15 and in prison.

Today we found out one of our youth has been put in prison. He grew up in our children's programme and is a lovely boy. Very involved, full of fun and once excited about Jesus. Last month he got involved with a gang for the first time.
Tonight he is in a prison cell with men who are awaiting trial for all sorts of crimes.
He is 15 years old.

It's 10.30pm right now and the rain is beating wildly on the roof. It sounds like a typhoon. Windows banging, doors rattling and thunder clanging.
My baby boy woke up with a short burst high pitch cry. I suppose the noises of a storm are ones he has never heard before. I held his chubby warm body against mine. His perfectly smoothly rounded cheeks pressed to mine. Within moments he was fast asleep again.
A few seconds later my darling boy Josiah sat bolt upright in the bed. He grabbed my hand and put it over his ears then after a cuddle he returned at peace to dream world.

While comforting my babies through the noises of the storm all I could think about was the mother of the boy who was put in the prison. Her heart must be torn and broken as she listens to the rain batter down on the tin roof of the upper level of temporary housing. As the rain continues to fall hard I wonder if right now  rain of tears are falling fast down her face as she thinks of her sons first night in prison.. She usually has such a beautiful smile- but not tonight.

I'm so sad to think how she must have held her only son through many a rain storm at the dump site  when he was little. I feel so heavy hearted for her as a mum. Her baby boy once safe in her arms now in the hands of police that left him bruised from a beating. Her mind must be tormented at she wrestles with the things that may happen in that prison cell.

We know this family well and have worked with them since we first arrived in the Philippines. They are good parents. The father works so hard as a Pedi cab driver to provide the most he can for his children. He is a gentleman. The mother really cares for her children and has a determination to see them do well in school and in life. They have raised their son well. I know they will be  asking themselves what else they could have done. The Father told Ron as he cried that he was crying because his son had not listened to his instruction. As his youth leaders we are also searching our hearts. What else could we have done? He only got into the gang a few weeks ago. What is we had been back one month earlier from Scotland. Maybe.....

I haven't mentioned any names or gone into detail because I don't want to embarrass the family but God knows this young boy. He knows all about the crime whether guilty or innocent and cares. He knows exactly what has happened and what will happen to him. He knows who you will be talking about if you pray for him even without a name to base your prayers on, so please would you pray for him and his parents.
Thank you.

*according to Philippine law is  illegal for a minor to be put in jail with adults. Police have said they are only holding him until The department of social welfare and development take over the case- It is still against the law.

IT'S NOT FAIR

Today was our first full day back at the dump site since returning from Scotland. The purpose of this quick blog is not really to give an update, but so I won't forget the feelings of today.As we we began walking toward the community I turned to Ron and asked him how he felt.

"It's not fair"

A strange or simplistic reply you might think. You see- Its NOT fair.

THE INJUSTICE OF POVERTY IS NOT FAIR.

ITS NOT RIGHT.

As we walked today and as I write now I feel a fiery stirring up inside my heart.I believe God put it there. It's kind of an anger- stirred to ACT-stirred to DO something kid of anger. Motivated by seeing such squaller. Compelled by knowing such special people who live in such squaller. Knowing that this is not God's plan for them.
As we spent time with some of the families we love and are privileged to help I had the following words repeating in my mind;
For every family we help there are hundreds we have not yet reached. For every familiar face that came to say thank you, there are faces who look across the mire of the place as if to say- you haven't  done anything for me yet.
It's nice to say- its about that one- one person - one family- one at a time. That is true, but when you bend knee to knee on the dirt with another starving child or put your arms round a mother who just cant bear the load of so many problems, the thought that you may have helped someone else does not make one bit of difference. I think God allows us to feel this pain because it's a needy reminder of how useless we are without him. So useless without Him.

Today I met a little boy I have never seen before. His name is Vince and I guessed he is about 1. I haven't taken a picture because his tiny frame was naked. He was covered in bites and wounds with that all too common expression of hunger and neglect. The whole time I was holding him all I could think of was our healthy so loved baby boys.
I couldn't wait to squeezy hug them and thank God that they were not living like Vince.

Vince is just another one of many I had never met before.  Another one who needs love.Another one who needs hope. Another one who needs pratical help. Another one who needs the caring Jesus to take him from the dunghill, lift him from the ashes and create a beautiful hope and future.

We just want to say thank you to each person who continues to partner with us and the team to sustain the work here. Only God knows what the future holds for this community-Relocation for the people or not. All we know is we are meant to be here for now. Not because we are the best qualified.Not because we have a fancy organisation.Not because we are the most spiritual or any other grand reason- but because Jesus loves these people and given us a heart to love them. So desperate to see many more lives changed on earth and into eternity.