I want to start off by telling you a little bit about our lives here in Manila. Things in the Philippines can always change at any second. For example, one moment the sky might be beautiful, and then the next second it will be pouring rain; or, you might think you are the one preaching at church only to find out your not because the pastor just kept on talking. While life here can be unpredictable a few things are constant:
- We will at least once a day make the 30 minute walk from our condo to the YMC ministry center (some days its 2 or 3 times).
- On our walk we will see either a cow, rooster, or cat on the side of the road and most days we will see all three.
- We will have rice everyday.
- When the boys in the community see us they will ask, "where is Shawn? Can we go swimming?"
- The mandatory questions that girls will ask us are, "what is your name? How old are you? Who is your crush?"
- Every other day Jeremy will go upstairs to the store to buy a 2 liter coke.
- Hannah will say something sassy.
- At least once a week Charissa will fall asleep in an unnatural position.
We all love the Philippines and the ministry that we are doing. We spend a lot of time with the kids here whether that is at the children's home, the Jaz house, with the community angels, at feedings, or just playing with the kids on the street. There is always a child somewhere that wants to play, be held, or just talk. Our boys spend a lot of time playing basketball and ping pong at the children's home and taking the community boys swimming at the YMC. The girls spend a lot of time playing with the kids, and discipling girls either at the Jaz house or at our Wednesday night bible study with the community angels.
I love spending time with the nursery kids, but here lately I have also been spending a lot of time with the older kids at the children's home as well. One girl who I end up spending most of my time with is a beautiful 22 year old special needs girl named Maricel. She brings so much joy into my life. Marciel could sit with me holding her for hours and she would be perfectly content. She almost always has a smile on her face, and she loves hugs. Even though I spend almost every day with her, she still doesn't know my name. I'll ask her, but all she will say is "I don't know…" But she definitely knows who I am. I'll walk through the gate and she'll scream, "hello!!" and come up and hug me.
I love Maricel so much, and she always brings a smile to my face. Sometimes though, thinking about her makes me angry. Sometimes, I just can't get over how unfair it is that she has disabilities. How is it fair that I am holding a girl two years older than me in my arms the same way I would a five year old? Maricel is a smart girl; she knows some of the things she is missing out on. She has crushes just like any other 22 year old; she calls one of the boys on our team her sweetheart. She loves babies; any time we bring down the nursery kids she always wants to hug them and kiss them. And yet, she will probably never get married. Never have babies of her own. Never live on her own or have a career. And it just isn't fair. Why do I have the opportunity to have all of these things and she doesn't? It just doesn't make sense to me. But God is showing me that it is okay. God didn't withhold good things from Maricel, He just gave her different things. Maricel has so many people at the home who love her and take care of her. She gets so much joy from the small things in life. She loves Jesus with a childlike love. She gets to love on the children and babies at the home. And she has a Father who loves her more than a husband or child ever could. How great our God is and how amazing it is that His love is never ending.
