| Manila City Overview Photo Gallery Director Bio Journals: · Jun 24 2008 · Jul 01 2008 · Jul 06 2008 · Jul 21 2008 · Jul 26 2008 · Jul 27 2008 Trek 2008 Home |
Global Urban Trek 2008
Lessons from Foreign SistersJuly 21, 2008
This past week we got to see some of the projects within the community and the efforts of people to improve their living conditions.
Unfortunately I also caught a cold and must admit that it hindered my state of mind – for most of the week I was absent (mentally) from many of the things we learned. It was difficult to be receptive to what people were communicating, but God worked through my sickness and I was able to tune in for some of the time we spent with some women in the community.
We visited the site of their housing project that not only demonstrates physical proof of God’s grace in the community, but also their own commitment and heart for their community. For many of the women, the heart of service has come at great sacrifice.
For some, their husbands have not approved of their decision to give themselves to Pajo and have shown their discontent by locking them out at night as they come home from their meetings. Some men have gone as far as to cheat on and/or leave them.
In adversity these women have demonstrated that their love for God is the driving force that enables them to love their neighbors and continue their campaign to construct 200 plus homes by 2010. The spirit of these women reminds me so much of the women who chose to minister and follow Jesus: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and many others who took risks and broke tradition to follow the rabbi.
Risking their lives, those women literally followed Jesus to the steps of the cross. Similarly, the 21 women in Pajo who have chosen to improve the structure of their community have willingly said yes to Jesus.
The first 26 homes were constructed prior to our arrival, so we asked the six women present why they didn’t get the first homes for themselves. If their acts of kindness were not enough to get the point across, their verbal response sure did.
“We are not doing this for ourselves,” they said.
It was these words that sealed my comprehension of the women’s dedication to their community. Conversing with the women, laughing with them and sharing merienda gave me a present image of the Jesus that lived humbly 2,000 years ago.
The women in Pajo didn’t migrate here and immediately begin to renovate. Instead, they have resided in Pajo for at least 15 years before anything was started (the elder women have been there for as many as 38 years).
Many times when faced with despair, our initial thought is to seek a solution to the circumstances. But God has shown me that as a foreigner, I must first be a humble observer before I can serve – I need to understand and learn from those I seek to help.
Salamat Po (Thank you).
- Camilo
Print
Email
