destroyed whole rows of homes in minutes. Of course they are sad and weep over these heartaches, but I can honestly say I have never heard a moan. I have never seen the complain and say its unfair, I have truthfully never heard any of them blame God. Never.

We have learned so much from them. We came to serve them and bless them. But in actual fact they bless us. They are a constant reminder of how beauty dwells where you least expect it. They are a challenge as to whether our joy is really dependent on Jesus or our circumstances.They are a reminder that we were all in a dung heap before Jesus rescued us.

Some of our overseas volunteers have described the physical place in their own way. Here are a few;

"Its like a war zone"
"Everything is grey"
"Its the closest thing to hell on earth"
"I have been to many poor areas. This is the worst i have seen"

Strong words.

And YET the people are treasures.
I think if Jesus was on earth he would sit himself down in the mud with them, talk to them, love them. I think he would stand with his beautiful feet in black liquid waste for hours and tell the the good news. I think he would  kneel down amongst the garbage and the flies to let the children climb up on him and let them touch his face with their dirty hands.

If only I could have His eyes for just one second. I wonder what words he would use to describe this community?
I wonder?

In the space of 2 days

Have you ever gone through a day and not really thought about what has went on until afterwards? The other night I was sitting thinking about that day and the day before and realised what had become "normal" for us.

Within the space of 2 days......

I met a lovely lady who sold her hair for P250 so she could buy food for her baby. Priorities eh? Hair or food? The young mum was shyly giggling as she told me how she thought she looked "ugly like a boy" with her new short hair. I actually had no idea that there were people who now come around the comunity offering the women a little money for their hair. The women told me they take it and make wigs and hair extensions. I wonder how much they get sold for? I'll bets it's a lot more than P250! (3 pounds 60 pence)

We were helping some of the youth apply for college. It's been amazing to see God at work in their lives and watch Him carving out a hope and future. We never planned to send youth to college but the Lord clearly put people across out path who wanted to partner with us in this- amazing! Anyway during one of the days that Ron was taking them to their college interviews we found out about experiences they had went through that we had no idea about.
When you see the young people who have been changed by Jesus its hard to imagine the brokenness they have faced. Each one has a story of hurt in their past.It often shocks us to hear of the torture they have endured.
Can you imagine your parents keeping your sibling but abandoning you on a dump site?
How would you function if you had memories of your father measuring a rope to hang you, your sister and your mother on?
Could you even raise your head off the pillow in the mornings if you had endured rape, pregnancy and miscarriage at the age of 13?
These are real stories. They are the stories of amazing young people who somehow still love,still smile and still serve others.  

There are lots of horror stories about Tondo.Some true. Some not. We always feel pretty safe there though we do know its definitely not always a safe place to be. The other day we were reminded of that when Ron met a "security guard" at one of the potential building we were looking at to move our ministry base to. Ron said he was a nice friendly guy. Ron got the feeling he knew us and the work even though we have never met him.
So it turns out he is an assassin. A real assassin. He carries a gun and he uses it.
We found out later that he is well known in the Tondo community. Though Ron did not know it at the time, he was standing face to face with the man who murdered the father of one of the children we work with regularly. This man shot the child's father in the head in front of her and the whole family. Little Aira stopped talking for months and the whole situation was so tragic. We have watched God heal her. Ron meeting this man was a reminder of the violence the children see all the time and a reminder of how there is still much change needed in this community

One particular plot of land we were considering turned out not to be so promising! We found out that it was actually being used as a cover for something very sinister.A member of the local government (who shall remain nameless) allegedly has a right hand man who does "clean up jobs". This basically involves getting rid of anything or anyone in the way! Underneath the building we were thinking about renting is a grave yard. It turns our all of the community know that bodies that need getting rid of are buried here. It seems to be very well knows in Tondo, but no one says anything out of fear of the guy who is responsible in putting them there. So needless to say we are no longer considering this building as we would not know how the rent money would be used by this "right hand man". Another reminder of the corruption and injustice that has grips of strongholds in the community- and the country. It would all seem so hopeless without Christ. He loves justice and will keep his promises to never forsake his people.


