A Philippine dumpsite is likely the last place one would expect to hear the message of Jesus Christ. But to Joan, it is the perfect place.

Joan goes into a hot and dirty dumpsite every day to gather plastic, pieces of cloth, and other junk materials that she can recycle and sell to make money for her and her children. But there is another, longer-lasting thing she does at the dumpsite.

Working with a ministry named “A Place of Hope,” Joan shares the gospel with her “co-workers” at the dumpsite. After the story of salvation is shared, Joan and her team offer to pray for people and share goto lugaw (a rice porridge dish common in the Philippines).

Some 50 women and children stay at the dumpsite all day, “working” to find things they too can sell. The stink of the place has dulled their sense of smell, and the surroundings have strengthened their immune systems, but they are still people with hope and hunger for a better future.

World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC-AP) was privileged to partner with Joan and her ministry in the dumpsite recently.  “A Place of Hope” needed to document their ministry and WMC-AP loaned media equipment. To say the least, our media team was inspired by Joan.

This goes to show that no matter what the situation is, there is only One Story, One Hope, One Mission, and One Justice. His name is Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for people like Joan, who share Him, even in an unlikely like place of a dumpsite.

To read more about the ministry of World Mission Communications-Asia-Pacific, log on to http://www.wmc-ap.org/.