A BandAid Can't Fix Everything

As my time here in Manila draws to a close, I'm trying to fit as many memories and opportunities in as possible.  In doing so, I spent my Monday afternoon on another feeding. This was to a location I had heard was something you could only experience, so I was excited to finally have the chance to go. As a group of twelve of us began to load the van to head to our location, the driver asked my friend Rebecca and I if anyone in our group could help with triage.  Normally, a nurse working at the missions compound goes on the feedings to administer first aid to the people living there. Today however, was different. The nurse was unable to go with us, but triage was still expected to take place.  Rebecca and I looked at each other, and she said she would be willing to do so. I hesitated, realizing how far outside of my comfort zone something like first aid in a third world country is. As soon as I decided to not help with triage, I felt God tell me, "Paige, do this for My children." So I did.

The location was nothing that I could have expected. It was an even poorer neighborhood than the area in which I'm staying, which seemed hard to imagine. Little boys and girls were running around without pants or shirts. We saw several children without a real pair of shoes. The people were all in the street outside their homes that were little more than wooden shacks with a tin roof. As we drove into the area, we saw a tent set up in front of a house with several men sitting in front of it. They were gambling. In the Cuatro neighborhood and ones like it, this happens when a family member dies. The body is kept outside of the home and the family members gamble for money until they have enough to bury their dead. We have seen this take place three times during our two and a half weeks here.

Once we stopped the van at our location, the children swarmed to receive food. The meal is scalding hot, but the starving bodies eat it right away to satisfy their hunger in that moment. No number of feedings could completely satisfy the hunger these people face every day. The rest of the team piled out of the van and began scooping food or playing with the children. Rebecca and I grabbed the toolbox that is used as a first aid kit, put on gloves and got to work. We talked about it later, once we were back on our missions compound, and realized that both of us felt entirely ill-prepared for the work we were about to do. A couple of college aged girls with expired first aid certifications was the best we could offer.

Several children who came up to us initially had minor scrapes that hadn't entirely healed yet. We knew what to do for those. A little antiseptic, some Neosporin and a band aid. Then a grown man came up to us and pointed to his leg. His entire right calf was covered in oozing sores and infection that was without a doubt, a fairly advanced staph infection.  Rebecca tackled it like she knew exactly what to do, and after we'd cleaned him up and put a bandage on it to prevent spreading, he asked us for medicine to heal it. Only a large dose of antibiotics was going to truly clean up his leg and we could not offer him anything. We advised him to keep his leg bandaged and clean with purified water, and he was gone. I can only imagine what a few more weeks of that infection will do to his leg.

After the man, a girl of around ten years old was brought to us by her mother. Her mom turned her around and pulled up the back of both shorts' legs. We saw a very similar sight behind both knees and thighs as we had seen on the man's calf. Several infected sores had already burst and were scabbed over, but there were many more that would soon burst and leave her legs exposed to any number of other infections around her. We provided the same care for her and instructed her mother to take care of her with clean water. Who knows if her mother understood any of the English we spoke to her or not. My heart breaks for the girl whose body is already so riddled with disease and infection.

Most of the other "patients" we saw were minor. There was a baby with oozing sores on her head, a few burns we soothed and wrapped up, and many more cuts. The one treatment I provided that stuck with me the most, however, is another girl around eleven years old. She appeared healthy and happy, and simply pointed to her left leg a few inches below her knee. There I saw a cotton ball stuck to a wound the size of a half dollar or so. Assuming this cut was recent and the cotton ball was just to stop the bleeding, I changed my gloves and knelt down to look at her. I touched the cotton ball and felt her whole body cringe. The wound was not new, in fact it was almost entirely healed. Instead, the cotton ball had fused to her skin as the wound healed around it. It was graphed into her skin and was not going to come off easily.

I turned to Rebecca and told her that I wasn't sure I could do it. I saw her busy with another girl and knew that I had to do this. As I turned back to the girl, I watched her finish pulling off the cotton ball herself. She was grimacing as she put the cotton ball into my hand and I threw it away. On her leg was a fully opened, eighth of an inch deep wound that I had to take care of. I prepared myself to clean the girl's leg and told her to be strong because it was going to sting. She nodded, grit her teeth and tensed up. I stopped the blood flow with some cotton balls then cleaned the wound out with antiseptic spray.

I have never seen a stronger child in my life.

As I cleaned her wound, she didn't make a sound. She stayed tense and her face said it all. This was excruciating pain cleaning out a wound that was infected and newly reopened. I kept encouraging her that it was almost over and she was doing great. I finished cleaning it, put Neosporin on and covered it with a gauze that could not form to her skin as the cotton ball had. As I finished, I told her to leave the bandage on and to clean it with clean water. I told her she was strong and how proud of her I was. The smile that lit up her face as she heard those words made the gruesomeness of her injury melt away. She touched my heart with her courage and strength.

