Visiting your Prayers

Rob & Clara Flanigan (OMF Regional Directors from Nova Scotia, Canada) recently visited Dawn for the Poor. Rob writes, "For many years we prayed for this work and finally got to visit. Frankly, even though we had seen the pictures, and heard Pat Hobbs speak about the work; our first sight of the church in Calapan was a real shock. It was small and dingy, full of noise and dust from the street. It was also full of the smiling and singing faces of the worship team practicing for Sunday and full of a youth bible study. What an amazing thing to see such joy on the faces of the young workers & students. The church here has grown, and is a significant outreach to the community with its livelihood project and Bible Studies."

Rob continues, "In Manila we visited the work at Balic-Balic, along the railway lines running through the city. We were surprised when, Pastor Danny said we were going to see some of the most expensive homes in the city. As we passed under the highway overpass all I could see was what looked like piles of garbage, rotted plywood and bunches of metal that were obviously homes to many."

"Danny pointed up and said the roof had cost millions!! These homes built along the bridge abutments, beside the rail lines are about one person deep and one or two stories high. The river under the rail bridge is gray with sewage; the dogs are skin and bones and covered with sores. At home we would have them put down to be out of their misery. Children play in the garbage; men gamble or play pool beside the tracks, women wash clothes using water from a leak in the main water line."

"A group of three heavily armed army officers lounge around in the street. Danny points out the electrical worker high overhead disconnecting illegal wires. The guns are there to protect him from those whose power is being cut off."

"We visit the work in Cogeo, just an hour and a half on the bus followed by a half hour walk through the gravel pit, over the garbage dump and up into the hills of outer Manila. The homes are of cardboard, or ragged feedbags, the more opulent of scavenged plywood on a bamboo frame. No water no plumbing no bathrooms no privacy no medical services, no school, no jobs, no money."

"Lots of smiles and energy for the Bible Study. The kids join in with tremendous enthusiasm as two aging Canadians teach them a silly song. Does this come under being a fool for the Lord? I don't know but I do know it breaks your heart to see people living in these conditions."

"I feel a hand going into my pocket, I can't believe it. I make a grab and yank back on a skinny wrist. I look down on a hairless little head covered in scabs and sores. Oh, he's blind, he just wants a peso. The child runs off, I can see he is really blind. I want to be sick - for him or me I don't know."

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