by Charlie and Dee Ivy 

On March 8, I joined the team for a grand tour to Barangay, where I met with the chairperson and other community leaders. Nine youth had been selected to meet with me. Together we struggled to communicate through my broken Tagalo (Ta gal og) and their broken English. I asked about their schools and what they planned to do during the summer break. Most responded that they were "looking for work," but didn't expect to find any.  I asked if they would be interested in attending a workshop on HIV/AIDS Peer Counseling. They were very interested especially after spicing it up with a pizza party!  

Throughout our time together, one young lady kept shining through. I learned that while most of the students knew English, they were afraid to try it - all except this one young lady, Marecel. She kept struggling to communicate with me, even as the others laughed at her broken and mispronounced words. During conversation about a convenient time for the group to meet, Marecel requested that the workshop be held in the evening to allow her time to look for work during the day. She impressed me as someone others would obviously listen to and follow.  

The next day I asked Loyida, the social worker at MJH and leader of the outreach team if she thought any of these youth had much of a chance of finding employment. She said that there was little chance. I then inquired if it was appropriate to offer Marecel a position as my assistant in getting materials ready for the workshop. Loyida thought it was a fabulous idea as she knew the history and personal hardships of Marecel's family. Loyida shared that the father died 10 years ago, and that Marcel's working mother supported four children and an ailing mother-in-law. 

Once again I would hear the words, "God brought us together". After only four days of working with Marecel, she turned to me as we were riding in a tricycle ( a bicycle with a side car) and said, "I think God must have brought you to me." When I asked her why, she responded, "because I really needed work to help my family and now because of you I have work." 

I revealed that I too believed God must have brought us together, because not only did she benefit from our relationship, but so did I. "Really?" she asked. "How do you benefit from me?" I explained that I could never have gotten the materials completed for the workshop; found my way around Manila; made the numerous arrangements in Tagalog; recruited the 24 youth whom we would train; and accomplished all I had, without her assistance. Marecel responded not with words, but a huge smile across her face. 

Later, after her value to me truly sunk in, I shared with her that Christ teaches us that when God is in the midst of people/works, it is always beneficial. That is to say, that God would never have me benefit at her expense or her benefit at my expense. Marcel said she had never thought of it that way, but that she would "never forget this." It was my turn to give Marecel a big smile.