City Cry

Christmas is a time of giving. Too often we focus on ourselves and what we are going to get instead of those around us and what we can give. Christmas marks the time of THE ULTIMATE GIFT, when Christ Jesus, God Himself, came into our world and made Himself part of His own creation to teach them, draw them to Himself, and then to pay the price through His own death for them to be able to be with Him.
Here in Butuan, I take a tricycle ride almost everywhere I go. It is basically a motorcycle with a side car and a back bench, along with a roof overhead. The cost is only 8 pesos which is equal to about 20 cents or so. You can imagine what the drivers are making in a day then- next to nothing. I have developed a friendship with one particular driver - Marvin - who often times is my driver from the spot where I catch my ride home. His tricycle is number 1707 and I am always looking for him. There are about 2,700 tricycles here in Butuan.
One time I asked him what he makes on an average day as a driver. He told me about 250 pesos or a little over $5 a day for working a 12-14 hour shift. That comes out to around 35-40 cents per hour. He works from 7 am -9 pm 6 days per week and sometimes 7.
I wanted to do something special for my friend here for Christmas, not only because he is so nice to me and even gives me free rides sometimes even when I insist on paying him, but also to show the love of Christ to Him. I invited him to join me for lunch today at Jolibees which is sort of like a McDonalds with a few extra foods.
As we stepped up to the counter, he told me that this was his first time in a retsaraunt, except a Mc Donalds one time. He is 26 and had only been to a restaurant once in his life, and that was Mc Donalds. I had him order whatever he wanted and then added on to it because he ordered so litle. We sat and ate and while we were eating, he expressed his thanks to me, thinking this was his present. Then I gave him the card from Nelia and I to he and his family of a wife and 2 kids
with 500 pesos in it, only about $10 but 2 days wages for him, and told him this was something special for them.
Slowly but surely I am sharing the love of Christ with this man. He knows that I am a follower of Jesus and what I do with the kids and teens here. Many have heard that Jesus loves them before, but have they felt it from us? This is what I am trying to do with Marvin, help him to feel the love of God. His eyes got so big and he was so happy, continuing to say "but I got nothing for you." I told him that he didn't need to and that I didn't expect him to. This was a gift, sort of like the grace of God when you think of it. Please pray for my friend here and his family. Thanks and happy holidays.