Living and working in a huge pile of trash and feces is probably not something you dream about doing when you grow up- but this is a reality for many folks here in Nicaragua. Getting the chance to visit them, share a meal with them, and share my testimony was one of the coolest things (as well as the hardest) I have done all year.
All we were told was that we were going to be doing “dump” ministry and would be bringing a meal to the people living and working there. I had no idea the extent to what we would be getting into, all I was trying to do (and try to do everyday) is prepare my heart for what the Lord had in store for me that day and be ready to share His Love with whoever He shall ask me to.
We prepared the large rice and vegetable meal we were going to be serving and loaded up the truck with all the juices and supplies we would need. When we gathered to pray for the Lord’s favor that day, Pastor Jaime looked up and asked “so who wants to give the message today”. Without hesitation, he then said “how bout you Ryan.” And as I have all year, I said yes, and was excited for the opportunity to share.
During the truck ride over, I was asking the Lord what He wanted me to share with these people. As He has done many times this year, He asked me to share some of my testimony with them and then share the Gospel- giving everyone a chance to hear how much Jesus loves them, what He has already done for each of them, and how that Love is available to them right here and right now.
We turned off the main road and headed down a long dirt road surrounded by crop fields and volcanoes. Once we reached the very end of the dirt road, we turned the corner and there it was. All you could see was trash about 20 ft deep for as far as your eyes could see out. The smell was so bad you could smell it from inside the truck and when we stepped out the car it literally made me nauseous. You could see people all scattered throughout the trash with large metal tools digging through all of it.
Once we parked, we got out and set up the table with all the lunch items and met our contact Mario. Mario felt called to start coming down here and pouring into these people and has been coming down here daily for the past 7 years. If you saw and smelt this place you would realize that this is one of the most selfless things you could do with your life.
He told us about the place and that most all the people live and work there daily. The garbage trucks come in every hour and as soon as they do they rush over as if somebody found gold to start digging through it. The goal for them is to find anything they can use again or sell to recycle companies to make a small profit. And this is their only source of income.
We got all set up and then walked out into all the trash and started praying for people. I met a nice lady and her daughter and got to pray for their family.
After we were done praying Mario called everyone over and said the meal is ready. Everybody came running down to the table. We were told that they will listen to you and what you had to say as long as no trucks were coming in. He said as soon as a truck pulls in, they all rush over to it.
After we were done praying Mario called everyone over and said the meal is ready. Everybody came running down to the table. We were told that they will listen to you and what you had to say as long as no trucks were coming in. He said as soon as a truck pulls in, they all rush over to it.
I had the chance to share what was on my heart that day and share some of my testimony. The power of our testimony is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and God has used this in so many ways this year. After I shared what Jesus had done in my life, I told them all that same Love is available for each and every one of them right here and right now. I told them how much God loves them and how much He wants to have a relationship with them.
While I was sharing, I couldn’t help but notice one of the most beautiful views of the volcano and Lake Nicaragua beyond all the nasty fields of trash. I had this image in my head and it kind of reminded me of our lives. The landfill represents all the junk that we have in our lives and the view represented the eternal Glory Christ has for those who believe in Him.
I was reminded of the scripture Romans 5:25 and shared it – Through him we have also obtained access by faith into grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I was able to share the Gospel with them and once I was done I led a prayer for the ones who wanted to put their faith in Jesus for the first time. As soon as I was finishing some trucks pulled in and sure enough, the crowd scattered over that way.
When I was done praying we were ready to serve the meal. Each of them had some type of container that they had previously found in the trash that they use for plates and a drinking jug. We had jugs of water that we went down the line with and washed their hands and washed out the containers they would be eating with.
You could tell how excited they were and how grateful they were. They would get a serving and run back into the line and eat that one while they waited to get another one. I am sure they don’t get to eat like this very often unfortunately. We were told they would eat the leftover food that came in on the trash trucks- food that was most likely rotten and sitting in a trash can or outside for days or weeks.
After we finished serving we hung out and talked with them for a little. We got the chance to pray for them again and then we headed out. It truly was an eye opening day and one of the harder things I have had to do on the Race.
