As I stepped out of the mototaxi, I was hit by a putrid burning stench that completely took my breath away… I tried to force a smile in order to counteract the disgusted look that probably swept across my face, as well as to keep from gagging. My feet hit the ground with an unexpected crackling crunch. It was difficult to distinguish among all of the clutter and piles of trash what had made that sound… a rotting eggshell, a razor blade, a disfigured doll’s head, a rancid lemon, a moldy milk carton, tattered plastic bags, a remnant of an old flip-flop.
We had arrived at Relleno Sanatario, or as we called it “the dump”. The word relleno in Spanish means “stuffed”, and this place was definitely overflowing with an abundance of waste. Everywhere I looked, in every direction, for what seemed like miles, there was nothing but mounds of trash… some were only a few feet high while others were 12 to 15 feet high, making them more like small mountains. The all ready desolate land seemed even bleaker because of the barren desert in the background. There were men, women, and even children standing in trash up to their knees hastily digging around to find “treasures” that were hidden among the garbage. They were rummaging through filth trying to salvage things that were of value, things that they could sell… like glass or tin containers… in hopes of being able to make some money for the day. It does not provide much of a living (on average, they make about $10 a day), and it certainly does not seem like much of a life. However, most of the people here don’t know anything but this lifestyle… they are born in this dreary place, inherit their parents’ trade, and are destined to perpetuate the cycle. So they not only work, but also live here. Some have set up temporary shelters inside of the walls of the dump, but they actually live in a nearby village just outside the walls. Their dilapidated homes are awkwardly constructed of frayed tarps, ragged boxes, and scraps of wood. They seem haphazardly thrown together from materials that were collected from the dump and certain to fall if there is the slightest breeze. It was a lot to take in.
When the idea was first presented for us to accompany women from our local church to go help lead a small group for some of the workers, I was eager to lend a hand. But now… being on the “front lines”, engulfed by swarms of flies, surrounded by packs of stray dogs, incessantly sneezing, seeing the approaching workers’ grubby jeans soiled with yellowish brown stains… I wasn’t so sure. I am not typically germ phobic (I used to teach 6th graders, and everyday I would shake each students’ hand), but I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep it together. Sickening feelings returned as I realized I was going to have to shake hands, hug, and even kiss the cheeks of these people.
God completely humbled me in that moment with Romans 12. It says “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to… share with God’s people who are in need… do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position”, but here I was doing the exact opposite. I had no right to put myself above these men and women. I realized that these people, however poor and repulsive they might seem on the outside, are just as worthy to receive God’s love and forgiveness as anyone else. This is exactly who God calls us to share with… those who desperately need His hope, compassion, and love. And in the midst of swallowing my pride, I had this vision of how revolting the sin in my life must look to the Lord. It covers me with layers of grimy filth that must be nauseating for Him to see and smell because He is so holy and pure. And then I began to see the beautiful hearts of these people through all of the ghastly outward things, just as the Lord does.
At first I could only see the sadness and gloom, but God showed me the beauty and the hope that lies ahead. God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, who set each star in its place and directs the path of the sun and moon, took ashes to create man, so why can’t He use the trash of this world and create something beautiful? I believe that He will and that someday this place will be stuffed and overflowing with love.
