MTC and Street Children

Located on the church property where we work is the Area Office for the Philippines Area. There is also housing for patrons who are attending the temple and the MTC (Missionary Training Center). The Manila Temple is across the street. Every third Saturday a new group of missionaries arrive. Most are from the Philippines and will serve in the Philippines. Usually there are 15 - 25 who come from India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Micronesia and several other Asia Pacific countries. Missionaries from these countries will return to their native country.

Patty helps out on intake day. Each missionary receives a chest x-ray first thing on the first day and Patty helps out in the x-ray lab. I was outside on intake day and took a few pictures of families dropping off sons and daughters. It was interesting to see the mixed emotions displayed. Mothers in tears, fathers putting on a tough exterior, young brothers and sisters admiring and already missing their older brother or sister. Then there is the missionary who just wants to get into the MTC and get started with their mission. These same emotions were on display in Provo when we were there one year ago. Some new missionaries come in a car with their families, some come as a group from the airport and some just get dropped off at the front gate. A few weeks ago Patty and I were driving to the office and saw a young man, suit case in tow, he was walking to the MTC. By the time we recognized him as a missionary and realized where he was going we were passed and could not stop in traffic. It was a touching scene to see a young man make the walk to the MTC....all on his own, no one to see him off, no one to give him that last hug before he entered the MTC...just a long lonely walk from the train station to the MTC. Perhaps he was the only member in his family and did not have the support of his family. Perhaps no one else in the family could afford the cost of coming to the MTC. We'll never know the entire story but what was obvious was his dedication and commitment to serve. That short scene spoke volumes.

The young man below, with the reddish suit case, was dropped of by a taxi. And so begins his mission and the next leg of his life's journey. Something else that we noticed. Missionaries arriving in Provo typically have three large suitcases packed full and likely a carry on case. The missionary and their families probably spent several hundred dollars on new luggage, new shirts, suits, shoes and socks. The missionaries who arrive here normally have 1 suitcase, and that will be all the have for the next 18 - 24 months. It is not uncommon to see missionaries arrive with white shirts with worn out collars and suit cases that are held together with duct tape.

Mother and daughter in a last hug.

A couple of weeks ago while driving to church at about 8:00 AM, Patty noticed a group of 10 -12 street people sleeping on the steps of a business establishment. Traffic was too heavy and we couldn't get stopped or get a picture. On our way home, at about 2:30, she had camera in hand with her finger on the trigger, just in case some were still sleeping. We were surprised to see 6 -8 still there. We noticed that these were not old men, they appeared fairly young. It was sad to see.

I'll tell you the story of a young man we have met. I guess he is about 25 - 30. I don't know for sure. As a matter of fact he doesn't know for sure as he doesn't know when his birthday is. His name is Jerry. He works at the Area Office. He is not an actual church employee but he hangs around the office and washes the cars of the missionary couples. He washes each car once every two weeks and charges 200.00 Pesos per wash. That is about $4.00. He also washes a few of the church fleet vehicles. I would guess he makes $15.00 - $20.00 per week. And that is his only income.

What makes his story interesting is that Jerry and his brother were street children. His parents or parent (he does not know for sure) abandon him and his brother behind a LDS meetinghouse in Manila. Jerry believes he and his brother were left to fend for themselves as parents could no longer take care of them. Some church members became aware of the street children and took compassion on them. A member family who attended the meetinghouse took in the street children and raised them. Jerry is now a member of the church, married and sealed in the temple and a proud father. Below is a picture of Jerry and his family outside the MTC. On the day of the photo, Jerry and his wife were going to the temple; we couldn't resist taking a picture of this happy family. While there are so many sad stories in the Philippines; occasionally there is a story that gives hope. I wonder if Jerry looked like the children sleeping on the steps in the photo above? We can never know for sure what someone might become under the right circumstances. Some might say that a person who washes cars for a living might not be considered a success; but compared to the bleak future that awaited Jerry and his brother, I would consider him very successful.