For the past two days, I have been haunted by a text message I got from one of the campers we had back in 2006.
I had not heard from him for awhile and I last saw him in October last year when we had a medical mission in his area. He was struggling with something in his personality and when I saw him, it would seem like he was again giving in to these struggles.
The other night I got a text message from him asking me if I could refer him to anyone so he could find work. I answered and asked what he was doing the past several months.
He answered that he has not had a regular job and that all that he was able to do the past several weeks was to help families who wanted to pawn some of their items. He would do the process for them and for that he would be paid P30. (USD$ .63 cents)
He also mentioned that they still receive a monthly P300 (USD$6.38) allowance for her mom’s small work at the baranggay health clinic.
He asked me if I knew anyone who would be willing to give him a job, even a janitorial job.
His next sms really killed me… “masaya na po kami kung meron kaming isang kilong bigas sa bahay, kahit walang ulam paminsan minsan…” ( We are already very pleased when we have 1 kilo of rice, even if we don’t have any viand from time to time…)
One kilo of rice could range from P24 – 40. A good variety of rice could be bought for about P30.
What pains me is that many of the young people, spend more than P300 on text messages alone. And here is this family – who could barely afford to buy a kilo of rice.
Dear God,
His sms sent me to my knees. There are so many of them who are calling out to You and to world for help. This young man’s mother is very sickly right now. His younger brother worked at the construction site right after the school year just to have some money for his studies this month. I got him to work for 3 days at the youth camp and gave him money. He looked gaunt and tired from the construction work where he worked and carried things beyond what his frail frame could carry.
Lord God, I wonder sometimes why you said that the poor will be with us always. I do not think that it is your intention for the whole world to have an imbalance in terms of wealth and food distribution – but that is the case worldwide. Our lands are all being converted into residential and high end villages where the people who buy are the ones who already own one or two houses already. These farmers just sell their land because there is no existing governmental support for irrigation and what not.
Lord God, please awaken our greedy and apathetic hearts toward the plight of the many who are hungry, desolate and discouraged.
Please God – pour out your blessings on those people whose hearts are willing to be used as your channel of blessings. It has been said Lord that you created this world to meet our needs. But this world is not enough to meet our greed.
Please Lord send food and work for this young man in Bulacan. Please give him and his brother the favor they need. Their mother is very sickly right now and just please encourage them to hang on. Please let them know that they have a Father in heaven to is watching them with compassion and tender mercies. Please provide for their needs Lord.
There was a young man who did not eat any lunch in school in order for him to save up so he can buy a pair of shoes. He skipped lunch for 4 months and did away with snacks so he can afford to buy a P400 worth of shoes.
God please sustain the poor among us.
God please stir up the hearts of those who are so financially able – to look beyond their own fences and see the plight of the many in our midst.
It is 7pm now – I pray that they have more than a cup of cooked rice to share among them – and a viand to make the dinner more palatable for them.
In Jesus’ name,
AMEN
Tears pour down my face to read this … God placed the orphans of the world on my heart (all 143 million of them). One thing we do is bring shoes to them. Along with medical and school supplies. But most importantly, we bring the hope of God and the love of the Father and the news of Jesus. Wishing to be able to help them all.
Thanks for your post.
Beth (Faulkner) Gore
God bless your heart. I pray that someday we will be able to share our testimonies and how God has allowed us the privilege of ministering to the poor, the hungry and the orphans in our midst. God bless..