Living in Poverty
This past year has been both wonderful and very difficult. In 2007, I went to the Philippines. Lisa was able to join me there for about three weeks. We were able to learn a little of the language and get a glimpse of the culture. The Lord blessed us with many lasting relationships with both Americans and Filipinos. We hope to work with many of them in the future as we minister in the Philippines.
We were able to help with a youth camp in April, which was attended by about 45 teens. What an awesome time of ministry we had during that youth camp! We were also privileged to participate in other types of ministry—youth fellowship services, VBS, preaching ministry, the feeding program, children’s ministry, leadership development with the youth ministry leadership, construction and the Home for Children.
My primary focus while I was there was the Home for Children. At first the kids were a little distant. However, their timidity evaporated within the first few days, and after a few weeks they became almost like my own kids. They really soak up all of the love and attention they can get and are very affectionate. Some of these kids have never really experienced love, attention and affection at home.
The poverty is profound and heartbreaking! We have seen poverty nearly everywhere we have gone to minister. But when you are able to get to know and love the folks forced to live in such poverty, it brings it into an entirely new perspective. It is, I imagine, much the same as seeing close family forced to live in abject poverty without having the resources to change their situation. Many of these folks are committed Christians, Christian school faculty and staff, and other ministry workers. They endure such poverty and hardship and still give the Lord’s work everything they have.
Watching these folks work with such joy and contentment sheds new light to the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11: “…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…” (KJV). Hopefully the Lord will give us the resources and ability to provide them with better opportunities so they might, with the Lord’s help and direction, see a change in this area of their lives.