There is much healing needed in the squatters communities. Sometimes it seems the poor get poorer and the sick get sicker. Its so hard to watch lovely people become so ill. Its so hard to be restricted by funds as to whether we can help in a case or not. Many times we can because of the kindess of people, but it's frustrating not to have a health service where money doesn't matter. I know when i was living in Scotland I just took for granted that I could do to the doctors for free whenever I needed. If that happened here so many lives would be saved.
We are trying to help one girl at the moment named Mary who is just so frail and weak. To watch someone dying before your eyes is an awful thing.Her skeletal frame seems to be fading daily and we know that without a miracle and provision she will not make it. God is the healer. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We have witnessed miracles time and time again and know with one touch Marys body could be whole. Sickness is not Gods will. Just another hurt that the enemy uses with the poor to try and crush all hope.

I thank God that there is no situation outwith his reach. He is in control at all times. He knows what tomorrow will bring for each person in these communities. He can heal the sick. He can provide for a desperate mother. He can give hope and a future to a teenager with a broken past. He can even save an assassin and bring justice to corruption. He can.

One born every minute.

To most people 8 pence is nothing. Most of us wouldn't put a grocery item back on the shelf if there was an 8p difference would we? But for many mothers living in poor areas  it's the difference between being able to give your baby milk or not.

Some of the mothers we work with are undernourished and so are unable to produce breast milk. We recently started a "mummy and me" group at the dump site. I learned a few things....

For many of the mums buying powder milk is not even an option. It costs P11 for one sachet of milk. That's the cheapest brand. The mums told me that when they cannot afford this they purchase a sachet at P3- but not a sachet of milk- a sachet of coffee. They shared that much of the time even a shachet of coffee is out their budget and so they give their babies *am.

*am is the local name for the left over water that the rice is cooked in.

So the order goes like this
breast milk- powder milk- coffee- rice water.

The amazing women in the mothers group reminded me of the continual dilemmas they face. Its really daily survival. They  fight every day just to make sure their babies have something to drink.

They are warrior mums.

Their stories promted me to remember an incident that happened a while back....
One Sunday morning a women with a wash of fear across her face came rushing to us holding a tiny bundle of rags. It was a new born baby boy. The women was a neighbour and she told us in a panic how the mother was trying to sell him.At first i thought how awful it was and then i shut my mouth and listened.

Lis  already had 6 children. Her husband lay in a shack they called home, sick with tuberculosis. She worked bagging up charcoal on the dump earning about P100-P200. She was working until the day she gave birth. Her frail and undernourished body could not make milk. She was desperate.How could she possibly feed this baby boy?

When we spoke to Lis  about the possibility of finding her baby a home she told us she did not really want to get rid of him atall and that she loved him. But she felt he would die is she kept him and so was trying to give him a better life. A life where he could eat.Through the kindness of one of our partners we were able to offer a life line. We could buy milk and deliver it every week for the baby. Milk was the difference between a baby being sold to who knows where and being kept with his family.

SIMPLE AS MILK

I absolutely cannot even imagine how distressed I would be if I could not feed my son. I remember when he would not latch on one night and I was in such a state! What if I really could not feed him?How heartbreaking. How would I be able to even function?  I'd be consumed with worry.As  look at our beautiful son lying beside me now, well fed, healthy- I thank God. I really thank God.

A woman called Vee who comes to the group told me some of her story.My ears heard her but it wasn't until later on that my heart began to take it in.Sometimes the ladies talk of loss and tragedy as though its a normal part of life.
Her 17 year old daughter died very soon after giving birth. The doctor in the government clinic told the family it was "just a complication".
Vee was left suddenly caring for a new born baby. She too already had a new born baby. Through her grief she nurtured as best she could 2 new lives. I could see in her eyes  how hard her life was.Yet she never once complained. As she spoke the 2 babies (now around 1) played around her feet unaware of the daily battle their Mama faced just to keep them breathing. For this woman to have a weekly delivery of milk would be one less burden to carry.

I'm in awe of Vee and many in the slums like her. They find the strength to go on and fight to keep their baby alive. As they struggle on- they smile. Through their worry- they worship.In their burdens-they believe a better day will come.Though their load is so very heavy, they love their children.Warrior mums.

