On God, Money, Helping Others and Your Heart

Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
I’m at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, working at Figaro coffee shop with my laptop. I’m chatting with Moina on Yahoo Messenger, sharing with her some news about the volunteer opportunities that have been coming up. There are about 5 and I’m really excited. Next week I may go to Tondo, a place commonly referred to as Smokey Mountain. This is a holding center where the government relocates people and families that are homeless. Here though, kids are exposed to mountains of trash, and some work at the facility or dump to gather plastic for money. I will meet with individuals of an organization that facilitates education for children and some other community development projects.

In my chat with Moina, we talked about faith, helping others, what money can really do, and how change really happens. Below is our chat. In a nutshell, it’s our heart that changes people. Even billion of dollars won’t end poverty because there may still be people that are irresponsible with money and irresponsible of their actions in effecting themselves or others to return to poverty. It is important of just the act of helping and loving others, whether through money or your time, but most importantly to know the love of God and how to love like Christ does. Changes don’t happen overnight, but change can and will happen. Money comes and goes. God provides all of that. He provided you with the ability, the talent, the drive. It’s up to us to be responsible what we are capable of doing and making. It’s when we are irresponsible that we lose things or lose focus. I already see change happening in others, with just spending time and talking. Watch the change that happens when you teach the youth, spend time with them in sports, talk to the elderly, spend time with people to talk about God and how you care for them. Watch change happen…right in front of you.

Money to donate helps thing of course, but it does not solve the problem. Why even donate any money at all? Because it’s still part of the small change that does happen “enabling” for people to connect with others, for it to be a starting point of a relationship, or even a starting point or reinforcement that there is hope that a person’s life can change and that there are people that care for them. More importantly, that Jesus loves them and knowing Jesus moved and motivated someone to help another person in need.

Ryan Regalado: you know, E messaged me back
moevlo: oh really?
Ryan Regalado: gave me praise on what I was doing but he questioned why do so many of the churches spend millions on the churches and don't spend it on the kids or the poor
moevlo: interesting
Ryan Regalado: i will email Rocky and Aaron that
moevlo: how do you answer something like that
Ryan Regalado: Holy Spirit filled me one time
Ryan Regalado: that the people that adorn those churches is out of love and respect for God
Ryan Regalado: God will provide for the poor in other ways
Ryan Regalado: through other people
moevlo: yea..it's like decorating it for God
Ryan Regalado: even millions of dollars, as we see, doesn't fix the problem right away ($20 million/year budget for Union Rescue Mission)
Ryan Regalado: throwing money to a situation doesn't solve the problem
Ryan Regalado: God does
moevlo: yup
Ryan Regalado: adorning the churches is respecting god
Ryan Regalado: even $1 billion dollars doesn't fix poverty
moevlo: yes...
Ryan Regalado: it's people's heart that will change the world
Ryan Regalado: remember this
Ryan Regalado: this is both of us to learn
Ryan Regalado: but we can be part of that change
moevlo: nope it doesn't especially not in the philippines
Ryan Regalado: and it starts small and grows bigger
Ryan Regalado: that's the whole point, it's not about the money we have that fixes problems, it's the heart
Ryan Regalado: that's what government, corporations, and individuals get caught up in
Ryan Regalado: that's what I saw my uncle got caught up in
Ryan Regalado: he thinks "money" will solve problems, and his own happiness in his life
Ryan Regalado: but I can see, not even he is happy with money
Ryan Regalado: and then he projects his thoughts on others, and belittles them
Ryan Regalado: but i know his heart can change
Ryan Regalado: i know my dad's heart can change
moevlo: yea...they definitely can change
Ryan Regalado: i know my friend's that don't believe in Christ and follow His ways right now, can and will change
moevlo: it's about planting that seed
Ryan Regalado: no amount of money in this world changes poverty moi
moevlo: nope.. you're right
Ryan Regalado: because people can be irresponsible, or evil or bad and get themselves right back to poverty
Ryan Regalado: it's their heart and love for God that changes them
Ryan Regalado: it's the Word that changes them if they study
Ryan Regalado: it's love if they learn and follow and spread that changes
Ryan Regalado: remember this
Ryan Regalado: and this is truth
Ryan Regalado: for sure
Ryan Regalado: that's why I said
Ryan Regalado: don't get caught up with working more to make more money and you can help more people
Ryan Regalado: you are already helping all kinds of people, with no money
Ryan Regalado: ministering
Ryan Regalado: going to small group
Ryan Regalado: helping people at work
Ryan Regalado: and now, i see opportunity for case work, and talkig to people, like this depressed mother who ended up killing her children
Ryan Regalado: you can prevent stuff like that
moevlo: yea..you're right
Ryan Regalado: in an entire barangay, town, city
Ryan Regalado: village
Ryan Regalado: it's your time and love moi