Today our team had the privilege to go experience a place that I have only heard stories about…a place called Rubbish Mountain. These people live and work amidst heaps of garbage. Why you ask? Simply because they have no where else to go. This is their home, their community, their survival. 
What surprised me the most today was the beauty I saw among the ashes (literally!) The smoke was so heavy, we had to wear face masks and the smell was so terrible, I gagged several times, yet when I took my eyes off myself and put them on the people, I found immense beauty and strength. Women, children, playful teens and even vendors spent their time sorting through trash all in effort to earn a profit 7 cents/kilo of recycled materials. Yet, ironically, the women had manicured nails, shiny hair and a sense of pride and dignity that was very real and noticeable. They took their work seriously and they did so with family, friends and purpose.
I found out that over 40 NGO’s are connected with this community and I asked one friend who works here several times a week “What is your goal for this place?”, and his reply was simple, “to bring hope”. So many people tell them everything they should be doing or are doing is wrong but he and his wife are there to bring hope through free health care, prenatal visits and friendship. Incredible to provide for the least of these!!
This Saturday, I have the privilege to go back with his wife to pray with the women who are expecting babies or who have recently given birth and to see first hand the hope that this amazing Godly couple is bringing into this place.
Pictures alone cannot express the sights, sounds or smells of today, but what I want you to notice more than anything is the strength and beauty of the people! They are an inspiration to me for what it means to give it your all in ALL circumstances! Wow–may God continue to bring people to this place to minister to these people. Pray that they would be given everything they stand in need of—food, water, housing, health, income and HOPE! True hope=-)
Serving for one audience alone,
Lindsay
Heaps of garbage—really makes one think about the importance of recycling!
Standing on the a mountain of garbage—something I never thought these shoes would walk upon.
