Then, we headed out to the Recyclers. Pictures and the real thing really don't compare. Today was the first time that I took lots of pictures, because before I just wanted the experiences to matter, but today we went to a wide variety of places.
It was encouraging to see how kids are the same around the world and how much fun they had with simple things like jumping ropes. These people have so little and it was sad to know that although we had lots of fun playing with them today, most of their days are filled with starvation, pain, uncertainty, tears, and anything but You. It was also amazing, though, to see the dedication of the teacher from ECA who has been doing this for a long time. Throughout all of today, Your amazing power shone through so strongly in all of these ministries.
There are so many more pictures that I could put in here, but these should kind of sum up what it looked like...
We went there armed with skipping ropes, paddles with balls, and a hope that we could make these kids' days. As soon as we arrived, we were told to leave everything valuable inside the van, and then we were shown to the only open space in this jumbled city made up of cardboard, sheet metal and whatever scraps they could find. Most of the parents weren't there, as they had been out since dawn with their carts, which, if they were lucky enough, were pulled by a horse with its ribs poking out, and if not, then they pulled it themselves. The kids, however, seemed to come out of every opening in the houses around, summoned by news of a free meal. We served them ham and cheese sandwiches and yogurt, probably the only meal that they had had in awhile. They were always up for playing, however, anything from telling us which one of us skipped ropes with them or requesting one more horsey ride, with skipping ropes for reigns.
The guy who worked with these people was a teacher from an English Christian school that we were based out of during our time in Colombia. He would come and get to know these people every week. He was dedicated to these people who had nothing. A servant to the lowest strata of this Colombian society.
At the time we were living the government had issued a prerogative that the whole recyclers shanty-town had to move, and they didn't know where they were going to go.
We told the story of David, acting it out, while one of the people travelling with us translated. As they cheered as Goliath went down, it filled me with hope. Hope that these people who seem to have no hop would someday come to know the true Hope, and to recognize that this Hope pursues them, and He will not give up.
I think one of the biggest things that could be prayed about would be housing for these people. I don't know what's happened since we left, but I'm sure that the road's been tough. Also, pray for this faithful ECA teacher who's been ministering to these lowest-of-the-low, for long term solutions instead of just treating the symptoms, and also for the acceptance of the message of a Healer and a Hope who wants them as His very own family.
No comments:
Post a Comment