Picture it: You need to wash your hands. But to do so, you must brave a dark, damp and smelly bathroom. This was the reality for kids at one local church in Dapitan, Philippines, until Compassion made a way for updates.
Now, these little ones can freshen up in a safe, clean and bright environment any time they visit.
Even Washrooms Can Evangelize People
Benlie, the Dapitan Compassion center’s director, got the idea for new restrooms while at a discipleship conference for church leaders. It all began with a striking comment from the stage: “Even washrooms can evangelize people.”
The speaker’s passion made an impact on Benlie. “I had no idea that our church toilet was itself a tool for evangelism,” he says. “And if you think about it, it does make sense.”
In the days following the conference, he couldn’t get that statement out of his mind. He realized that the church’s old, dark, damp and smelly wash facilities could be an unwelcoming space for the children and families they served.
“We would like to offer them a facility that promotes cleanliness, well-being and comfort,” he says.
Benlie also knew that poverty made it hard to access clean restrooms in their community, and the lack of safe washing areas exposed many children to dangerous diseases every day. Comfort wasn’t the only thing at risk — unsafe bathrooms threatened kids’ lives too.
The thought convinced him and the leaders of the Compassion center to start praying for a new restroom.
The Joy of Clean Bodies
Shortly after the discipleship conference, Benlie requested funding from Compassion to construct new bathrooms.
When Compassion approved the request, it was joyous news for the team and the children at the center. The new facilities now include four toilets, four urinals, an area for the kids to wash their hands and feet, a water tank and even extra space to grow.
“The kids love it,” Benlie says excitedly. “They often excuse themselves from class at the student center so they can wash their hands, use the toilet, wash their feet.”
After years of dreading a visit to the restroom, the children now have an inviting place to feel the happiness of being clean. But the new restrooms don’t just bring joy — they also save lives.
A Community in Need of Better Washrooms
The lack of basic sanitary facilities in many homes in Dapitan can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses for children. Hygiene resources are a vital need for families living in poverty.
That’s why Kate Lyn, a sponsored child in Dapitan, loves the new washrooms. “I understand the importance of staying clean. Sadly, my younger sister died from dengue fever. It was not long ago,” she says.
“I know dengue is caused by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes are attracted to our neighborhood because of an unsanitary surrounding, stagnant waters and a nearby marsh.”
The new washrooms at her Compassion center will help Kate Lyn stay healthy while she pursues her dream of becoming a doctor.
And Kate Lyn’s not the only one to benefit. “Most of the children and youth live in homes without wash areas or toilets at all,” Benlie explains. “In fact, some of the sponsored children don’t have a toilet at home, like little Lindy.”
Lindy, a smiley and sociable 10-year-old girl, must use the neighborhood public toilet that five families all share. She takes her baths in an area behind her home.
“I don’t mind, but I also do know that soon I will be needing privacy,” Lindy says.
Poverty makes her after-school chores more difficult too. Doing the dishes isn’t fun for any child, but it’s even harder for Lindy, who has fewer tools to get the job done. She washes her family’s dishes in a tiny sink with very little soap and water.
Now Lindy can count on her Compassion center as a safe, welcoming place to get clean.
Splashes of Dignity in Dapitan
More than toilets and sinks, the center’s updated bathrooms are a beacon of hope for the children. The new restrooms help children like Lindy, Kate Lyn and their friends stay safe from diseases and feel the dignity of good hygiene.
And the impact isn’t limited to the kids in Compassion’s program. Every person who visits the church, whether a friendly face or a first-time visitor, can feel welcomed in their washrooms.
“Ironically, today our new wash area is one of the cleanest spots in our center,” Benlie says. “While it is true that now we can be confident in letting our guests use our comfort rooms, the primary goal is to promote the health and well-being of the children and youth by providing a sanitary wash area. And now we have that.”
God gave the church the new, welcoming and refreshing restroom they prayed for. Through Compassion, he provided the kids in Dapitan with dignity-giving, life-changing protection from germs.
And most importantly, the church can keep inviting in guests, young and old, to hear the gospel — the news that refreshes the soul.
