Yesterday we visited a dump, under a bridge in the middle of the city. Seconds upon arrive the dirty childrens hands wrapped around our necks and slipped into our hands. Their deep dark eyes searched ours before they dashed off running from american to american. We spent a good 2 hours just 'being'. just like they do every day of their lives. They dont go to school, they dont really have jobs. their parents spend whatever money they do have on solvents or glue which they sniff to make the hunger pains disappear for a few hours. or cigarettes or maybe even alcohol. any left over might be spent on powdered milk or 'mylo'-a powdered chocolate milk for the small infants. that is why these kids dont go to school, they have no money to pay for the school uniform and the other small costs.
as we walked into their home, or under the overpass a man got up from his mattress and yells "Welcome to the Philippines!" it is said that over a quarter of the population of manila lives in poverty. as you realized what you were walking into your heart broke and your eyes widened with every step. the small infants lay on the dirty mattresses with little to non clothing on. tears streaming down their faces, their noses dirty with dust and snot.
my arms found this little boy, he was small and standing alone. he didnt respond to me at all. i held him for about 2 hours. he said one small sentence in that time. he had a large burn that was slowly healing on the inside of his hand, he wore a shirt that must have been his bigger brothers, it kept slipping off his shoulder. my heart warmed as i held him. God loved him, and loves him now, and will always love him. that is the only thing that kept me from releasing my tears right there. his eyes were dark, empty and looked through me.
he ate all the noodle like soup in the cup i fed him, and two hot dog like buns with out reacting or looking up at me.
i loved him for the time i had him in my arms and my heart will never forget those big brown eyes.
God loved him, and loves him now, and will always love him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
dude. you're awesome. this is what it's all about.
ReplyDeletei'm praying for you and know what those days feel like.
i pray that he keeps giving you more and more love and that it's so real to you and the people around you that you can't contain it.
i loved this and was so refreshed to read it.
yeeeessssss!