This was our teams first experience in the Smokey Mountain

Philippines Outreach – 2009

Where am I?

I am currently in Manila, Philippines – more specifically in an area called Tondo. My team consists of 8 people from 4 nations and we are staying at a long-established YWAM base. The people here are wonderful and so hospitable! Last Friday, we traveled about 2 ½ hours North to a town called TayTay that was hit with a recent typhoon where we did some food distribution and prayed for families. I am going again this Friday to help the medical team de-worm children and provide routine care. Next week, we are going to a town about 2 ½ hours south called Batangas where we will stay for 1 week as part of our outreach.

What am I doing here?

I am with my team from my DTS on my 6 week long outreach. Everyday we go to at least one ministry. Here is what this week looks like for us:

Sunday – Church and the rest of the day off

Monday – Day off/Celebrated my birthday

Tuesday – Breakfast then the children feeding program in the morning (with a bible story skit and songs) and then in the afternoon either TB bible study or Family bible study (our team splits 4/4 – we lead the study, songs and sometimes games)

Wednesday – Fasting and Intersession in the morning then in the afternoon we help cook food for another feeding program. Then after lunch, 6 of us go to the Smokey Mountain Dump Site for the feeding program (bible story skit, songs, games) and 2 of us go to Family bible study (study, songs, games)

Thursday - Breakfast then 4 of us go to the Day Center for Malnourished Children. Then after lunch, 2 of us go to the Tuberculosis Bible Study and 2 of us go to TB Family Visitation. After dinner, we all go to the high school ministry where we lead a bible study, worship, fellowship and have games.

Friday – After breakfast, we have worship with the base. After lunch, my team will head to Mother Teresa’s Orphanage, while I go with the medical class here to TayTay to do some de-worming and other routine care.

Saturday – After breakfast, 4 of us will go to the elementary kids program and 4 will go to the TB feeding program again at the dump site. After lunch, 4 of us will go to the high school ministry and 4 will go to the college ministry.

Sunday – Church and rest of the day off

Monday – we leave for Batangas at 8 am.

What is the hardest thing for me so far?

The first week we were here, we visited families and made a stop at all the ministries to get a feel for everything. That was unarguably the most difficult week of my life. The buildings that we walked through were representative of prisons – with no light and gray cement walls, the place smelled like urine, bleach and filth. The dump site was unbelievable. People are living on garbage. Their entire life in on garbage. They sleep on garbage, eat off garbage, play in garbage – everything is in garbage. This is literally a mountain. It’s the size of a town.

The absolute hardest thing for me, is to know people live like this. I am just a person and so are they. Why do I get to live where I live and they have to live where they live? It’s so hard to see naked, dirty children running around in this garbage. I saw a woman who had broken her leg (Tibia) and because she had no access to medical care, the bone and everything healed the way it broke. Her bone was sticking out of her leg with her skin stretched tight around it! I was so infuriated that she had to suffer like that.

What is the best thing so far?

The best thing for me so far, is the people. Everyone is so full of joy and it’s so encouraging to see! No matter what condition their house in it, no matter who is sick in their family, no matter if they have nothing to give except a smile, they have joy and faith. For me, this is so amazing! I have a hard time smiling when we go through some of the ministries because of the things I see. It’s hard for me sometimes to find joy in this, but God is giving these people joy! It’s so humbling for me. I see these children and these families that have nothing, and yet, they have each other and God, and for them, that’s what’s important. I wish we could all feel like that.

It is so encouraging for me to see the staff here at the base as well. They are doing so much for the community! Everyday, they are giving their all and more. Whether they are doing a feeding program, or giving a bible study, or caring for malnourished children, or visiting families, they are doing something! What’s so great about this, is this is all done with love. There is no grumbling or misery or complaining about going out to the ministries. They love what they are doing and they love the people they are serving.

When we go to the children feeding program, I am always amazed at how the children behave. They are so good! They all come in and sit down at their chair and bring their plate and spoon. We sing songs and they all participate. When they are led in prayer before eating, they all pray. When we are getting ready to serve their food, they stack the plates up and hand them to us and wait patiently for everyone to have their food before they start. The sweetest thing I have seen so far with the children, is that when we put the food on their plate and place it on their table, they don’t just grab for it. They make sure that the right child gets their correct plate. They make sure everyone has enough. They really look out for each other. We don’t even have to tell them. The staff working in this ministry have put so much time and care into these children and shown them the love of God, that these children show love better than most adults I’ve met.

What is God teaching me right now?

God is teaching me so many things. He is teaching me to appreciate what I have. He is teaching me to be content. He is also teaching me how to really love people. I’m learning to connect with people that are more than half way around the world from where I am from. God is showing me so many things and He is breaking my heart for what breaks His. God is also teaching me to really value loved ones. I see these people everyday who have almost nothing but each other and God. If this is enough for them, it’s enough for anyone.

Well, I just wanted to update everyone on what we are doing. It’s been a little difficult to get online since we are all sharing one computer and we aren’t always sure the internet is going to work. Our team is doing great and we are all enjoying the ministries we are involved in and the wonderful people that God has brought into our lives. On our off days, we still have fun and we get a chance to recharge our batteries from the week. We have team time every night after dinner, and sometimes during the day. It’s encouraging to get a devotional everyday and sometimes we just take time to worship God and praise Him for all the wonderful things He is doing for us!

It was a long trip getting here, through Bulgaria and Turkey with a quick change over in the United Arab Emirates. But we all made it safely and with all of our luggage! I know that none of us will come back the same person as when we left. God is challenging us everyday and He is continuously refilling us with the Holy Spirit so we can share the love of Christ with others.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for all of your prayers! We can feel them and we know God is working! I will attach some pictures of some of the ministries and if anyone has questions, feel free to ask! God bless all of you!

In Him,

Melissa Dietrich

Romans 11:36