“UNCOMFORTABLE”…..its all relative

Today was our first real glimpse into the conditons that some people live. We drove through a dump, not a dump like you would think Im talking about miles of piles of trash with no boundries.

SIDE TRACK: For the past week and half that we have been in Guatemala we have been driving in this sketch white 15 passenger van with its seats removed. When you think of kidnappers and being kidnapped this is the mode of transportation they would use. Well we may have complained a time or two about how hot (“hut” for those who know what Im talking about) it gets in there since there is no ventilation.) I mention this van story because we have NO idea, No idea of what “uncomfortable” really is……..
The hole in our van right below my feet.

Well on this particular day we were in a different van that had lost its side door somewhere along the way and had a few holes in the floor where we were able to see the road underneath. I can also say with 100% positivity that this van has never had emission testing before, so we were riding in this smoke filled van and Im pretty sure a few of us may have been a little high on carbon monoxide by the end of the trip. So as we drove through this dump the smoke of the van mixed with billows of smoke from the burning trash as well as flies which flooded into our van though the space where a door should have been. In this dump we saw shacks people call home literally the size of walk in closets. Children were in the same area as vultures that were half their size where they were all rummaging through the same pile of trash.

Words are unable to come even close to describing the conditions and what we saw. Im pretty sure everyone at one time or another has seen those late night commercials where the children are in the dump, many of us just disregard it as staged or dismiss is as untrue. Well I can tell you that I have seen it first hand, that it truly is out there and that these people live in conditions that are hard to imagine and comprehend.

I knew coming into this journey that I would see and be exposed to things that I would never have been able to imagine. It is hard to process these sights and feelings. I don’t have the answers only God does. I know God is present in this world but at the same time so is sin. Much of our time here so far has been in prayer over the nation and the people and the life that they are living. It is hard at times to pray and not see any results immediately. I am from a culture where instant results are expected and desired so it is hard to come here and not have that happen. I know my head is telling me that on one hand I have no control and I have no say over what happens in these countries. But at the same time I am planted in the hope that Jesus has given me and placed in my heart that I can make a difference. I wouldnt be here doing this if I didnt truly believe the Lord had big plans. I may not see the results here and now but I know one day it will all make sense…..God always seems to be teaching me patience, Im still learning.

I have so much running through my head and many times its hard to write it all down. I wanted to share with you cause I know you guys all want to know whats going on. So I’m sorry if it doesnt make sense, cause it really doesnt all make sense to me either at this point.