Lola

marysmeals

As the series of wonderful talks has wore on, the Mary’s Meals faithful, crowded into the yellow building behind St James’ church, have retained the spirit of hope and joy the charity tries to spread. Today, 200 people tried and mainly failed not to cry as our last speaker, Virginia from the Philippines stood up to tell us of her work. This wonderful old woman has never been outside of her home country and has wanted to visit Medjugorje for decades.  She first outlined how she got involved with Mary’s Meals. She would walk on the boulevard in Manila with her husband, and look at the street children. She remembers saying to her husband

‘I am sure these children are hungry. They have not eaten.’

Street children are a problem in the Phillipines as kids take to the streets to find food, often missing out on an education that could lift them out of poverty.

 

After some initial research she realized the extent of the problem, that it was rooted in lack of food in places of education. Her high voice cracks, and she looks as if she might not be able to keep speaking.

 

‘There are so many children living in the Philippines who go to school hungry. Malnourished children.  I prayed for these children. I said God, may I win the lotto. But I did not win. But when I met Milona, the Mary’s Meals ambassador, I won the lotto. Now you see no more children eating from the garbage heap. You just do not know what Mary’s Meals has done for these children.’

Street Children in the Philippines receiving Mary's Meals

 

The hundreds of street children she works with call her ‘Lola’ meaning ‘Grandmother’. In this small, humble, passionate woman, is the beating heart of the work of Mary’s Meals. The project leaders who have spoken to us this week are not rich, adventurous NGO glory-hunters. They are people who embody the simplicity of Mary’s Meals’ tin HQ in Dalmally, that deliver education, food and hope with a personal touch rooted in compassion. There are now three schools in the Philippines. She despairs that some of the work she can do is only to distribute much-needed food.

‘These children need more. They need an education. Only a complete Mary’s Meals project can help these children escape poverty.’

 

Fr Josun again embodies the way Mary’s Meals works on the ground. He met Magnus in a church in Glasgow and on his return to his native India he began a feeding programme in certain impoverished areas which now feeds and educates thousands.

Mary's Meals India

This Family Gathering has been a lesson in humility for those of us who work for Mary’s Meals in the developed world.

Joe.

Misc. Mary's Meals. Virginia is front-centre.

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Tags: Craig Lodge, Hunger, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Malawi, Mary's Meals, School Feeding Programme, Scottish International Relief