Stories from the garbage dump
From the moment we got out of the car, we were welcomed. Birara, our friend and guide, has many friends in Korah. Over and over again people would call his name from across the street greeting him with a wave and huge smile. His smile in return was just as big. We went on to walk through the village, across the bridge, and past the garbage dump to the homes on the other side all the while making friends with children along the way. We visited the site of a ministry that supports families in the village and heard the director’s story about life in the garbage dump. Growing up in Korah with both parents suffering from leprosy wasn’t an easy life. He described over and over how the Lord protected and provided for him even sending finances to fund his education. He later chose to give up a profitable career to return to the village he grew up in and help the people there.
Secondhand food
When I heard the term “secondhand food” I almost lost my lunch. The thought of people digging through the garbage piles and bags of trash to find their next meal or sell it to someone who can’t fend for themselves was nauseating. Often fights break out when hotels and restaurants drop off their trash. Garbage is literally life here. In it people find food, shelter, and items to recycle or sell. Without garbage, these people would starve. Some of the young beneficiaries of this man’s program joined us in walking around the community and praying for families in the village of Korah.
I’m gonna let it shine
One of the homes we visited stood out to me more than the others. The woman greeted us at the door with a smile and apologized that there wasn’t anywhere for us to sit. She also pointed out multiple times that she did not have electricity. She said, “there’s no light here. I have no light.” When it came time to pray for her, I jumped at the opportunity. The Father has been teaching me a lot this summer about being a light in the darkness. That’s what I’m called to do. I prayed that even though there was no light in the house this woman would see that the LIGHT was there. I prayed she would feel the warmth and presence of the LIGHT and that it would never fade.
“Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 TPT
The Girl
To the teenaged girl who walked alongside me as we trekked through the garbage dump… the community she grew up in. The girl who shared with me stories of what life looks like there. Stories of being repeatedly raped like it was normal just because she’s a girl. The girl who voiced her dreams of finishing her high school education and going on to college so that she can return to the trash dump village and serve Jesus by loving the people there. The girl that said, “don’t forget me” as our hands and hearts parted ways. To the girl… I want you to know I will never forget you and neither will He. Even when you feel most alone, He is there. When your heart is hurting like it never has before He is there. When people continue to disappoint or even abuse you, He is there. You are seen. You are known. You are loved by the Father who is always faithful and keeps His promises. Know and rest in that, dear one.
Your Story Matters
Walking through Korah we passed countless people searching for something. They not only dug through the garbage for useful items or their next meal, but their hearts also searched for hope. If I learned anything from that experience it’s the impact you can have by bringing hope to just one person. Take Birara for instance. Even though his original sponsor dropped him, someone saw his potential and decided to give him one more chance giving him hope and a future. You can see how that made such an impact on his life. Now, he has made the choice to go back, to go back to bring hope to the one and the next one and the next one. Each person has a story and every story matters.
How can you make an impact on those in the community around you? Just one simple choice could influence someone’s life. It may feel small, but don’t let that stop you. Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, “It makes a difference for this one.” I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.” ?
