after-thoughts...

i don't think i have had a tougher week than last week, not even when i had to work 100 hours...yet never has it been more rewarding and thought-provoking either.

25 of us went to dasmarinas, cavite in the philippines to visit home for the 100th sheep. they have built a school for children between 3 to 6, and worked in the poorest areas to reach out to the local community.


poverty is a subject i have known in my head for a long time, but never came across it face-to-face. during our visit, we spent a large chunk of our time visiting the kids' homes, and played with them on the street. it was hard walking into their homes, most of them about 100 sq ft built with wood and tin sheet, housing a family with 6-7 children, with no fresh water supply or electricity.

despite the poor living condition, people were surprisingly cheerful. kids were friendly -- they would run to us, hold our hands and hug us, as though we have known each other for years. their yearn for love and care was apparent. we played simple games with them, something as simple as stone paper scissors could bring a big smile on their faces.

looking at them makes me think more deeply about life and my faith. if i believe that my treasure is in stored in heaven, then why am i keeping the money in my bank account and not using them to improve their living condition? am i being selfish? or am i justifying my selfishness by saying that god may call me to use these money for something else? or am i taking all these possessions as an achievement for what i have toiled under the sun, and enjoyed them? i kept thinking about mark 10:21 "go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. then come, follow me." if this is what god is calling his followers to do, do i have the faith to follow him?

jesus said, "i have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (john 10:10) when children are born with little or no access to the basic needs like food, water, healthcare, is that life to the full? is there anything men can do to give life before death in addition to talking about life after death? i don't know what i can do as an individual, but i know if every individual thinks the same way, the situation is likely to remain the same. however small the thing we do, if we add them all up, there is a glimpse of hope that the living condition can be improved. there is nothing more gratifying than putting hope into someone's life.