The Nothing People

The word Waray translates, "nothing." So, our team is living with and trying to evangelize the "nothing people." Ironically, the Waray have nothing. Their lives consists of about a dozen things such as, working in the rice field, washing clothes, planting and harvesting crops, cooking, drinking, gambling, chewing tobacco, playing basketball, collecting water, fishing, and possibly attending school.

In my feeble attempt to relate to the Waray, I was reminded of Philippians chapter two that teaches about the character of Christ. In verse seven, we read that Jesus left the glory of heaven and made himself nothing. Until now, I never considered how miserable this might have been. Remember, in heaven, Jesus wasn't the son of a carpenter, he wasn't betrayed by his followers, he didn't fast for forty days, he wasn't spit on by sinners, and he wasn't crucified. No, in heaven, Jesus was in perfect fellowship with God.

So, I sit and write, in what feels like the middle of no where, with sweat running down my back, and a team of people who have all left the comforts of home. Why, you ask? At home, we had electricity, running water, a bed to sleep in, and friends who can speak English. Yep, life at home is pretty much a walk in the park. Nevertheless, we're here now.

In reality, we're all just like the Waray people because we have nothing to offer God. " But he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." If Jesus thought I was worth becoming nothing for then I consider it a joy to become nothing for the sake of the Waray people…the nothing people.