chunks of plastic and old, pair-less shoes created the ground I walked upon. The
gray heaps of trash compressed under my feet as I stood, talking with some
14-year-old girls who sat amongst the trash. Our conversation was quite basic,
since Tagalong is not my native tongue. Dona Grace, my 9-year-old friend who lives at the
dump,distracted me for a moment as she pleaded for me to put her on my shoulders. The
girls then began to unwrap some used syringes that were new arrivals to the
garbage mounds. I turned around just in time to see one of the girls holding
the needle over her thigh, ready to pierce her brown skin. In a panic, I
hollered and waved my arms frantically. Their faces were question marks and it
baffled me that they didn’t know not to reuse needles.
former contestant on Filipino Idol who does ministry with us sometimes, and
asked him to interpret for me as I explained the dangers to the girls. After hearing the translation one of the
girls responded, then all broke out into laughter. Reluctantly, Drake shared
the reason for their laughter. The girl had thanked me for providing this
information, because now they could use the contaminated needles against their
enemies. I felt defeated, knowing
that what I had intended to protect them, would perhaps be used for evil.
On the crowded, bumpy ride home, crammed in a 15-passenger
van, the injustice of the situation really hit me. What made me so special to
be given the education I had received? Why did I have the privilege of knowing
the risks and dangers of reusing needles, when I have never even been faced
with such a situation? Here these young girls, smart as can be, were ignorant
to these facts when they were the ones who really needed to know them. It tore me up inside; I was bewildered.
Why? I asked God. Why did I have
the benefit of learning this? …The answer: Because God knew that I would follow
His call to missions …and would show up at the dump that day …and stop those
girls. By educating me, God can bring vital information to others who have not
had the same advantages I’ve had.
