What have we been up to?
My team has been doing a lot of construction,
tutoring, and has been working on a census of the community. There are around
5,000 people who live in the community surrounding the YMC, so we have been
working on a census. The
past team that came through were from Hong Kong and had a vision to feed 5,000
people.
With doing that they decided to start a census to help further the
ministry here at the center. To help complete this it entails us going from home
to home asking who lives there, their names, ages of the children, and any
prayer requests or special needs. The YMC is going to use this information to
better meet the needs in this community. This has been a tedious process
because we have to use a translator, although many people speak English here, and
also because the homes are not like homes in North America. You see I know this
is not the most appealing job over all the other things we could be doing, but
our team really has decided to put on a servants attitude and offer ourselves
in a place where most people would not pick.
It is not about coming back with the best story or glamorous job, but
serving God whether we are seen or not. We literally
walk through smalls alleyway that might be a little wider than me off the main
street and from there it is just random shacks all built onto one another in no
particular order or place. There are no streets, just walkways that snake
around turning and twisting. These are called squatter homes.
The
reason this is so complicated is because every 6 ½ years or so, the landlords
tear the homes down and bulldoze the property. If the squatter lives on the
land for 7 years or longer, then they automatically become the owners of that
piece of land. To prevent this from happening, landlords tear the homes down
and take pictures for the government in order for the property to stay in their
name. This is so sad to see because it clearly adds to the poverty level. There
is no middle class here- it is either the poorest of the poor or the extremely
well off.
am boggled by an answer for more. We see people, who humble themselves as they
guide you into their house, and offer you a stool to sit on that barley stands
on its own, but it their best seat in
the house. They live in a house no biggerthan our bedrooms a home but let you come in as it is the best thing they have.
I saw about three new born babies one week
old, and all the mothers cared about is the need to raise their baby in
health. They pay for their water daily,
as it is brought to them to wash, clean and drink with. Every family desires water- if only we could get
a system in for them. My DREAMS ARE BIG for this community and God is pulling
my heart for more. They
are full of love and joy, but I wonder what they hid behind those smiles, as
this is reality for them. This is the reality
of most people here but what is the answer? They think it is money but I wondered what would
happen when hope is brought.
