So often in life I am guilty of letting the small things get to me. Letting myself become consumed with things that in the long run don't really matter.
One of my favorite things in the world to do with our family is outreach. Today we had an opportunity to go to Guatemala City and do some outreach and my eyes were opened in ways I never imaged.
Our first stop was to meet a precious family who lives in the slums of Guatemala City and who grew up working in 'the dump'. Berta is 22 years old single mom of 3 kids ages 7, 5 and 3.
Berta has spent her entire life in the same area doing the same job ever since she was a child. And that job consists of picking through garbage. We visited Berta's home and community which basically consisted of tin houses...
and a shared community rest room....
Havyn (age 2) and Berta's youngest daughter (age 3)
Berta works right outside of her home where she and her community clean, recycle and resell plastics from the dump.
Bertas next door neighbors repaired, reshaped, recycled and resells tin all found in the dump.
Another community near the dump...
And another precious family doing all they can to survive...
Inside of their home where garbage is gone through....
A child at work inside their home...
Berta also brought us to see the dump where people work day in and day out tirelessly hand picking through the garbage in hope to resell items that were thrown away.
I think for me though one of the most disturbing things I saw today was this...
Buzzards that were everywhere...
Because over looking the dump is the national cemetery...
And when you are unable to pay for the space for the year, they knock out the cement and simply throw the remains over the side of the mountain into the dump...
Notice the baby blanket and plaque....
The remains of this man was thrown down the side of the mountain right in front of us...
As I reflected upon the day, the desperation, the stench, the loss and the people who's lives seemed so hopeless...
I turned my eyes to the one who brings hope to the hopless and in the midst of it all...
I found Him.
13 comments:
Absolutely no words! Such an incredible reminder of so many things...I needed this!! Praying for you sweet friend and the incredible ministry God has called you to!
Amy, after praying for you, God etched the words "Be the change" on my heart. Amy, He's using you mightily to BE THE CHANGE. He allowed you to witness what you did today for a specific reason. He has a mighty plan in all of this. My heart aches for you. I wish I could erase these images from your mind, but that is not God's desire. His desire is to stir up His Church to BE THE CHANGE. Village of Hope is part of THE CHANGE. Thank you, Amy (and family and supporters), for being the change before our tear-filled eyes. We love you and we're so proud of you. Thank you for being you, thank you for saying yes, and thank you for being the change. Praising God right now for blessing me with a friend like you. Love you!
Powerful.
Thank you for sharing.
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Laurel
This post hit me. I have been there. I have seen those sights. Smelled those smells and loved on those people. May God bless you and keep you. PRAYERS.
Oh my goodness Amy... I am speechless. I know that exsits. I've seen those pictures before... but to actually experience it? Eye opening for all of you I know. Prayers for you all... Thank you for being the hands and feet for us. We so appreciate you guys.
XO,
Rebecca
Oh my goodness! It is hard to imagine. Kalyn, my oldest, is leaving Guatemala today. She and my family were on a mission trip (for the 5 year in a row) up in the mountains. It is so special to be able to hear her stories of missions there and to see what your family is doing there!!!
Wow. What an incredible experience and post, in both wonderful and horrible ways.
It makes me realize just how much we (in the USA) take for granted, and how we are so willing to throw things away that are perfectly usable, and even valuable, when others could benefit so much from those same things.
Not sure there are words.....
Thank you for sharing....for sharing about hope even when it seems so hopeless. wow!
So very moving. I left part of my heart in Guatemala this spring. I lookforward to every one of your post because I yearn to be back there...
Thank you so much for sharing this-what I needed to be challenged tonight.
Oh Amy! You know I love Berta and her family. Did Desi tell you that a generous donor at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church provided the funds to build her house??? The Lord knows her need, heard her prayers and provided in a most amazing way. I'll share that story and photos when we visit. Marissa can't wait to see LUPE again. Our mission team will remember LUPE...Berta's daughter, who told us she was "too dirty" to sit in my lap. How many lives that little one has already changed!
Hi! I'm a friend of Kelsey J. I've been to the Guatemala City dump & there is already a wonderful, well-established ministry there called Potter's House. It was started 25 years ago by Guatemalan Christian women who felt led by God to serve the people in their own city at the dump. It is still led by Guatemalan Christians & they need our support. http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/
Oh my goodness... I can't even imagine. I'm simply speechless. Your work and lives there is simply stunning in so many awful and beautiful ways. Much love to you and yours.
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