This is Caitlin’s mom, and she told me I had to write her next blog. Before she left on this trip, I had never heard of a “blog” let alone ever written one. So, if you will indulge me as I take a little poetic license from some meaningful devotions (to me) and my thoughts on my day with her World Race team, I will try to share my feelings.
About three and a half years ago, I heard about the people living in the dump in Managua. They weren’t stories filled with joy or hope, but of death and despair. I was often told I probably wouldn’t want to go there, but God laid on my heart a strong desire to see for myself. I didn’t know why, that was never clearly explained to me (I often wish God would give me billboards!) I just knew He wanted me to go there for myself. I have been here in Nicaragua, three previous times, and always asked if we could go, but never was allowed the opportunity. It didn’t stop God from laying the desire on my heart.
Then, I came to visit Caitlin, and where do you think was the first place she took me? To the dump!!!!! Praise the Lord. It was His timing that I go now and with this group of wonderful people, including Pastor Manuel, who had once lived in the dump himself. Now, I am NOT naturally graceful, as they soon found out, when Pastor Manuel attempted to help me over a dirty, yucky, mess of “goo” and I sunk my foot into it! We all had a good laugh, when on the way out, once again Pastor Manuel tried to help me over the same goo and my other foot sank in up to my ankles!!! I laughed and said “my feet have been baptized by the dump!”
Looking down at my now, very black and ooey, gooey, shoes, I was reminded of the act of ‘foot washing’ in the Bible. Do you know that the first time, I can recall, that it is mentioned in the Bible, is not when the woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:37-38), but when Abraham entertains the three visitors? Abraham invites the men in and asks them to wait while he gets water to wash their feet. Traveling, back then, was a very dirty, dusty ordeal and the feet got very dirty (like mine did today!) and a good host would always wash the feet of his guests. That job was often given to the lowest of the low servant in the household, yet Jesus not only washed the feet of his disciples but he instructed them to wash each others feet. (John 13:5) And WE are called to “be like Jesus!”
Are we willing to do the lowest, dirtiest job around or go to the lowest, dirtiest place around, to “be like Jesus?” I’m not sure many would answer “yes” and I can’t think of a dirtier job than scavenging through the dump to collect materials to sell in order to survive; or to go to the dump to be “like Jesus”. But that is where God led us today and this wonderful Body of Christ I was a part of, and then visited with four families. They talked to them; asked about their families; got their names; and asked about their health. They were building relationships in His Kingdom and then they would ask if they could pray for the people, and they DID! One man saw the ladies praying over a woman and he came up to tell them of his ailments and asked if they would pray for him as well, and they did. They were “being Jesus”. We were told of previous prayers that had been answered and lives that were living for Christ, there amid the piles of rubbish; burning tires; rotting food; noxious smells; and yucky goo!
I am still not exactly sure why God wanted me to go there, but I believe it was to walk out of there knowing that Christ is alive and living amongst His people in the dump and that is a story of hope, joy, and one of rejoicing. The joy I felt walking with these amazing people, and sharing God’s love with the people we met will never be properly put into words, but I do believe some spiritual “foot washing” was done today and God would say “well done, good and faithful child.”
