January 2008

Miles of dark, narrow, alleys meandering here and there, seemingly going nowhere yet going everywhere.  Dirty dogs, cats and rats wandering at will throughout the streets. Ram-shackle homes built from bits and pieces of whatever can be found. Thousands of people, old and very young trying to get by on less than $1.00 per day for a family of 6 or 8.  No work, no future, no purpose, no hope.



That’s what it is like every day in the hundreds of Squatter communities in Manila where we work. What can I do?  You know that without God your only answer is nothing.  



God is working through ministries like Bukang Liwayway to bring the hope that only Jesus Christ can offer these people.  As they receive Christ’s message it empowers them to reach towards God’s better plan and hope.



Each day brings exciting new and different challenges as you serve these beautiful people.  Some days it seems impossible, and then suddenly a break through of Christ’s power at a funeral service and 24 people accept the Lord.  It must be God because you just don’t have the faith to expect 24 people to respond at a funeral service.



Daily you ask yourself should I just pack my bags and go home?  But you know you will miss all the smiling happy people who totally trust God for everything. God is moving in such a way that if you left you might just miss something bigger than big.  Would you join us?  Would you like to face each day knowing that God is going to move in a visible and exciting way?



Note:  Bill and his wife Jacquie left Halifax for Manila in June 2007 to serve for one year among the urban poor.