by the Rev. Dr. Anthonyl Morello

I was at the Huntington Beach Pier when I encountered a group of teens celebrating their High School Graduation. They were having the time of their lives and wanted to share it with everybody around them. As they passed me by, I greeted them and offered my congratulations, then began a conversation by asking what their plans were for the future. Some were going into college, some the military, others not sure but knew their life was just beginning and was full of great things to come. It seemed important that I share my own life experience, and that of a young lady I met in the Philippines, so they could really know the greatness of God''s blessings upon them.

It was on one of my many trips to Olongapo City, Subic Bay, home of the U.S. Naval Station Pacific for many years. The proof of our presence could be seen all about as countless AmerAsian children, fathered by U.S. military men either stationed or on leave at the base, milled around the now-closed facility, waiting for their father to send for them. Some were now adults but had no place to go, but some of the children seemed to have the wisdom of Solomon, knowing they would never be sent for but also could never fit into Filipino culture for they were "Tisoy" or half breed and needed a place to stay. As I walked through the now developed Free Port or Filipino Resort and Gambling Hall, l met a young 19 year·old girl. She smiled at me and asked “HEY MISTER, CAN YOU HELP ME"? I was sure she wanted some money but that wasn’t her request!

Luz, just a child herself, was sitting on the ground holding a toddler. She asked if! would take her baby with me to America and provide a good home for the child that Luz could never give to her. Her statement to me is still seared in my memory, “Please take my child with you. I’m already 19 years old with no husband, my life is over but I want my little girl to have a good life, not like mine. I was speechless! All I could do was stand there with tears in my eyes and explain it would be very difficult to do so, but that I could help in another way. I offered to bring her to Manila and find a church home for her and the child, but she refused. Manila was too dangerous a place to live, and here at least she had other tisoy to be around and they helped each other. Luz smiled at me and looked away. I’m sure she was convinced that she and the child would live out their lives in abject poverty; I was sure of that as well.I never saw Luz on my next trip to Olongopo. Many ofthe girls abandon their children and retum to their home town in hopes of starting a new life. I don''t know what happened to Luz and her child but they are in my prayers daily.

Why did I think it important to share this story with a group of young people on their day of joy and celebration? Because I knew it would be a gift for them to carry into the future as they begin to make decisions about their lives and that of others. It showed on their faces as I spoke about Luz and her child and their hopeless condition. I hope they realized how fortunate they were to be in this place at this time, and that they could make a difference in the future. One of the young men in the group awaiting enlistment into the military promised never to do that to a woman ever. Some of the others seemed to want to commit to sewing the needy and the poor. They all wanted to help make the world a better place because they have passed through. I gave them a blessing; we hugged and I sent them on their way.

As I watched them leave a bit less jovial but a bit wiser, I called to mind a saying, "If a child was bom this day, then God still has hope for us." I saw God’s hope for us in that group of young people as they claim their place in the story of humankind. Mother Theresa was once asked how we care for a broken world. Her reply: “One person, then one person, then one person." My dear friends in Christ, have you touched just one person to change a life lately?