Our team has arrived in the Philippines, June 8th 2013
Yesterday I went with a team of college students to the Mallolos Juvenile Detention Center where 95 young men ages 17-24 are house in very close quarters and never get to go outside. Many of them have been there for years and abandoned by their families - some for serious crimes and others for crimes born out of poverty and simply wanting to eat or addiction. Here in the Philippines also, a generation is being destroyed through and criminalized for addiction. We are looking at what it might mean to bring healing and hope to these young men whose choices have taken their future and also young women who are victims of abuse of all kinds - both these young men and women are some of the poorest of the poor when it comes to a future with hope.
It is not even the rainy season yet, but here in Obando, a very poor fishing village on the coast, the streets have flooded from last night's rain - entering into the first floor of the houses and the people simply live in the water, even the animals are living up to their bellies in water. When the typhoons come in the fall it is devastating for those without first floor houses. Even those with high enough homes are separated from services, food, and drinking water for over a month. My pastor friends Jordan and Malu, and their two young girls - my goddaughters - are living and serving in this community. This place, like places in El Salvador, rings with the groaning of all creation that is hoping for restoration and redemption.
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