The bus dropped us off on a busy street, but the road we were turning down seemed desolate. As the hot sun beat down on us, sand as far as the eye could see, the only thing that separated me from a nomad in the desert was the paved road beneath my feet- a rather extravagant rare luxury for many parts of Peru.
Dogs and a few humans rummaged around for something of worth amongst the piles of trash lining the streets. The power lines buzzed with the sound of their electricity. Vultures circled above our heads waiting to find the right piece of human waste, and the verse of God taking care of the birds so how could we not trust He will take care of us comes to mind. And when I read this passage, I never thought he would be taking care of the birds AND us from the same trash pile.
encourage you to think about it yourself.
Seriously…take a minute to consider this life before you continue reading my blog.
IncaLink built a makeshift building where they teach women to make jewelry to sell, teach classes to the children, and do arts and crafts. We made the visit with the leader of the ministry, Stephany, who began to share more stories of the people she works with, and her hopes for dump.
A large explosion sounded as we talked. The inhabitants were blowing up large cans. The sound sparked a story for Stephany; a young boy was working to find food for his family in the dump, when an explosion went off, and glass cut his hand wide open. Knowing nothing else, the family brought the boy to her to take to the hospital. The nurse who was stitching him up commented that she had never experienced such thick-skinned calloused hands before. Years of work already on this child’s hands could not nearly compare to those 30 years beyond his age in the States. Stephany said it was then that she realized how much work these children do. Stephany talked about her dreams for this place- that it would become an oasis in thedesert, and the tree they planted to represent it.
We walked around the community and greeted the children. Dirt covered their clothes and faces, and I focused my thoughts on the true Cleanser rather than the hand sanitizer a couple hundred yards out of reach, then extended a hug…Tthese are the least of these.After a few minutes of hiding behind mom and dad, they warmed up and offered the gentlest of smiles. As I took their pictures, I thought of how my camera cost more than a year, maybe even 2 years of their income- they only make the money they find each day. Yet without even the most simple earthly pleasures, they found love, and therefore happiness.
Could you live on a dollar a day digging through trash in order to eat?
