Nurturing the homeless

Government agencies and non-government organizations are hard put to help street dwellers – those who do not have houses, sleep under bridges or overpasses, on the streets, under trees or wherever they can have a roof on their heads. But how do they help these unfortunate people whose number keeps growing day by day? Build houses for them?

Not so, says the Mission Center of the United Church of Christ-Ellinwood Malate Church (EMC), whose policy is to give street dwellers not fish, but the skills by which they can learn to fish. Since it opened its doors to street dwellers from the Malate and Ermita areas a year ago, the center has not built a single dwelling for them, but rather, given them opportunities by which they can pick up the pieces of their lives and earn a living and determine to build their own homes.

The ministry took off with meager resources, but lots of faith on the part of the Church Council and Team Ministry, and volunteers. There was support from Ellinwood-Malate Church‚s sister-church Mercer Island Presbyterian Church (MIPC) in Seattle, Washington State.

As soon as construction of the mission center started, donations for its operation started coming from the EMC membership, from friends outside, and from institutions willing to share in such an endeavor.

Ten years earlier, at an EMC officers‚ meeting, the idea of having mission efforts "closer to home" was brought up. The church‚s outreach ministry then was widely dispersed, being found in Palukpok, Dagat-dagatan and Area 9, which are quite a distance from Malate, where EMC is located. Some elders suggested doing something for the street people milling around the church, some of them sitting on the steps of the edifice. "We can‚t turn a blind eye to them," they said.

A visit to Seattle exposed Ellinwood members to the MIPC‚s program for street dwellers, which is what the Ellinwood mission center is now doing. The mission‚s objectives, reports Nievelena V. Rosete, MC chair, were two-pronged: the ministry should nourish and help the beneficiaries or street dwellers physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and it should enhance the spiritual life of the church membership itself. "Thus, the mission was never intended to be limited to caring for others; it is, in fact, also a mission opportunity for the EMC membership‚s expression of the Christian faith in action. Indeed, it was not a one-way direction in the passing of blessings."

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Getting the street dwellers to accept their "help" did not come easy. They were suspicious of the church people‚s motives. While they accepted that there is a God, none of them had any relationship with Him, says Nievelena. None wanted to touch the

Bibles, or sing hymns of praise. All that has changed now. Singing praises is now a joy to the beneficiaries, and they seemed thrilled by Bible drills.

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Street dwellers have been identified, some of them single, others married couples, still others live-in partners, and children. Each Saturday, they report to Ellinwood before 8 in the morning, take a bath (a must) and brush their teeth. They have nourishing merienda and lunch, singing and games, and spiritual nurturing, and leave the center not later than 5 o‚clock. There is discussion on what they can do for "more responsible living." Coordination is made with government agencies on skills training for jobs or go back to the province. There is an afternoon medical clinic, the doctors offering their services free.

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Success stories include that of Jomer who used to work in the Middle East, but who became jobless upon his return to Manila. His family left him, and embittered, he took to living in the streets, where he met Gina, another street dweller. The Mission counselors helped them borrow capital from Jomer‚s parents, and the couple now sells ball pens, nail clippers and other small items in the sidewalk of Sta. Cruz. They are now renting a small room.

Mang Robert, who is fond of reading, took to the streets in frustration over his inability to get his SSS pension. The Mission counselors helped boost up his morale; he was finally able to get his pension, and now he rents a small room in the city.

Three young girls spent some time in the Mission house, and were convinced to go back to the province and seek their parents‚ forgiveness. At least there they have homes to come home to.

Gil had a big quarrel with his parents more than 20 years ago, and it was only at the Mission center that he realized the virtue of forgiveness. With the Department of Social welfare and Development‚s money, the prodigal son went back home.

The Roperso couple slept with their young child on the sidewalk; the Mission convinced them to go back to the province, with DWWD defraying their travel expenses.

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Nieve is all thanks to doctors, students, housewives, church members, who "render services in varying capacities with joy, selflessness and a special commitment. In a recent movie shown, the whining and complaining main character was told, ŒYou want a miracle? Then be the miracle.‚ At the UCCP EMC Mission Center, there is no whining and complaining. Instead, there is a lot of joy going around. Also a long list of miracles."

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