See What I Will Do

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” John 6:5

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Although it would have been easy for Jesus to make food from nothing, He took the simple offering of a poor boy of five barley loaves and two fish, gave thanks, and had the food distributed to more than five thousand people. Does this happen today? I believe it does, if one has faith.

Father Paul Uwemedimo is half Nigerian and half English and he has spent most of his life serving the poor in Payatas, a putrid garbage dump inside Quezon City with thousands of families living in shanties. He set up a foundation center there with his inheritance, and helps young kids get an education. With the quarantine, his heart bled for the thousands of hungry families in Payatas. At first he was just aiming to feed the families of his students and volunteers, but he could not bear the need, hunger and despair all around him. He wanted his foundation, Puso ng Ama (Heart of the Father), to be a visible sign of God’s love to the poor and the hurting, but how? The Lord said, “Prayer must remain your first priority. Trust in Me and see what I will do.”

True enough, donations of rice, canned goods, tons of vegetables came pouring in. The Center would be filled with donations and just as quickly as they came in, they would be distributed. God made a way even if there seemed to be no way. And that is because like the poor boy who gave his five loaves and two fishes, so many donated, so many started calling their friends, started fund raising, sharing on social media, contacting companies who could help. 

Just yesterday, one of our staff in our company who lives in Payatas, said in our chat group, “Almost buong Payatas nabibigyan ni Father Paul ng food packs dito sa amin...” (Father Paul has given food packs to almost the whole of Payatas). She said he was so good and persevering, not minding the heat, and the virus, visiting the poorest of the poor. God is good and He will continue to multiply the little we give Him to pass through Father Paul’s hands, and the many like him, who heed the Master’s voice to trust in Him and see what He will do. 

Fr Paul Uwemedimo MGL 

email at pnacovid@gmail.com

CONTACT Fr Paul by SMS, Viber message or WhatsApp message on +639052477082 for details of foundation’s Bank Acct details for Australian dollars or British pounds)

Puso Ng Ama Foundation Inc.

Bank of Philippine Islands 0421-0740-03

Branch Address:BPI Commonwealth Branch, Commonwealth Ave. cor Don Antonio Heights Subdivision, Quezon City, 1109, Philippines

Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Routing Number: 026005966

Account currency: Philippine Pesos