Montalban

For those who don't know I am currently staying with a Catholic missionary community called ICPE (International Catholic Programme for Evangelisation) in Manila.
This community is currently working with adults and children in an area of Manila called Montalban. The people they are working with were once squatters alongside the Pasig river in Manila. The government has re-located them to a semi-rural area and built basic housing for them. Their housing situation is therefore improved however now they further out of Manila, far away from most employment and so without good ways to earn money. Some of them work on the nearby rubbish dump collecting things they can sell. There are schools in this area which are free but the uniform and books e.t.c. are not. Many of the poorer people cannot afford to send their children to school.
ICPE has two ministries here. there is a children's ministry which is like a Sunday School. Sometimes this attracts up to 120 children of various ages on a Saturday afternoon. Today I was there helping.
We sang some action songs, said a prayer and introduced our topic which was 'Saying thank you'. I was amazed at how these children who on the face of it did not have much at all could articulate the many things they were thankful for. Parents, houses, friends, animals, brothers, sisters e.t.c. We finished the session with a 'march' around the small community singing, chanting and making a lot of noise about Jesus and his love for us. It was fun but also a declaration: "God loves you" to the community.
Some of these children are being sponsored to attend the local school. Friends and supporters of ICPE contribute around 4000 pesos (about NZ$120) for each sponsored child. This money covers the uniform, books and extra costs for the child.
The other ministry in Montalban is for the parents of the children who are sponsored and any other adult who would like to come. There are two sessions on Saturday and the aim is to empower them to make good choices for themselves and their families.
Last week I attended these session and it was so great to meet some of the women and men who come along. They really do not have a lot, and life can be very tough but they are just like you and me.