Are they really poor?

So, we are back in Bonnie Scotland! After a 28 hour journey (which went pretty smoothly with a toddler and a big bump) it was so good to give and receive many a squeezy hug with family and friends. It's good to be back! It's good to be around friends and be able to share our hearts. It's good to be with family and meet new additions. It's good to eat fish n chips, square sausage and a whole host of other yummies!

It's been quite a busy time since landing, visiting people, getting ready for a new baby and starting our itinerary in churches and groups giving missions updates. We have been so warmly welcomed and encouraged. The last couple of days we have had more time to ourselves and I got to thinking...

Are the families we work with who live on the dump site and cemetery really poor?
I know this probably sounds a ridiculous question!

Yes, they are considered amongst the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.Going without food for days is normal to many.Not owning  a pair of shoes is not seen as anything different. Living in a shack made of plastic bags and chicken wire is just the way it is. Most of them have nothing that we would consider any earthly value. Yet, my heart will not allow me to answer that they are totally poor.

Why?
Because many of them have a relationship with Jesus. Many of them have truly made Jesus the Lord of their lives and He has become their motivation for each day. So they may have nothing of material wealth, but they have everything in Jesus.
As I was thinking about them today I found myself checking my own heart. Here in the UK I think it can be easy to get caught up in "stuff". I'm not saying having stuff is wrong. It's just that as I have watched Jesus save the lives of the poor, many a time He then becomes their everything and their all. I think this is partly because they don't have "stuff" pulling for their attention. They don't have to keep up with what so and so next door has or what the media shows is the next best thing to buy.

Since being back in Scotland I have not seen one child running around naked in the mud. I have not seen hundreds of children searching through trash to find a scrap of food. I have entered one house where a family is without running water and a toilet. Scotland is blessed! I know there are many other needs and in my opinion these needs are as much of an emergency as the ones in Manila. There are many heartbreaking issues here too.But I believe the core need is a need for Jesus.

The old man in Manila living on a festering dump site needs Jesus the same as the wealthy businessman living in a mansion in Scotland needs Jesus.

Earlier today my heart was so heavy as I thought on the culture of materialism that we seem to have in the UK. Again, I don't think its wrong for people to work hard and have nice things. But there is a great difference from having nice things or letting they things have you. I am thankful for the many people who give here out of their financial blessing or out of their need.They make what we do possible. But I am also thankful for the families we work with and love who demonstrate continually what true wealth and joy is.They have reminded me to check reality and my heart today!


Our lovely children's choir on the dump site sing a song called "I have nothing without you" I can hear it sound through my head as though they were standing in this room today. How true that rich or poor- we are nothing without Him. I need Him!

taken at our children's prayer meeting on Tondo dump site