This year, my team of 6, together with other teams went out caroling to the poorest families. These 100 plus families were recommended by our own Balikatan members in the adults ministry.
The families my team visited this year truly opened my eyes to what Mary and Joseph could have experienced. Everything looked so make-shift, so temporary. I can only imagine that even with their ‘home’ they could easily be looted from all that they own. There was no lock in place, sometimes the main ‘door’ was only a curtain.
Many of them were living in conditions that most people would not consider staying for more than a few minutes. Some homes do not even have walls, their ‘walls’ were made up of whatever they could salvage. Pieces of old material, wood, metal. It was only slightly better than a tent. Many of the children looked malnourished evident in their protruding stomachs and bulging eyes.
All of the families prayed for good health and joy in the family.
As I tried hard to hold back my own tears, the Balikatan members themselves could not hold back theirs. One family said they wanted to pray that they get to keep their home because there’s news that the land will be cleared for development. And one of our own members said “same situation as my family”.
Our loving Father really knew how to bring hope to the poor, Jesus came into our world in similar conditions, with no pillow to lay his head. Constantly on the move.
My prayer is that the poor will be empowered, those in authority will uphold integrity and look into ways of providing a better world for its citizens to live in. With job opportunities, with relocation possibilities that will enable the poor rather than place them in a position that might prove to be worse than before.
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