FROM THE RECTORY TO THE SLUMS
FROM THE RECTORY TO THE SLUMS
We do this in cooperation with the organisation
Manila
How does one get the idea... ?
Barbara (38) grew up at the Lake of Biel (Bielersee). As a child she felt the desire to become a pastor – and to serve God in Asia. After graduating in theology, she took up a pastorate in Wyssachen/BE. Simon (37) grew up in Riehen, in the Canton of Basle. In 2002, after dropping out of his mathematics studies, he spent three months in Manila with «Servants». This time had a strong influence on him. Back in Switzerland, he resumed studying to become a high school teacher. After the successful graduation, he worked as a high school teacher. We have two boys Noel (5) and Micha (3). As young as they are, they are already looking forward to travelling in a jeepney in Manila...
How does one get the idea to move to the slums and live there with small children?! For a long, long time we have been thinking about social injustice in this world and the responsibility of Christians in this matter. In 2011 and in cooperation with «Servants», we travelled to Manila to find out if our calling was in the Philippines. We got the impression that God wanted us in Manila - however not at that time. Thus, we returned to Switzerland. And we were happy to start a family. In retrospect we are grateful for what we learned from life and all the job experiences we had in the last few years.
In the summer of 2016, we both felt that the moment had come that God called us to Manila! We started the application process, travelled to Manila to meet the team and to live, for a while, as a family in the slums. And ever since and in all that time we have found open doors everywhere! Thus, we set off for a new phase in our lives. We long to get to know the poor, take an interest in their lives and to serve them. We want to be a «bridge» between the poor and the rich world. We are excited and curious how God will use us in Manila. We are also grateful and happy to be part of the «SMG family» for this ministry in the Philippines.