We are so grateful to those people who pledge monthly for milk. You make it possible for us to help some of the babies most in need. Thank you.
There are more waiting....

baby jimmy 2 months

baby jimmy 3 months later

    

You will find Him in the streets. You will find Him in the prisons.

"You will find Him in the streets. You will find Him in the prisons..."

These are words penned by Michael Gungor in a song called "Cannot hold you".

The other day these words became a reality for me.....

We spent 2 days up North about 8 hours bus ride from Manila to have time with one of the loveliest couples we know.  Mark and Mary Ritchie are beautiful friends to us.They have faithfully served here in the Philippines for 12 years and are being called into a new season to go back to the UK. The legacy they are leaving at Sefton Village is nothing short of a miracle. Its just an amazing place. They have built up a school, a children's home, bible college,planted 16 churches and raised up a strong team of 70 Filipinos. I'm sure I have forgotten something, but you get the idea. They have done an incredible work. What inspired Ron and I more than anything was that Christ really is at the centre of every single ministry. Jesus at the centre of it all- the way it should be. 

On  Saturday morning we were honoured to join their team in prison ministry. They have been going here every week for 6 years if I'm not mistaken.
Ron has had lots of experience in prison ministry as he used to be part of a wonderful work in Subic that are still faithfully serving inmates and their children. Anyway, for me it was the first time to go inside a Filipino prison.

By the time we got in the worship had already started. Their JOY was contagious!.It took only moments to enter into the spirit of worship that was so present. I totally forgot where I was. It was a powerful moment as I saw how The Truth really does set men and women free.

It wasn't until I opened my eyes and was confronted with a wash of faded yellow prison t shirts that I remembered .....

We were in a place where up to 50 men share a tiny cell. I saw them. There wasn't even any room for all of them to stand at the one time. Their room was dark and smelly.

We were in a place where no one had been on trial yet. Many had already been waiting for years.

I learned that in the Filipino justice system you are guilty until proven innocent. I learned that the more money you have, the faster your trial. There were many things I could not understand about the system and the conditions these people were living in. But I was sure of one thing-
God was in this place.
It was an awesome experience to be part of the baptism of 29 inmates. As each of them stumbled into the well used blue barrel they were proclaiming that old things had passed away and all things had become new. Just a really humbling moment to witness the transforming love of Jesus.

The next night we travelled back on the over night bus so that we could make it back in time for the church anniversary in Tondo. (I should say the experience riding on the top bunk with a baby on that bus probably deserves its own blog!) :)

We were home for 20 minutes to get a much needed shower and then back out to go to the dump site. As we walked the muddy streets I was reminded once again-
God is in this place.
The children who have come to know Jesus have an unshakable joy! Sometimes it challenges me to the very core.
Here are beautiful children living  amongst stinking trash. Some have been abandoned here. Many go days without food. Some experience abuse.Yet when they close their eyes and chose to focus on Jesus they encounter worship in such a tangible way. His beauty shines through them.

Isn't it awesome how God Almighty,the One who holds the seas in the palm of His hand would choose to dwell in these places? He chooses to abide in the places and people that human reasoning would not imagine.His eyes look past the labels that this world would force upon us and sees the heart- sees what we can become in Him.
Amazing grace.

It's me against the ants!!! (title irrelevant) :)

I feel like I should clarify that the title of this blog has nothing to do with the content. It's just that I was observing how many troops of ants have invaded our home since we left! :)

It's 4am and our baby boy has just finished a great wee jet lagged inspired play time! I am wide awake.

I was  talking to God and thinking over our 5 months in Scotland. We really knew it was time for a season with family. We haven't really had that at all in 4 years. We're usually only back for a few weeks and much of that time ends up being focused on updating ministry partners and fundraising. This time it was great just to have more undisturbed time with family. Precious moments shared with Josiah, time with sick loved ones, family weddings and lots of laughs.

