I have been exposed this past week. Exposure hurts, it could be exposure to the elements like maybe staying out in the cold too long, or it could be exposure to something totally foreign to you. Whatever it is it can bring about a few different responses, and hopefully life change.
Let me explain that last statement a little bit more and share with you an experience I had on Monday. We started working with a local pastor this week in the communities of Tegucigalpa, and Monday was a crazy day to say the least. We started off with a short bus ride down the mountain and into the city to our first destination, a senior living center.
Inside the building we were immediately immersed into conversation with about a dozen residents living in the center. Some had physical disabilities, some suffering from alzheimer disease, but all beautiful and perfectly made by our Lord. We learned that all of the residents had been rescued from the streets, some were badly beaten when found, others just simply forgotten, but all needing the love of another person and the Savior.
After our stop at the home I though we were on the way back, I though the day was over, driving in the van I was thinking of how blessed I am to have my health and the love of family around me. As we pulled through a fence with razor wire entangled around the top I realized my first assumption was wrong, our day had just begun.
We slowly made our way up a mountain of trash, the pastor turned to us and stated that this is the city dump. It looked to me like a picture of hell, burning fire, lung strangling smoke, and through the haze little children, grown men, women, and mange like dogs wandering in the mess.
At first I though the people were searching for food among the debris, but soon I learned that this was their work. Seven days a week over 2000 people come to this place to collect recyclables to earn roughly a $1.50 per day. Our van was immediately met by a few children eager to see the new visitors, as we emerged from the comfort within those doors I was immediately exposed. I felt like a spectator, I felt rich, I wanted to take their place on that trash and place them in a seat in our van.
Even here living out of an 80 liter backpack, and sleeping in a tent I have so much. Yes, don't get me wrong we can still bring hope to these people, and Jesus still is shining, but I guess I just don't understand. I don't understand having to work 7 days a week just to provide food for a family, there is no vacation, no trips to Starbucks to enjoy a book and a coffee, there is just collecting trash.
My shallowness and selfishness have been exposed. I thank Jesus for the blessings, but I still have no Idea why he choose to give me what I have. I think of the words which say to whom much is given much is required. I have been given so much and I know God is calling me to give back so much more. We are blessed to be a blessing.
Im still not sure what God was trying to show me through this experience, but it has opened my eyes to how foolish some of my worries are. This experience also has shown me that our lives in the states are definitely not the norm. Im not saying we should feel bad about what we have been given, but I am asking how are we going to use the gift? It is good to be exposed, it brings change. Know that if you are reading this on a computer you have been given a gift, you are most likely rich compared to the rest of this world. My challenge for myself and for everyone reading this is to use the gift! Thats means something different to all of us, but we have to figure out what God wants us to do and then do it! Blessings and love to everyone.
