New Hope Church

These are the beautiful people I "taught" English to in Manila. They knew English very well. We worked on pronunciation and played silly games. They in fact were the teachers. They shared their lives and frustrations with me. They have great hopes like: having surgery to be able to speak, going to Bible college, getting a job, moving to Japan for a "better salary", having a healthy baby or seeing a day when government isn't corrupt. They dream about someday seeing hope realized. What a difference from my list of hopes. Ironic that their church is called "New Hope" Church. I hope for things but my "needs" are diminished in light of their fight to live a basic life. They were eager to share how hard things are for them. I wonder if they can know him, the "New Hope" in an even more profound way than I know the "Hope". They know what it is like to hope for things that have very little certainty. How much greater is Hope, a hope that is certain, known in the face of hopes which are so uncertain.