And so it finally
begins. Our first assignment: Guachupita. It was described to our
team as the lowest of the low. Every person has worms. They live in
garbage and standing sewer water. Violence is prevalent throughout
the culture of this little slum. Mosquitoes, parasites, and wild dogs
infiltrate the living space of about 1,000 people.
We visited this
afternoon, and that is not what I saw. My perception of Guachupita is
that it is filled with little children who have nothing but a smile
on their faces and the clothes on their backs, but they have joy.
Guachupita is the home of
people who have worked hard their entire lives to supply just a small
home for their families.
There are eleven of us going into this environment, six days a week
for the rest of the month.
We.
Need.
Your.
Prayers.
For health.
For strength…emotionally and physically.
For the people of Guachupita.
Our ministry is….
To build canals to take the standing water out of the city.
To clear the land of garbage.
To do Vacation Bible School.
To demonstrate the character of Christ to the people.
There
is a bridge that separates Guachupita from the city. The government
has declared the land unlivable, but the people there have nowhere
else to go. As we were walking across the bridge, and dozens
of children ran to us, I just
kept thinking that I didn’t want them to touch me. They
are diseased…they have worms…they have parasites. But
as we were walking, the children grabbed our hands, and I just could
not help but love them.
God
taught me something with Guachupita today. I held hands with some of
the filthiest children today. I hugged them, I loved them. It hit me
like a ton of bricks during the middle of this experience…God does
this with us everyday.
He holds our hands and walks down the street with us, no matter what
dirty thoughts we have, no matter what sins we have committed. Today
was a huge symbol to me of the love of God.
I might have to take two showers a day for a couple of weeks and
throw my clothes away at the end of the month. I might get a little
dirty, and yes, I might get sick. But I am going to love the people
of Guachupita with all of my heart for the rest of this month,
because that is what God does for me everyday, no matter how messy I
am.
I cannot tell you enough how beneficial prayers are during this
experience. We are taking every precaution we can for our safety and
health. Prayers for us and the people of Guachupita are simply
invaluable. I cannot wait to share more stories from this beautiful
place!
