It's hard to believe we've held 7 clinics in just 7 days! If I think I am tired, I cannot imagine how tired the team is, many of whom have been doing relief work for 3 weeks straight. Take Dave and Becky Majam. Dave is an administrator for the Street Impact Team, a part of ACTION and his wife Becky is an optometrist who also work with the SITeam full-time. They have both been very involved with these clinics, even giving up a day off to keep these clinics going. Yesterday I asked Becky if their house was clean yet as it flooded severely with the typhoon and she said that they are still working to clean it, even now! Can you imagine coming home from a long day to still find mud residue in your house? These people are truly my heroes. Forget the heroes you see in movies...these folks here are the real thing!
Today we were in an area called Tumana within Marikina. All week I've been hearing Tumana mentioned in conversations. I did not realize this was the exact area we had driven through on our survey trip two weeks ago. The pictures you see in this slide show are actually SO much cleaner than two weeks ago when the garbage was still piled so high on the streets that it was level with the roof of our truck and gave us only an inch of clearance on either side.
I saw so much filth and stench, even today, and yet the people were wonderful and so very grateful. No one was demanding or upset, just genuinely thankful for every bit of help they received. ACTION held a medical clinic this morning and then a clothing distribution this afternoon. And they could have used so much more.
One last thing: The sign above the church includes a verse from 2 Corinthians 6 which says, "I will live with these people and walk among them..." This was so very evident today in their spirit, joyfulness, and thankfulness. Even in our worst conditions, God is always with us, walking through the garbage and mud of life with me and with you.
May you be blessed.
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