Last April while I was sitting in a mall restaurant in the Philippines, I looked outside the window and saw my new friend Brian walk past the restaurant. In his hands he held two ice cream cones. Where is Brian going? Thinking that Brian didn’t see the restaurant door, I walked outside and ran after him.
By the time I reached the door, Brian was exiting the mall. Puzzled, I went back inside the restaurant and ran toward the glass window. There, under the canopy of the walkway to the mall, I saw Brian give the ice cream cones to two children. Then Brian disappeared. I hurried back to the restaurant door to look for him. Where did he go? Back in front of the ice cream stand inside the mall, I saw Brian standing in line. Then I saw him give an ice cream cone to a little girl close by.
This was my first time to see the kindness of 24-year-old Brian, the American young man from Sacramento who went with us to the Philippines. I first met Brian three months before our trip. Upon knowing that I came from the Philippines, he expressed his wish to be a missionary in a foreign country.
That day at the mall, Brian’s sympathy toward the “rugby” children showed a genuinely compassionate soul. At first, Brian gave them money but later realized that the children were giving the collected money to a grown up who watched nearby, so he stopped giving money and gave food instead.
The “rugby” children live on the streets of big cities in the Philippines. These children aren't orphans but their families can't provide the basic necessities for them, so they turn to the streets in search of food. Glue sniffing known as "rugby," is a common addiction amongst the street children who sniff this drug to suppress their hunger pains.
In his young age, Brian had big dreams of being extremely successful and wealthy. In a short period of time, he landed a good-paying job and started accumulating expensive things. But one day, Brian gave his heart to Jesus.
Remember the Bible story in Matthew 19: 16 – 24 about the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And Jesus told him to keep the commandments, and the young man said that he had kept the commandments from his youth, but what does he still lack? Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Brian desired to follow Jesus and did what He commanded us to do. He sold almost everything he owned, gave to the poor, and went back to having only basic necessities.
During our next trip to the mall, Brian ordered an extra large pizza, but didn’t share it with anyone. Again, I wondered why. But as we walked out of the mall, I right away understood. The “rugby” children came running to Brian as if they were waiting for him. The group pushed forward forcefully with outstretched hands. Firmly clutching the pizza box, Brian handed a slice to each child. One of the children begged Brian for an extra slice while shouting to his brother nearby, ‘Utol! Utol! May pagkaon!” (Brother! Brother! There’s food!). The brother came. He was so skinny; his ribs stuck out.
On Brian’s arrival day in Manila, he was shocked to see so many children street vendors. He couldn’t believe how they could walk safely among the slow-moving cars, tapping on the windows trying to sell their wares. Brian’s eyes showed so much pity for the poor children. Brian’s generosity also showed when he spent most of his time with the children in church and bought snacks and sporting equipments for them.
In the middle of the week, Pastor Reuben accompanied Brian back to the mall. They brought with them 30 lunch boxes for the “rugby” children. They found a place nearby and they fed them.
One day we went to the beach for a picnic. In no time, a group of children from around the area had gathered around Brian. He gave them snacks, all the while singing “Jesus loves me this I know.” He went swimming with them, offering his shoulders as a diving board. They were so happy. Their screams of joy could be heard blocks away.
After swimming, Brian and Pastor Reuben went to the nearby market to buy food for the children. Each child went home with a loaf of bread and a bag of goodies. They were quite ecstatic to have found a new friend.
On Sabbath morning on our way to church, our van passed by the street near the mall. Due to heavy traffic, our driver stopped the vehicle. From inside the van I saw the same “rugby” children we had seen a few days earlier outside the mall. They were walking outside a restaurant as if looking for food. When suddenly, they spotted Brian who sat by the van window and they ran toward our vehicle.
“Brian! Brian!” The children knocked on the glass window shouting. “Brian, we love you! Brian, we love you!” I was quite moved by their love for the young American who gave them food and love. I believe the name “BRIAN” will be in those children’s minds for a long, long time.
By the time I reached the door, Brian was exiting the mall. Puzzled, I went back inside the restaurant and ran toward the glass window. There, under the canopy of the walkway to the mall, I saw Brian give the ice cream cones to two children. Then Brian disappeared. I hurried back to the restaurant door to look for him. Where did he go? Back in front of the ice cream stand inside the mall, I saw Brian standing in line. Then I saw him give an ice cream cone to a little girl close by.
This was my first time to see the kindness of 24-year-old Brian, the American young man from Sacramento who went with us to the Philippines. I first met Brian three months before our trip. Upon knowing that I came from the Philippines, he expressed his wish to be a missionary in a foreign country.
That day at the mall, Brian’s sympathy toward the “rugby” children showed a genuinely compassionate soul. At first, Brian gave them money but later realized that the children were giving the collected money to a grown up who watched nearby, so he stopped giving money and gave food instead.
The “rugby” children live on the streets of big cities in the Philippines. These children aren't orphans but their families can't provide the basic necessities for them, so they turn to the streets in search of food. Glue sniffing known as "rugby," is a common addiction amongst the street children who sniff this drug to suppress their hunger pains.
In his young age, Brian had big dreams of being extremely successful and wealthy. In a short period of time, he landed a good-paying job and started accumulating expensive things. But one day, Brian gave his heart to Jesus.
Remember the Bible story in Matthew 19: 16 – 24 about the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And Jesus told him to keep the commandments, and the young man said that he had kept the commandments from his youth, but what does he still lack? Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Brian desired to follow Jesus and did what He commanded us to do. He sold almost everything he owned, gave to the poor, and went back to having only basic necessities.
During our next trip to the mall, Brian ordered an extra large pizza, but didn’t share it with anyone. Again, I wondered why. But as we walked out of the mall, I right away understood. The “rugby” children came running to Brian as if they were waiting for him. The group pushed forward forcefully with outstretched hands. Firmly clutching the pizza box, Brian handed a slice to each child. One of the children begged Brian for an extra slice while shouting to his brother nearby, ‘Utol! Utol! May pagkaon!” (Brother! Brother! There’s food!). The brother came. He was so skinny; his ribs stuck out.
On Brian’s arrival day in Manila, he was shocked to see so many children street vendors. He couldn’t believe how they could walk safely among the slow-moving cars, tapping on the windows trying to sell their wares. Brian’s eyes showed so much pity for the poor children. Brian’s generosity also showed when he spent most of his time with the children in church and bought snacks and sporting equipments for them.
In the middle of the week, Pastor Reuben accompanied Brian back to the mall. They brought with them 30 lunch boxes for the “rugby” children. They found a place nearby and they fed them.
One day we went to the beach for a picnic. In no time, a group of children from around the area had gathered around Brian. He gave them snacks, all the while singing “Jesus loves me this I know.” He went swimming with them, offering his shoulders as a diving board. They were so happy. Their screams of joy could be heard blocks away.
After swimming, Brian and Pastor Reuben went to the nearby market to buy food for the children. Each child went home with a loaf of bread and a bag of goodies. They were quite ecstatic to have found a new friend.
On Sabbath morning on our way to church, our van passed by the street near the mall. Due to heavy traffic, our driver stopped the vehicle. From inside the van I saw the same “rugby” children we had seen a few days earlier outside the mall. They were walking outside a restaurant as if looking for food. When suddenly, they spotted Brian who sat by the van window and they ran toward our vehicle.
“Brian! Brian!” The children knocked on the glass window shouting. “Brian, we love you! Brian, we love you!” I was quite moved by their love for the young American who gave them food and love. I believe the name “BRIAN” will be in those children’s minds for a long, long time.
