The harsh truth

The harsh truth of life is that people are suffering. All around the world people are suffering. Starvation, abuse, prostitution, homelessness, and death, are rampant. This is a harsh truth to face, one that I saw first hand this week. Here in Manila, street kids are counted by the thousands. The population is so thick, so packed, to win a political office, all you need is to win district 1 because it is so dense with people. Partnering with a small church we went out at 4:30 AM to feed these kids before they start their day of work, collecting garbage or begging. With a few containers of milk and a little bread we ventured off, wondering how can this make a difference we are so few, and they are so many…

Wondering through the back alleys of streets I would never walk alone on for fear of my own life, we discovered this harsh truth of life. Children sleeping in dirt and mud, some in carts, or upon pieces of old cardboard. With dirty hands and faces they reach out for this small morsel of bread and little blue cup of milk. Their eyes piercing with great sadness and hopelessness, how can this make a difference? But I tell you my friends, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:5 -6

The pastor that took us out, he himself was once a street kid. We do make a difference, giving these kids just the little taste of compassion and hope. They become curious, many want to get out of the streets. When they have no where to turn, they know they can go to the church, which also dubs as a free school just for street kids. “Christ & Education, thats what these kids need” Let me tell you friends, God is always at work, even when we fall into hopelessness. He sees every face, every heartbroken starving child. God knows and feels the pain and suffering in this world. He uses every situation, everything to his Glory. God is changing lives, he hasn’t gone anywhere. What we must do is pray, and move. Move together to help the peoples of the world. My challenge to you, the reader, Please pray that God will show you an opportunity to serve someone. Go out into the streets, to your neighbor, into the city. There are people suffering everywhere, serve them. Tell them about Christ, about the hope that is in you. Please move, act, help, obey.