Other than the few particular instances that I've written out, most of it runs together in my head. It turns into a sadness knowing that many people I treated will eventually die because of the infections running through their bodies. These people live day in and day out wondering if they'll eat a real meal, be able to bathe, and wake up to see another day. They live in a state of perpetual filth and disease, yet they're filled with joy. They are grateful for what they have and love to welcome strangers into their neighborhoods who will brighten their lives once a week.

They have a strength that inspires me. Only, I hope that I can be filled with a strength that comes from the Lord. I want they're infectious joy and strength to rule in my life coming solely from the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm continually reminded that life is fragile and I should be representing Christ in each word that comes out of my mouth, action that my body performs, and thought that runs through my mind. How else can I hope to change the world?

Giving to the Least of These

My time here in Manila has been extremely thought provoking and world changing.  I feel as though my way of thinking has been greatly altered due to the poverty, disease, hunger, and dirtiness I see around me everyday.  Greater than all of these though is the joy that the people have.  Each day as I walk to school, swarms of children gather around my fellow teachers and I just to hold our hands, tell us their names and say hello.  The language barrier doesn't seem to matter when it comes to showing love to the little children.  Their tiny hands, covered in dirt, slip into mine and walk with me until I have to stop or go father than they can go.  They say goodbye with huge smiles and waves that show just how much those moments of walking meant to them.  The smallest things bring these kids the most joy.

This afternoon, I saw one of the most heart wrenching sights that made me reassess myself and my life.  I came back to the mission compound where we are staying and saw some of my fellow teachers gathered in the dining area.  I walked to where they were and saw a small boy sitting in a chair with three or four people gathered around him.  As I watched, I learned that this first grader, Alexander, had been sitting in his big brother's class at the end of the school day waiting to go home.  He had been full of energy and lit up the room with his bouncy personality.  After a little while he complained that he was hungry and settled down in a chair.  The teacher in the room said that he got quiet and looked very tired.  Within moments he became very weak and unresponsive.  

The teacher was a girl on my missions team.  She went to the boy and realized that he was not only tired but extremely sick.  She carried his limp body from the school back to our compound and asked for help immediately.  The women in charge of the kitchen made him some rice and got him water, but Alex was not awake enough to eat or drink almost anything.  Thankfully there is a group of Australians staying on the compound with us and one happened to be a nurse.  She came and assessed Alex and recommended he be taken to the hospital immediately.  God blessed Alex with an available driver on the compound and he was rushed there immediately.  

Those of us watching, unable to help in any way, realized just how helpless we as humans can really be.  We can think good thoughts and wish we could just wake Alex up so he would be his usual bubbly self, but it doesn't do any good.  In that moment, watching the van drive away with little Alex in tow, we were keenly aware of just how much we needed God on our side.  We gathered in prayer and lifted up Alex in his little body to the Lord.  

Soon afterward, a woman came to give us more information on Alex's life.  He is one of ten children in his family with several older brothers.  Two of them were hanging on the gate to the compound begging to know if Alexander was going to be okay and want to know what was wrong with their little brother.  We were also told that when Alex was younger he had a stomach tumor removed that had developed due to a lack of food and nutrition.  Alex was a fighter and we could only pray that he would pull through again this time. 

In addition to Alex going to the hospital, two other girls from the Cuatro community were able to go.  They had been waiting for an opportunity.  Even in the most dire of circumstances, God was able to show his divine power and timing.

Later in the evening we were told that Alex was up and doing incredibly well.  On the way to the hospital, the Australian nurse was monitoring his heart rate and said it dropped to extremely low levels.  However, while still in transit, Alex perked up and began responding to touch and voice more.  By the time he arrived at the hospital, Alex was so conscious that he didn't need an IV.  The doctors said his blood sugar had dropped very low, so they gave him some bread and hot chocolate to spike it back up.  On the way home, Alex was treated to fast food which he ate all of gladly.  

I think the part of this story that touched me the most was hearing that earlier in the day Alex had been given some food that he then gave away to another child who needed it too.  Alex, who has nine siblings to share food with and doesn't receive enough food on a daily basis, gave away the food he could have eaten to another child in need.  If that isn't showing Jesus to the least of these, I don't know what is.

Feeding the Starving Children

Being in the Philippines still feels incredibly surreal to me.  (Even more so since I'm missing out on the snowpocalpsye that has overtaken the Midwest!)  The climate here is warm but extremely bearable as we are here in their winter season as well.  The sun shines daily and there's a fairly constant breeze to cool things off as well.  That breeze is such a blessing from God when you walk outside after being cooped up in a tiny classroom with no window for six and a half hours each day.  

We jumped right into life here after getting very little sleep upon arrival.  We spent over twenty-four hours traveling, and I got only five and a half hours of sleep during and after that before we woke up for church the next day.  Other than a few early mornings trying to get accustomed to the time difference, jet lag didn't hit us too hard.

