This is Mark.
Mark was selling newspapers on our bus in Manila before we departed for Baguio. He is in the 6th grade. He goes to school from 6 a.m. until noon, then sells newspapers at the bus station in the afternoons.
He had no shoes. Brenda bought a newspaper and gave him some candy.
He had the sweetest smile--was a bit shy, but stood looking at the bus and waving at us until we were out of sight.
I have a boy in the 6th grade, also.
Bradyn didn't ask to be born into a home where he would always have love, and food, and God.
Mark didn't ask to be born into his environment, either.
The first thing I'm going to do when I get off the plane in Alexandria is hug my boy for DAYS.
Then we're going to talk about Luke 12:48.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required
Luke 12:48
Thank you for your blog. Your impressions have stirred me to my core. This has been a fun trip....I would do it all over again. I'm gonna miss you!
ReplyDeleteOk, THAT gets me!! Mark.
ReplyDeleteI remember my wife and I stopping at a red light last month in Manila and two kids, a girl about Mark's age and boy, much younger, looked to be her brother, were selling flower leis. The thing is it was almost midnight… on a weeknight.
I was momentarily paralyzed by the multitude of ramifications that these facts screamed at me. And before I had the chance to get a few pesos out of my pocket, the light turned green and we just went with the flow. Away from an opportunity to minister.
It didn’t matter that I had only seen them for 20 seconds, I somehow felt RESPONSIBLE for them. How easy it was to step out of their life, just going with the flow.
But they didn’t turn out to be that easy to leave. (Brenda and I LOVE these people and sometimes love is not a convenient thing.)
That night they haunted me. Feelings like regret, sympathy… compassion, washed over me in waves.
They were just trying to make a little… and the thought hit me… make a little so they could eat something and not have to go to bed hungry!
My promise is this: I am going to look for Mark and the more than 1,000,000 other kids that roam the streets of Manila, homeless.
What can one couple do in the face of a million? We can walk by faith and not by sight. We can let God work through us… and if nothing else, we can at least try.
Church, please pray that God will put a plan in place to reach kids just like Mark.
Mark, we are coming!!! Hang on!!!