Most of posts are glamourous (ish). You see the smiles...the hotels...the fancy pools...the amazing views. That's what people like to see. The pretty.
In reality most of these people don't live in "the pretty."
During my Saipan youth retreat, zero kids had been to that resort--to even walk around. I have dropped in many times over the years to take in the beauty. I had swam in the pools. They live here, and had never stepped foot on that property. I had asked a few of the girls if they had ever been there before. Their reply, "Miss, we don't leave Kagman." That would be the equivalent of me never leaving Francis. It's true. They don't (except for when the church van picks them up to take them to church).
During the Guam youth retreat, I asked if any of them had been to Onward waterpark before. One had...in elementary school. Me? I would have probably gone several times a year.
We had pizza at both youth retreats. That is certainly something that they never have. It's just too frivolous and expensive.
These kids are the kids that call at 9pm asking if you can take them and buy some food because they haven't eaten today.
These kids are the ones that ask if you could stop and get a jug of water because they have no drinking water.
These kids are the ones that are excited it rained because they could take a shower since there is no water.
These kids have no modes of transportation. No ride. (And even if they did, how do you afford $5+/gallon?)
These kids like going to summer school because it means they get to eat lunch.
I'm sure some of them only come to church because it means getting fed. But I hope that along the way, they are getting spiritually fed which will ease their hunger for an eternity.
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