At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-3).
I wrote the following letter as I reflected on the circumstances of one of the newest additions to our Shelter. For the child’s privacy, I have left out (x’d out) the names and locations. I am sharing it here to hopefully give you a glimpse of what the Lord is doing here in Cebu; a glimpse of what you all are a part of through your prayers, love, and support.
Dearest XXXXXXX,
When I first heard about you, it was a gloomy and rainy Friday afternoon. Our social worker, Kuya Cris, had asked if we could meet Monday morning about a beautiful baby boy that needed our love, care, and support. Driving to our meeting , I remember that the potholes on Good Shepherd Road were filled with water. The concrete walls lining the street had those dark grey streaks they get when it rains all night long. There are some folks you’ll run into that say rain is bad luck; that it causes people to get sick and ruins parties and gatherings. My first word of advice to you would be this: don’t listen to them.
The next couple of hours were spent learning the story of the first week of your life. You were only 11-days old and already you had experienced more than people 11 years (or even 111 years) old would ever experience. You were found in a reddish-orangish plastic bag outside of XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX in Sitio XXXXXXX at around 3:20pm. You were discovered, in the words of the hospital social worker, by “a mysterious young man wearing a polo shirt and sunglasses.” As this man passed by on his black bicycle, he heard your cries and got the attention of folks nearby; first a security guard, and then an old woman who lived down the street. When a crowd began to form around you, this mysterious man disappeared, and two locals named XXXXXX XXXXXXX and XXXXXX XXXXXXXX took you to CCMC (the Cebu City Medical Center). You still had your umbilical cord attached and were covered in blood and ant bites. Based on the doctors’ assessments, you were born that morning, XXXXXXX XX, 2023.
The hospital social worker searched and searched for your mother and family with the help of the police and the LGU. She tried her best but couldn’t follow the trail of clues to find them, and though she found the social media profile of the mysterious young man who first found you, I am still convinced that he was sent by God in that very moment to ensure your safety and your future. I don’t judge your parents, and neither should you, as strange or difficult as that may seem. Many in Cebu are in dire straits. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2022 left many people jobless, helpless, and hopeless. Difficulties were compounded by Typhoon Odette in December of 2021, and then the runaway inflation of 2022. People are hurting, and all we can do is try our hardest to honor God by helping those within our reach.
Eventually, you came to live at CSC. We will continue searching for your parents, and in the meantime will cover you with all of the care, love, and nurturing that we can muster.
I am writing you this letter so that one day you would know some of your history, and to help you know that you are loved; we love you XXXXXXX. I am compelled by my faith in God and by my love for you to promise you that we will do everything in our power to place you in a loving family, and that while you are with us you will feel the love of a Christian home setting with all of us here at CSC. I am also sharing this letter (without your name or the names of others in your life) with people around the world who will be praying for you as you grow, mature, and explore this wide, wide world that the Lord has created.
"... though she found the social media profile of the mysterious young man who first found you, I am still convinced that he was sent by God in that very moment to ensure your safety and your future."
Rain isn’t bad luck. Your Auntie Heather grew up on a farm where rain and water are signs of abundance, plenty, and life. We pray that your life will be filled with love and joy, not defined by the circumstances of your beginning but by the love and grace that we all have because God first loved us.
Sincerely,
Uncle Roberto
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