It was uplifting to have time with friends and make new ones. As I was thinking about our trip, it occurred to me that it really was so much to do with friendship.I was wondering why God would do that! Our life in the Philippines has been very much centered around the dump site. Any friends outwith there that we have got close to always seem to just be passing through the coutry. I've talked to God on several occasions about this! :)

For the first time going back to the UK, we made so many new friends. I mean, real true, God inspired friend ships. So as well as being round our long time faithful supportive forever friends, we made new ones. Why would God do this when He knows we are leaving the country and going to leave them all behind? I'm not actually sure! Don't get me wrong we have lovely people around us where we work but its different when you are surrounded by people who know your heart, speak life and encouragement into your life, pray with you and pray for you. They love and look for nothing in return.

Any one who runs a company or ministry may feel that people forget or don't think you need that encouragement. Instead you are there to trouble shoot and help everyone else with their problems. My friend often says " who motivates the motivator?". It goes without saying that God definatly does. He is the well from where all of our needs are met. But I also think I learned on this trip another answer to that question....
FRIENDS

When you live far away from the people you love, you really learn to appreciate just how amazing friend ship is. It's a total gift from God. We need each other to walk this often messy path of life.I'm thankful today for the special friends Abba Daddy has hand picked to be in my life- no matter what side of the globe they live at!

The ramlings of a first time mummy's heart.

Blood shot eyes, jelly belly, milky vomit stained into an over sized t shirt and everything hurting from the neck down. It's not really the picture of maternal beauty I had seen in pregnancy magazines! The first  early morning with our new baby at home had began!  In a strange way- a very strange way it was kind of a beautiful thing as it was the sign that our lives had changed forever and our firstborn was here!

our first week together- sleepyheads!

We took our precious baby boy home 12 hours after I had given birth. Josiah Jack Domingo was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. When I held him for the first time and  his big brown eyes locked onto mine that was it! I was hook line and sinker SMITTEN.

I remember being overwhelmed that God had formed such a beautiful treasure and entrusted us with him! Imagine this tiny perfect bundle was a product of the love between my husband and I.A  bit of him and a bit of me! What grace!!

Yep! I can definitely say that carrying and giving birth to Josiah gave me a fresh revelation of Gods love and favour. But the thing is every day that passes, every new and sometimes seemingly insignificant thing our baby boy does just reinforces the goodness of God. Every precious baby born is totally unique. I am learning they  don't all go by the books and that's so brilliant because it shows the uniqueness and creativity of our God.

Yesterday was one of the most special moments of my life. Since we got married in the Philippines and gave birth out there we decided we would have the dedication of our son in Bonnie Scotland. One of the really lovely things about that was that I think for the first time ever all my friends and family were actually gathered in one place. It was really special for me and Ron and we were overwhelmed with the love and kindness shown. As I looked across all the faces as we led worship I just felt how incredibly blessed we are to have such special friends and family. Such a diverse and much needed bunch of people!  Without a doubt the most difficult thing about living at the other side of the world is leaving them behind.

my boys

During the service I felt captured by what an awesome thing it was to dedicate your baby by faith to the Father of all Fathers and give him back to the One who formed him.What an honour and what a challenge to get to have this amazing little guy in our lives every day. I see all the time Rons Daddy heart toward our boy.I love it! What a beautiful type of The Fathers love to His people.

This parenting journey is terrific and terrifying all at the same time. Surely only Abba Daddy could think this up!



I was reminded of a verse today that I haven't thought about for a while.


 Isaiah 49:15-16

 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my Hands....

There is such a strong bond when nursing.How could I ever forget Josiah? My brain has turned to total mush because I'm thinking of his every need. I spoke to friends who have older children and they tell me that actually your brain never fully recovers!  But really, how could I forget about my son? I have witnessed older mothers fervently have compassion on their sons. No matter what, they have never given up on them. They have faithfully cried and prayed for them and no matter what loved them. ding

I just can't get my heart around the thought that if I feel such powerful feelings of love in my imperfect state how must God feel?How must He love!

I don't think words can really describe properly the love in a mothers heart.But to me it feels like a fiery,  all consuming, ready to become a warrior to protect our child, ready to be anything to do the best for him, overwhelming unconditional kind of love. I don't even think that's even a proper sentence but I know you other mummy's get it!

