The kindest cut

If I had told these students that they would be assisting with circumcisions to Muslim boys as a part of their schooling I don't know that they would have believed me or signed up, yet today that is what they did.

We had a tremendous experience helping with a medical outreach that is run by the Vineyard three times a week in Islaverde, a Muslim community in Davao City. We also have a church in the neighborhood, which we visited on Sunday.

Today we helped with the intake, interviewing, medical records, wound care, pharmacy, circumcision and prayer ministry. The students did an amazing job, even though there was some weak stomachs at times.

After the medical outreach was over we visited the Muslim families in their homes. This did much to break down the typical perceptions we get in America about these people. They were open to our visits, hospitable and excited to have us in their simple homes in what is little more than a squatter village. They also allowed us to pray with them. They simply aren't all terrorists or mean us harm. This is one tough neighborhood, but we felt very secure as our way had been paved over and over again by compassion from the Vineyard church and their outreaches.

We ended the day with an outreach to the street kids. We put on a couple of skits, songs and a simple message; but were easily out performed by the kids themselves. The students living in the Healing House (where we had dinner on Wednesday) help run this twice a week feeding ministry to the younger street kids where they themselves once hung out. They teach them christian song and dances as they demonstrate the love of the Lord. At the end of the time we served them a simple meal and then pasted them with stickers, posed for pictures and played chicken with them on our shoulders.

On our way back to the hotel our jeepney blew a tire. As we stood on the side of the road waiting for a new ride Matt got into a dance off with some Filipinos on the other side of the road. Oh my gosh, I haven't laughed like that for a long time. Neither, apparently had they. Matt maybe lost the dance off on points, but he won all of our hearts all over again.

I'll post some pictures of today later.