If you looked up, all that could be seen was deep blue sky with white, fluffy clouds playing with the tops of the trees; a paradise. As you looked down what you saw seemed out of place. Flies infesting rotting fruit with men searching through to find something good to eat and sell. The smell of death, and trash in a constant state of burning. Houses made of corrugated steel and anything to make a wall. New trash being dumped out with a gathering of people around to try to get the best of the worst. This can’t be right. How can this be? Is this where heaven and hell collide?
Yet as we talked to the people and were invited into homes there were smiles and joy. We met little Christopher, a 3 month old baby whose mother was beaming. A kind woman offered us her coconuts to drink from. What a refreshing drink in the midst of the constant heat and humidity. I don’t know how much it cost her to give us her coconuts, but if I had little I might be inclined to hold on to what I have and not give them to some random white people walking around. But everyone we have encountered has been so generous and kind. I am humbled.
I was able to pray for Julio. He told me he has five kids and they are blessed to go to school. He was searching through the fly infested fruit. I thought, would I be willing to help him if asked. I was never asked and I didn’t know the answer. I was overwhelmed. Did they view their job as I viewed it? One gentlemen answered a call on his cell phone in his shorts and boots. They make enough to have cell phones? Many random thoughts and questions are bouncing around in my head, but I don’t feel like I need answers.