Most of my days are spent teaching in Cuatro Christian School in Manila.  It is a small Christian school that makes education accessible for 350+ children who would be otherwise unable to receive an education.  I spend my time in a kindergarten classroom that reaches two sets of half day kindergartners.  They are so happy to have me and two other girls from Taylor in their classroom, and we've had a blast teaching them so far.  Education here is very different from that at home.  There isn't as much structure in the classroom, and the teacher often doesn't have control of all her students.  At least three students sleep for a portion of each school day, and the teacher simply lets them.  That took some adjusting to for sure.  

Despite the differences, kindergartners are the same here and around the world.  They love to play "tricks" on us.  High fives here are the coolest thing ever.  The children love to get a high five after doing their work well.  Even better is a high five and a fist bump.  They also really want to communicate with us even though it can be tricky sometimes.  Most of the older students have a good English understanding, but the kindergartners are still at the beginning.  That can make it difficult when I ask a question in English and they answer me in Tagalog.  Thankfully there is an aide in the classroom as well who will often translate for us when we get that blank look on our face because we clearly don't understand.

After school we have the opportunities to go to the Children's Home (orphanage), JAZ Home (a home for girls taken out of abusive situations) or on feedings.  I've been to the orphanage twice now, and I love to see the kids and play with them.  A few are even in my class at school.  However, what I'm enjoying the most about my time here is the feedings.  These take place twice a day to different areas of Manila each time.  We load up in a van or two and bring along a protein packed hot rice meal to give away to the people we meet.  When we get there, the children come swarming with a cup, bowl, plastic bag, or anything else that can hold food in hand.  They each receive a scoop or two of food until the food runs out.  Once the children are served, some adults come to receive as well.  

As much as I love being able to feed the children, I love to play with them even more.  It is clear that the children need love and healthy touch in their lives.  They love to receive little stickers, toys or pieces of candy as well as have their pictures taken.  I have over fifty pictures of children posed in silly ways just so they can see it afterwards.  So many children come up and ask to just be held.  They don't really want anything else except for love and attention.  They smile their adorable smiles only to show their rotten teeth, but a smile is the same in every language still. The area fills with laughter and joy when a feeding takes place.  This is what I love so much.  

These children may not know that they have next to nothing, but we do.  We see how poor their lives are and how much more life has to offer them.  But they are still happy.  They love to see Americans come to their neighborhoods to see them.  They only want to play with us, know our names and hope to see us again very soon.  It's devastating to say goodbye.  The kids you're holding don't want to be set down.  They cling until someone else has to pry them off of you so you can walk away.  Today we had to clear them away from the sides of the van so we could drive away because they weren't ready to say goodbye or see us leave them.  It's especially hard when they are students in your classroom.  Seeing what life is really like for them and wishing you could give them the world or more.  

My eyes have been opened to so much here already, and I can't believe it's only been four days.  God is breaking and shaping and molding my heart to be more like His through the experiences I'm having and the people I'm meeting.  Thank you for your prayers! My team and I would not be where we are if it weren't for you lifting us up to the Father! :)

Traveling Adventures!

We're off!  It's my first time flying for more than two hours at a time. We were supposed to meet the other half of our group in the O'Hare airport before we left for Hong Kong, but their flight out of Indy was delayed several different times.  They still hadn't arrived when it was time to board, but we had instructions to go ahead and fly to Manila as planned regardless if they arrived or not.  They finally boarded after running from their gate and going through International Security.  There was a lot of cheering when we saw the first familiar face come into view! What a relief to have our trip leaders with us as we fly to the other side of the world! 

As we were waiting for the plane to take off, we began to talk with the people sitting around us.  There was a group of students who looked about our age, so of course we wanted to know where they were going.  It turned out, not only were they students studying abroad for the semester, but they were all biology majors from the University of Illinois!  Nice to have a little piece of home on board with me.

The plane is exceptional.  Each passenger has a monitor in the back of the seat in front of them on which they can watch movies, TV shows, play games and listen to music.  There is also a map that follows our route in real time so we can see how far we have gone and where in the world we are at any given time.  In addition, we can see a video of what is right outside the plane.  That was very cool to watch during take-off, but not too long into the flight, the sun went down and the video was dark, not as interesting.

As I write this, we are about seven hours into the flight with another eight to nine to go.  Surprisingly, we aren't too restless yet, keeping busy wandering around, watching movies, and playing cards.  The food hasn't been half bad either.  When we land in Hong Kong we have a two hour layover then fly two more hours to Manila which we will call home for the next three weeks.  What a crazy exciting adventure we're embarking on!  

I can't wait to see what God has in store for our group, the people we meet, and me.  My prayer for this trip so far has been "God, prepare us." So if you happen to read this blog, pray that along with me, please.  I long to see God move in ways that I can't even express, and I know He won't let me down.

Ephesians 3:21

"Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."