How much more does God love me? I'm His child. He actually did demonstrate His love by making the ultimate sacrifice any  good parent would- He died in my place.He died so I could live. He was rejected so I would be accepted. He never forgets me. My mind just cannot grasp it but I pray my spirit would. What amazing love!

If my heart burns with love for Josiah and my hubby, how much more should it burn  with love for the One who gave them to me.

 If I could really feel His heart of love  as a reality every single day maybe then I could learn how to fufill my full potential as a mummy.

Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made the dedication day so special. x

BUT GOD.

Just thinking of friends and family who are going painful  situations just now. Sometimes there is nothing else to be prayed, sighed and hoped for except "BUT GOD"

I come with whys and don't understands

But God reminds me I'm safe in His hands,

My heart may feel weak and sometimes afraid

But God gently whispers His plans are still laid,

At times feel confused with uncertainly

But God comes again and says He loves me,

No matter the feeling, numbness or pain

There's a comfort in all- the But God remains.

I'm looking to others, their eyes full of sorrow

But God gives His hand-He holds their tomorrow,

Loved ones afflicted It seems so unjust

But God's in control  I must always trust,

In moments of fear tears are still shed

But God is my rest and by His hand I'm lead,

No matter how sad,weakened or drained

There's a constant, a surety- The But Gods don't change!

Barbie came to the dump site!

Walking in the swelltering heat doing house visits on the dump site we heard a mans voice shout from behind...
"Hey, she looks like Barbie!"
The comment was directed to a  very special volunteer that I'll try my best to tell you a wee bit about. :)

Barbie AKA Maureen, a 70 year old with the energy of a 17 year old came to volunteer with us 3 years ago. On her first visit she stayed for 6 months. She returned the following year for another 6 months.Then in 2011 she felt a pull in her spirit to do it again. She gave another year of her life to the work and left Manila yesterday.

Maureen came simply with a huge heart to serve. She had a willing spirit just to do whatever was needed- whenever. Throughout her time Maureen  got involved in a bit of everything. Here's some of what she got up to.( I'm sure I'll forget loads)

-Overseeing and helping train workers for our creche for 1-4 year old (brave lady- its nuts in there!)
-Helping out at the feeding program serving thousands of meals, cleaning little plates, holding little hands and bringing big smiles to children who often don't have much to cheer them up.
-Running the drama group
-Supporting at bible studies, prayer meetings and visitations
-Assisting at youth camps and field trips
-Leading art activities at kids clubs and drop in centre
-Doing a host of unglamouros but vital jobs such as  cleaning infested stockrooms, sorting donations, making paper decortaions, taking pictures for sponsors... and more cleaning!

I almost forgot dancing in front of a few hundred Filipinos at community concerts!

I could gibber on but you get the idea. She came to love and help out wherever we needed her to! She came to build relationships and really care. It was such a blessing to have an extra pair of hands and a listening ear around. She added to the team with her experience, creative ideas and Scottish banter!

I know Maureen won't mind me mentioning the fact that she was a little accident prone during her stay! There are a few incidents that come to mind but this is number one on the charts!
 She is the first volunteer to end up tumbling into a man hole thingy at the dump site resulting in her being covered in mud, squidge and whatever else was down there!. The ladies in Tondo thought they would help her out by hosing her down-with her clothes still on! Did Maureen complain being absolutly soaked by the locals?Not at all! She giggled all the day long!

There is loads more I could write about how fab Maureen is, but I'm doing this while our bouncing baba is napping so it has to be a little on the rushed side.

Maureen, our team, children, youth and mummy's in Tondo and Navotas love you and will really miss having you around. You are an amazing example of dropping everything to go on an unknown journey, stepping out in faith with Jesus and heeding the call to go and serve. I hope I have the same zeal and compassion that you have when I'm your age. (I know you don't mind me mentioning how many years young you are!) I pray I would have the same teachable spirit,always willing to learn and ever aware of  depending on the Saviour- as you are.

Thank you for being a great friend.

To anyone thinking about volunteering or going on short term mission-NEVER think you are too old! Don't be like so many and say "Oh I would love to do something like that". Take Maureens example... go and do it! If it's a desire in your heart, take a step of faith and let God work out the rest!