Street Feeding with Cebu Missionary Foundation

There are many experiences that can forever change one's life and Friday evening's street feeding with the CMF was such a case. Doug and I have lived in Cebu City for almost four months and we had made several visits before relocating. During this time we had driven by the people living on the streets and it was the actual witnessing of this poverty and need here that prompted us to relocate to Cebu to become missionaries. However, Friday night was the first time we left our secure vehicles and went to the streets to serve the homeless families and elderly. Nothing had prepared us for the impact this would have on our hearts.

We arrived at the CMF compound around 7:15PM where we were greeted by the CMF staff and Lucy Longden, the director and founder. The Food was lifted onto a flatbed truck. Afterwards Lucy gave us the rules for the feeding and then Doug led the group in a prayer. About 30 of us loaded onto the truck and into a van to travel to our first stop, Pier 4.

As the truck pulled into the Pier 4 area we were greeted by cheering and waving crowds. The people immediately began to line up for the food. As the staff was preparing to serve, Lucy took us on a tour of the compound they have built in the community. When CMF bgan servicing this area 10 years ago it was so poverty stricken and crime ridden that even the police would not venture into this area. Lucy was advised not to enter but needless to say, she did not heed the advice and continued to build relationships and serve in the community. Thanks to God and the efforts of CMF; starvation, malnutrition and illnesses such as pneumonia have almost been stamped out in Pier 4. CMF has built a compound that serves the community by providing schooling, meals, medical services and church services. Their biggest impact has been in working with the fathers of this community to help them stay with their family. To see the amazing work this foundation has done in this one community is truly to see the hands of Christ in action. After our quick tour of the compound we went back to the truck and began serving the meal, a chocolate rice, which is very fortified in calcium. The people would give us their plastic containers and we would fill it with food for them. For many it would be the only meal they would receive. We were overwhelmed by the joy we saw on the faces of the CMF staff and the people receiving the food. Because of the work of this one foundation, there was not the hopelessness we expected to see. We served several hundred people in Pier 4 before moving on to the Downtown area.

I cannot describe the impact on my heart at actually coming face to face with the homeless families of Cebu. It was a feeling I have never experienced before. In this ministry, baggies were filled with lugaw, a chicken rice porridge, and tied and then we handed the baggies to those in need. When you are driving by the homeless in your car, that piece of glass that separates you from them also provides a shield of protection for your heart. When you step out of that vehicle and leave behind your protection, your heart is rubbed raw with compassion and love as you look into the eyes and shake hands with those you are serving. One family in particular touched my heart. It was a mother and her four young children, one of which was a one month old son that had been born in the streets. I held the baby in my arms as the CMF staff member told me the story of the family and how they were forced to live on the streets after they had been abandoned by the father. Laying that baby back down on that sidewalk was heart wrenching. It took me several minutes to compose myself so that I could continue with the feeding. Again we fed several hundred people, but this work was much different than the first destination. Here I could feel the hopelessness and despair of the people. The needs here are so great and while CMF is making a tremendous impact, there is still so much that needs to be done.

As we were walking the streets, Lucy asked me if I was enjoying the work. I responded immediately with,"Yes, very much so!" However, as we were driving back to the compound in the pouring rain, I began to reflect on that question some more. Had I really enjoyed myself? The truth of the matter was that my heart was raw from pain. I had seen so many children that I just wanted to scoop up and bring home with me and give them a safe place to sleep and feed them good meals and just love them. However, reality sets in and you know that you can't possibly do that for all of them and so your heart aches at the hopelessness of the situation. That is not joy! But I had been with Lucy and the CMF staff and I had witnessed the joy in the work that they were doing and so I asked a few of them how they were able to do this work and not get overwhelmed. One young woman said you just take it a person at a time. Tonight we demonstrated love to someone who may not have experienced love before. We made a difference tonight and we will be back and we'll keep making a difference. You don't solve all of their problems in one night, but when you keep doing God's work and you never give up, eventually you do defeat the hopelessness. That is how you get joy, never wavering in the belief of the power of God's love.

Cebu Missionary Foundation is an amazing and inspiring organization. They are doing tremendous work here and making a huge impact on the lives of God's children. However, they can't do it alone. It takes all of us caring about these people and working together to make a difference. CMF has made incredible progress in many neighborhoods and yet there are more neighborhoods to be reached. Doug and I hope to work with Lucy and the CMF to gain knowledge and experience so that we too can take Lilia's Place into neighborhoods and begin making a difference. We ask for your prayers and support as we seek to expand our ministry.