Shoes

I confess my huge ignorance of the Philippines prior to this adventure. The name I had heard of was the disgraced former President Marcos and of course his wife Imelda Marcos -the mysterious IM! She spelled her name S-H-O-E-S. Many women have a penchant for shoes, but she was addicted to collecting, and wearing, an outrageously lavish array of shoes.
But shoes are a luxury and apparently more than a third of the world's population cannot afford shoes. That is the stark reality of rich and poor - of vast wealth and such painful poverty.

That contrast was immediately highlighted in conversation today - church members who are very very poor and are ministered to by the giving out of monthly supplies of rice, and extremely rich big business. Many ordinary Philippinos feel like slaves in their own land - owned and exploited by economic empire-builders.
Today has been a day of  R & R in the hotel. We barely ventured beyond the car park - as seen from our room. However we had good time to begin a saunter through Ephesians together and were struck with the powerful knowledge that we have been "sent" by God and Gilcomston Church to the faithful people of God in Zamboanga. That turned into a time of praying and interceding together which was rich.
Later in the afternoon Cesar and Ludima joined us and brought a feast with them. Now this far-surpassed previous food discussion. They brought freshly boiled monkey-nuts; orange juice; the most fabulous fresh mangoes and the gateaux. It is Ubi cake and contains no artificial colouring! And it was delicious - giving carrot cake a real run for its money!
However the richest thing about the day has been spending time with Cesar and Ludima and just chatting, getting to know each other and beginning to hear their story. It is humbling and stirring to hear the depths of their desires to share Jesus and see men and women find the Truth of Christ. They have spent much of today preparing for the Thanksgiving Fiesta tomorrow when the church members are on holiday and come to celebrate God's goodness in worship, fellowship and food. That will be when we go deeper, experience more and enjoy the story of Grace in the lives of the people of God. Bring it on!