Visit to a Manila Squatter Village

by Pastor Steve Burchett, Christ Fellowship Kansis City, Missouri

Jeff Anderson along with Dave and Becky Majam (and others) are bringing food, hope, help, education, living skills, and Christ into various squatter villages (the poorest of the poor) around Manila (www.actionphilippines.org). The only way to get to one of the villages they are working with is across the San Juan River, which is full of trash and human feces. I’m thankful I did not fall in! Some have. In fact, there was a fire in the village in December and many had to jump in to save their lives. It was a joy meeting the people and taking pictures of the children. The living conditions are horrendous and not the way this life is supposed to be. I got to share with the children from the Bible for a few minutes, and I chose John 14:6 where Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” After they hear from the various workers, they sing, and then they have a Bible lesson. To conclude, they are provided a free meal. What they are doing is much more than just providing a free meal. They are seeking to build relationships with the people of the community and help them in many different ways. These children are malnourished and a first step in helping them medically is to get them “de-wormed” (many run around in their bare feet). They are educating many of the children and teens in the community. Of course, they are faithfully proclaiming Christ to them.