The stench that surrounded us as we pulled in was almost unbearable.
Children, covered from head to toe in dirt and mud turned to stare at us.
Vultures swarmed the huge pile of trash.
Four cows “grazed” among the garbage.
Dogs roamed around everywhere, sniffing out any food they could.
Men, women, and children searched through the huge trash pile to find items to sell and to find their food for dinner.
My heart broke.
“God, where are you?” I cried out! “How could you allow people to live like this? Where are You in all of this?”
And He responded: “Look around."
I looked around and saw: Vultures swarming, cows grazing, dogs roaming, people searching. And my heart broke.
Again, I cried out, “God, where are You?!”
Again, God responded, “Look around, look further, look up.”
As I began turning and looking beyond the garbage, I was amazed!
Rolling hills and majestic mountains, a pure blue sky, and the greenest grass surrounded me! I was amazed!
“God, You are here! Thank you for showing me. Thank you for being here.”
“But I’m not done yet, Beth!” He said.
As I walked around talking to people with what little Spanish I know, God brought me to a woman named Lydia. Sweet Lydia, who had a smile that never left her face, joy that invited others in, peace despite illness, and faith in desperate circumstances.
And God said, “Here I am, Beth! I am here in Lydia!”
“God, You are here! And You are good! I see You here!”
“But, wait Beth! I’m still not done!”
We were preparing to leave by this point. We stopped at the house just down the hill from the dump to give cookies and popsicles to the children. I sat down to talk to them for a few minutes and the next thing I knew, my team leader, Allyson, was handing the shoes off her feet to one of the little girls.
And once again, God said, “Here I am! I am here in Allyson!”
Oh, God! Thank You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness! Thank You for showing me that You are everywhere, even in the trash dump!
For Allyson's story from the dump, visit her website: www.allysonquinn.theworldrace.org.
Photo credit: Cathy Carty
