Selling Goodies for an Education

     Most of us have fond memories of starting a new school year when we were little kids. For me, it was not the fact that I was going back to school that had me all excited, but it was knowing that my mom would take me shopping for new clothes and new school supplies! I never had to do anything to earn money for my school supplies and it was the same for most of my peers as well.

     About a few months ago, on a normal hot Saturday afternoon, Abigail and I were doing our routinely visitations to the children that we minister to on Sunday’s. We made a few stops before we found ourselves outside of Mia’s house. She was selling some goodies right by the fence.  Abigail asked her a few questions in Ilonggo and we found out that she was selling all those things to fundraise money for a backpack and other school supplies. I was so impressed to see such a young girl like her fundraise her own money for school. With this strong determination and all the talents and gifts God has placed inside of her,  I am sure she will reach all her God given dreams and goals! I am definitely blessed to be a part of her life! :)

Mia played a special tune for us while we visited and purchased some things from her little store!

And They Ran Away...

A few weeks ago I was spending some time with Lyn Lyn, a young Filipina girl who I am mentoring.  We had been at the mall and when we walked out we saw two street children begging for money right outside. It took me a few seconds to realize that the older kid was the same boy who had attended Kids Club at Calajunan for some time but later stopped going. He was the boy with the physical condition on his feet that I wrote about in my blog at the beginning of the year.

After recognizing him, we stopped to talk to him and his little friend who was about seven years old and had no shoes on.  They both asked us for money so they could buy something to eat. Then I told them that I couldn’t give them money but that I could go inside the mall to buy them a couple of burgers, fries and drinks. They readily agreed, so we went back inside to buy them their food. However, when we returned, they were no longer there. After looking around, we soon found the younger boy and he took us to his friend. We gave them both the food and as they ate we found out that the older boys’ grandmother had kicked him out of the house, and he was now sleeping on the streets.  As we were talking, I noticed that a security guard walked passed us and just stared at the boys. Then later he came back with a little notebook ready to take their names down. The boys had apparently broken something outside of the mall, and the guard was going to report them. Both of the boys denied breaking anything. For a quick second the guard turned around to talk on his radio and immediately both of the boys picked up their food, leaving their trash behind, and ran as fast as they could!

I felt helpless not knowing what to do or how I could help the boys.  After all this happened, I looked over to Lyn Lyn with tears in my eyes and placed my arm over her shoulder. I couldn’t believe what had just happened and the more I thought about it, the more my heart broke as I realized that those kids were running without direction. I was moved with compassion for those kids and I cried out to God on their behalf. The burden for children like them increased in such a way that I even began to feel like I was mourning for the loss of a loved one. I know that I was feeling the Father’s pain for those hurting kids.

Bobby with his old friends from Kids Club.