So, What Does a Drop-In Center Look Like?

Even more than what it looks like, what does a drop-in center feel like? These are two of my many questions that were answered in our trip to Cagayan de Oro City. Monday afternoon we took a five hour bus ride to the city, where we were scheduled to attend the YWAM base staff meeting on Tuesday, followed by a visit to a drop-in center for street kids.

After the meeting with the other YWAMers associated with the base (nationalities represented in the staff: Filipino, German, UK, USA, Sweden) where we prayed, worshipped, shared an update on our ministry and heard from the others as well, we rode over to the ministry center.

And there it was there that I had my first encounter with ministry to street children. The pictures show you what the center looks like....the kids come in and can play pool, watch a movie, sleep and eat some much needed food. In the center they are in a place where they know they are safe, where they don't have to watch their back constantly making sure no one is coming to hurt them...there is peace, in room with staff who love them and want the best for them, where the name of Jesus is lifted up as THE hope for our lives...there is rest for the weary little bodies who struggle daily on the streets to survive...

We met kids ranging from about 6 to 21 years of age...it's startling to come face to face with a child is a STREET CHILD...after hearing that term for so many years, and seeing random kids on the street, in bus terminals and ferry ports is one thing. But to look in the face of a child and be able to talk, hug and listen to them, puts a whole new stamp of REALITY on the problem millions of kids are facing.

It was heartbreaking to hear the story of one boy, aged 16, who as result of being used at the age of 6 to dive into the ocean carrying dynamite used for fishing, was stricken deaf and now lives on the streets.

I'm still processing all that I saw and felt during our time in the center. We're talking about how we can be a blesssing to the YWAMers serving with those kids and how they can bless us with their wisdom and experience in working with this unique group of children. I'm excited to see what our center will look like in Butuan...and to see God transform a generation of children who don't know yet that there is a God who knows how many hairs are on their heads, who has engraved them on the palm of His hand, and has a DESTINY for each of them....