Day Four: Manila to Payatas

It was nice to be able to wake up, and not have to think about getting on a plane, like we have for the last three days. But even though there were no planes on the itinerary, it was our biggest travel day, in many ways, because it was the day we traveled to Payatas (the garbage city) where we will be staying with Pastor Julius, his wife Evelyn, their daughters Jireh and Hanna, and Evelyn's sister, Karen.

We started the day by going to see our dad, Bill, teach at the seminary where he has been, part-time, for the last 9 years. After lunch, Julius and Evelyn came and picked us up, it was so great to finally meet, talk and interact with the people that we have only known through email for the last 6 months. When you establish a relationship by email you realize just how inadequate it is as a substitute for human contact, and at the same time, how we have lost the art of letter writing and being able to express ourselves verbally.

We then arrived at Payatas, and we sensed that the journey, long awaited, was finally beginning.

Julius and Evelyn moved to Payatas in 1994 and 1995, without knowing one another. Both from the provinces, the rural areas, Julius from the south and Evelyn from the north. Shortly after moving to the area they both gave their lives to Christ, and eventually met each other. Julius is now a "domestic missionary" and raises their support, while Evelyn also works tirelessly as a mom and supporting the church and their ministry. One of the largest ministries they are involved in is the daily feeding program for the kids of Payatas. They have partnered with a large local organization, Project Matthew, who physically feeds the kids, while Julius and the church spiritually feeds them, as he puts it.

Here is a youtube video of Project Matthew: