So Little....And Yet So Much

So this post is going to be a little bit more somber....just a forewarning. I really want to tell you guys what I've seen and try to communicate so that you can see it in your mind.

These people literally have NOTHING. You think our homes aren't the grandest mansions in the entire world, well to them, our houses are palaces. Most of them have houses built out of wood or bamboo. They usually don't have front doors, as those are considered a luxury. Their beds are built into the wall like shelves, and then they throw a blanket on top.

As far as clothes go, they really don't have too much. A typical child has their school uniform and a few other outfits. Most of the houses don't have running water, people drink/bathe/do laundry all in the local dirty creek or river. "Mansions" over here would be the equivalent of a mobile home. Most people don't have cars, in fact, cars are not often seen. The majority of people own a tricycle, which is a type of motorcycle attached to a cabin to carry people. If they can't afford a tricycle, they take the community buses everywhere.

Hopefully, you're starting to get the picture of what these people have. Or rather, what they don't have. Yet what strikes me is that you can be driving down the road, and you can randomly wave at a person, and they will smile and wave back. How many people would do that? How many children would be so polite and respectful to us when we visited schools? How many principals would willingly let us share the gospel openly in their school? These people have so little, and yet they give so much and communicate SO MUCH happiness and contentment.

Yesterday, at the school, the children grabbed my hand and touched it to their foreheads. They all started to do it, and I asked my Filipino pastor/translator why they were doing that. He responded "It is a sign of respect and honor." So today, I did it to one of the children. She stared up at me and then grabbed me in a hug. They worship the ground we walk on like we are better than them. I wish we could communicate to them that in so many ways, they are better than we are. They, not us, are the bigger person.