Where I was last weekend

It was a great privilege to be spending time with these children. There was something in their eyes that reminded me hope is eternal. Part of me still wants to go back there and spend more time with them. Indeed, the endless possibilities that each child brings is something that encourages us to give our best.

I didn't exactly know what to expect when me and my friends went to Sara, Iloilo to help in the relief operation for the Yolanda survivors. What I was sure about was my desire for God to use me as his instrument in bringing healing to his people, especially the children. I cannot exactly recall a time when as a child I got scared with the storm. My siblings and I are blessed to have parents who always made sure we would feel secure in the midst of any scary situation. I wonder how these children survived that day when the typhoon was mercilessly pounding their place leaving nothing but their fear for what will happen next.

It was a bit of a challenge getting the attention of these little ones. Almost all of them were shy, aloof, hesitant, even looking suspicious. I tried asking questions like, "How are you?" "What happened when typhoon Yolanda was here?" "Who wants to play a game?" "Who wants to learn a song?" Everyone was staring at me blankly and I just wanted to disappear right there and then. But I knew this was going to be one of the possibilities in the beginning. So I kept on and showed to them I was there to get to know them and be their friend. 

It took me halfway to finishing Hansel and Gretel before one of them started warming up expressing his interest to get hold of the notebook and crayons being readied for distribution. On our way there I was already telling myself that I should be ready and armed with so much creativity so that we all could get the best of our little time together. I decided to cut the story where Hansel and Gretel got lost in the forest and saw a house made of cake, chocolates and candies. I distributed the notebooks and crayons and asked them would they want to draw the house in the middle of the forest. It wasn't met with so much excitement as I hope it would, but instead they just one by one received their little gifts and started drawing. 

I felt so happy beyond compare when each of them started coming up to me and showing me their cute little drawings, one of them wanted a check sign on his drawing, a star, and 100% mark just like what they get in school. I ended up marking every one of their drawings and that brought so much delight in their faces. Then one of them started sharing in fragments about what had happened on November 8, 2013. 

"Our roof was blown away. The wind was so strong. We were all running." 

"What did you do then?" I asked him. 

"I cried and cried." 

"Why did you cry?"

"Because the wound in my foot was painful." 

I had to keep myself from chuckling at his cuteness and the way he answered my questions. Perhaps I was also relieved that at least these children were starting to warm up to me already and showed interest to share. After all that was the main reason why I signed myself up to be included in the relief operation team. 

What was particularly sad for me was the fact that the adults, too, was hoping for something like counselling for them. One of the parents approached me and inquired, "Will there be someone with whom we can talk, too? You, see, we also need that." I felt so helpless, if only I can stay more and give time for them, too. But I can only give so much. Our little group and the ones behind its success can only give so much. No one is too busy, too needy, too unequipped to help. 

These photos will prove me right.