Who is your 'one'?

Five years ago I went to the Philippines to work on the dump site in Manila where thousands of families were squatting and scavenging for a living! I had never seen poverty on such a large scale. Babies were being born and families were living amidst raw sewage! For those who know me well, you'll know that I'm a lover, a lover of humanity, a lover of the broken, the downtrodden, the outcast, the poor, the marginalised. I rolled my sleeves up on that trip and spent most of my time hugging the hurting, playing with the kids and getting covered in dirt! I came to love the poor and hurting even more, but in all honesty, I was overwhelmed with the need. So overwhelmed. My heart broke for these people.

My primary task for the two week trip was to set up a health centre on the middle of the dumpsite, where people could receive medical attention, education and hygiene supplies. But my heart ached to do more. To make a radical difference, to see change. To put my love into real action, I had to feel the cost. But, I didn't know how I could make a lasting difference.

I remember sobbing in my hostel room asking God what I could do to help. I prayed and asked Him to give me 'one' to help. I knew that I couldn't help everyone but I could help one!

The next day I met a tiny, shy little boy on the street with a huge gash on his leg. I began to clean his wound so it would not become infected. He winced with pain as I nursed him, but he was so brave. Each day I saw him, I gave him my food, played with him, hugged him, and sang with him. We became friends really quickly. I would call him superman. The next 2 weeks we were inseparable. He helped me as I was setting up the health clinic, he sat with me during team meetings and I would always make a space next to me for him at lunch times.

When it was time for me to come home he slid down the wall and wept, I did too. It was heartbreaking. How could I go back to England knowing that this precious child was hungry, had no clothes and wasn't in school and was working on the dump site. He had a father and sisters but his mummy had recently died. My heart broke and I remember weeping from the pit of my belly. We sobbed and sobbed together. I was actually wailing, and snot was flying all over the place. This was unbearable. What had I done. Thoughts flashed through my mind that I'd made a mistake in loving this boy. That I was cruel to love and nurture him for two weeks, and then leave him in this awful situation. I felt mean, and sad, so sad! I had to do something! This little boy had changed my life, little did I know at that time, he had changed it forever.

I cried the whole flight home, sobbing into my aeroplane pillow as to not disturb the whole flight. Quite honestly, I was a mess. I wondered what was wrong with me, why was I moved so much. But then I began to feel the Holy Spirit speaking softly into my heart, "Leah, I am breaking your heart for what breaks mine. I am giving you My heart for these people, these children. I am opening your eyes to see what I see. I am softening your heart to feel what I feel".

After I got home I missed him so much, it was hard knowing the condition he was living in when I knew how blessed my life was. I had to DO something. I asked the school (a charity) if I could enrol him in their school, the answer came back, no. There was no room and no money. For 4 months I prayed, wrote emails, spoke to social workers and the principal and finally they allowed me to enrol Jerome into school, on the condition that I paid three times the usual amount, I didn't care! All I wanted was for this precious boy to have a chance, to be fed, clothed, educated. To have a chance at breaking the cycle of poverty.

He started attending the school and his life changed. I visited him again and he had grown, he was confident, happy and getting stronger. I then met his sisters (4 years ago)!! Wow. They were beautiful. I fell in love with them. I was so convicted, how could I send one child in the family to school and not the other two?! Haha. I met with their father and explained I would try to get the girls into school. Everyone was excited. The principal however was not so excited. She said the girls education level was too low to go to the school (they were 7 and 10 years old and had never been to school). I persisted and said she must accept them. Finally she agreed that if they came to summer school and she saw improvement in their learning then she would accept them into the school. I told the family how important it was for the girls to try really hard at summer school.

I went home and prayed! Soon I got news that the girls were doing great and had been accepted into school!

I am so proud of all three of them, and their lovely daddy who cares for them so well! It's such an honour to be part of their lives, to be part of their story, part of their family and part of their future. They are a strong family unit. They are such a blessing. Each of them loves Jesus and knows that God takes care of them each day. They are my people, my family. I love it each time I get to be with them. I visit them in Manila a couple of times a year and making regular trips to the Philippines has become a very important and normal part of my life. They always thank me and tell me that I've changed their lives, but the truth is, they have changed mine. I love them fiercely and am forever grateful to God that our paths crossed.

Their story isn't over and their life still isn't easy, it's hard. But they face each day with a smile on their face and hope in their hearts.

The fact is, there are so many people all over the world in great need. Real need. I don't mean need for a new car, or the latest iPhone, or an expensive holiday. I'm talking about real need like food in their bellies, clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads, someone to love them so they know they are not alone.

Who is your 'one'? Jerome was mine and since then God has brought many 'ones' across my path for me to love and embrace. If we ALL do something we can change the world, make poverty history, shine His light brighter! Please don't tell me I am amazing, I am not. I literally saw a need and asked God how I could personally meet it. We are blessed to be a blessing.

My challenge to myself and to you is, are we prepared to step out of our comfort zone, reach out to those who are lost and broken? Are we prepared to have our lives interrupted? There is a cost and sacrifice to being a lover of humanity. I don't want to get to the end of my life and realise I didn't count the cost. I want to breathe my last breath on this earth knowing that I lived a life of significance, knowing that I loved wholeheartedly, knowing that I lived a selfless life, knowing that I shared my time, treasure and talent, knowing that I kept my eyes open and when I found a need I did my best to fill it. I want to breathe my last breath knowing I have spent everything within me, and spent it well! We are all human, we all get it wrong and make mistakes at times, but I want to be part of a company of people on the earth who reached out to our world, not just in words or dreams, but in ACTIONS and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!! How about you??!