This is my story - 91 Philippines

91 – Joyville – A Home for children

Child beggars were a common sight in cities and towns in the Philippines. The numbers ran into hundreds and thousands. There were generally thin, untidy and undernourished.  Everyday they faced the hazards of disease, pollution or physical injuries from motor accidents. These kids were easy victims of sexual exploitation by pedophiles and pimps.

We were told that some of these child beggars were controlled by syndicates. This made us somewhat reluctant to hand out money to these unfortunate children, even though our hearts went out to them.

Everyday on our way home from office we drove past an intersection and noticed a bedraggled couple sitting on the pavement nursing babies and small children. The street was their home; the push cart beside them contained all their worldly possessions. The children were clothed in rags or even naked. The kids looked under nourished and sickly.

Occasionally the smaller ones would come to us for pesos or centavos. The older ones would run to the big chauffeur driven vehicles and give us a miss. We passed them everyday on our way home. We felt sorry for them, but learned to be wary. We knew when we gave to one a dozen would rush out to join them. My concern, I might accidentally knock a kid down.

During the Advent Season, their numbers would swell.  There they were smiling and shouting out “Pasko, Pasko” (meaning Christmas) with hands holding out their collecting boxes. It’s that time of the year when people on the whole were more generous.

The Salvation Army ran the ON THE WAY HOME programme to cater for such needy people. Regrettably the lack of facilities and support limited our involvement in this area of need. Landlords and landladies were reluctant to lease their properties to us when they learned of our type of programme.

After much prayer and effort, we found a place some 55 kilometres away from Manila. The owner with his family was emigrating to America and knowing our ministry agreed to sell us the land well below cost. The area of about 12,000 square metres, with fruit bearing trees, two large fish ponds, a duplex with four bedrooms, a deep well with portable water inside the compound and functional electric system. Another building served as warehouse. With all the facilities, it was ideal to house street children. We believed it was an answer to prayer and a clear sign that the Lord wanted us to continue serving the homeless children. Thus the Army set up Joyville Children’s Home in 1992 to cater for such needy children.

The need is always greater than what The Salvation Army can cope. We can do our best with support from generous donors in the Philippines and The Salvation Army overseas.

What we do to the least of these of God’s children, we are doing it unto the Lord.