A picture is worth a thousand words…..

…..and yet I still don’t believe a single one could capture the complete picture of what I want you to see. We just got back from a trash dump (literally…) where we gave out food to the people that live there. I can’t even think of the words to say to completely capture what I’m thinking and feeling right now either….

I don’t know that you can prepare enough for what we saw. The, what seemed like, thousands of flies and bees that swarm the area (and you) as you walk around, the vultures, the dogs (the most maimed, sickly looking dogs I’ve ever seen)……the thick, sticky mud and I’m sure other “stuff” we had to walk through….and ohhh…the smell…a burnt stench…a nauseating, OH so nauseating filth that seems to not only overtake the air but seep into your clothes and the pours of your skin. You are overwhelmed by your surroundings….I couldn’t help but to stand there at one point, barely moving….the absolute heartbreak I felt at that moment is indescribable…I don’t know that many of us could find the words to speak. I just kept telling myself, “you CANNOT cry here. Do not cry.” I wanted these people to see a smile and love on my face….it’s so hard to smile in the midst of such a depressing environment.  All I kept thinking is that I wish we could do so much more than just smile and hand them a sandwich!!  As some of our team passed out the sandwiches I smiled as much as I possibly could at the families there saying “hola” and waving to the little kids. Most of kids there seemed very shy and stayed a bit of a distance…..I’m sure they aren’t used to many people coming down there. We didn’t stay long….not near as long as I think we should have….and walking away I couldn’t help but think, “what did we do here?” “were we even a help a ALL!?” …..