We went to visit one family specifically before we went to give all the children their new belongings. This family lived in the saddest condition I have ever seen. Their house was barely standing, with hardly any walls and it was below freezing outside. We took the family clothes, food, medicine and formula (for their baby). They have 2 small children. One was a 4 year old boy who maybe looked 2 and had no socks or shoes on and his feet were so filthy they were completely black. The other child was a little girl who is 1 years old but looked maybe 2 months old. She was filthy dirty and super under developed and she had a terrible cough. We tried to feed her formula and she could not even suck the bottle. All I could do was cry. We asked if we could take the little girl with us and bring her to the hospital but the family did not allow us to. The mother is mentally ill and locked in a cage in the back of their shack. Everything was heart breaking. I couldn't believe anyone lived this way, but a huge reality hit me that day as I realized that millions of people live like this all over the world every day.
After our visit with the family, we traveled to the school to deliver the coats, shoes and socks. As we arrived, the students were all watching us with anticipation. They all came outside as we were unloading the cars and they started lining up without us even initiating it. As I looked around, I could see many students with sandles and dirty feet (it was below freezing outside) and some had coats and some did not. We had organized sizes and gender in advance with each students name and measurements and we began handing everything out. Some students stood with their new packages not sure what to do and some students opened up their packages quickly and put their new belongings on.
The whole day and my whole experience in the Bunuyao village was one that is forever etched in my mind. It was an experience where God used me to care for the less fortunate and bless those who do not have much. Jesus has given us all the authority to go and make disciples of all nations. He has commanded us to take care of the less fortunate and care for the sick. To help save the lost and broken. And God promises "He will be with us always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
My life is forever changed by the glory of God. I want to display God's hands and feet in all situations. It isn't always easy, but God promises that He will be there to give us His unending strength and grace. God has created the world and all that is in it and He wants to use us to show others His unending love.
Some village children
Village children
Walking to the village to bring the family blankets, food, clothes and medicine
Waiting to receive their new stuff
