This blog is about my visit to a Nicaraguan Dump. Yes I said it. A garbage dump.
You know the garbage you throw in your trash can, which then gets transported to a dump site, which then turns into smelly moldy yucky stuff. Well, there are actual people who dig through it to find items to sell.
I like to call them “treasures for survival.”
I’m sure you’ve seen or heard of homeless people doing this back in the USA or even rich people doing such things as “dumpster diving” but the people that come here are different.
This is their actual job. Monday-Sunday, all day. Rain or shine.
They literally wait for garbage trucks to arrive, run to the dumping area, use a metal stick to pull trash out, and dig to find good stuff to sell. Cell phones, clothing, plastic containers, and metals are all valuables here.
Ages range from 3 years old to 60+ years, women, men, boys and little girls. Children helping parents & senior citizens on their own.
Some have been doing this all of their lives. I met a man who said he has been doing this for 16 years.
The smell and the germs don’t stop people from coming here daily. This is their only form of income they know how to obtain. This is their only form of survival.
Nicaraguans live off of $1-3 a day. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti but it’s actually the poorest country in Central America, probably in all Latin America.
During our visit to this dump, we were able to meet brother Mario. Mario has such a moving testimony. He comes from Nicaraguan and Salvadoran parents. He lived in West Los Angeles with his family for many years until he began to get into trouble. His behavior led him to prison and then deportation.
Thankfully, he got saved and is now ministering to people here in this dump. God put it in his heart to serve the people from this dump. (Actually, there is a lot in between but you get the gist).
Mario actually comes to work along side these men and women, boys and girls. He used to come to share the Good News but has realized building relationships comes by working along side them. So every Thursday you see Mario with his metal stick digging trash out helping people find “treasures” especially this elderly woman named Patricia. He doesn’t have to do it but it’s a self-less act he’s doing to share the Gospel, the love of God.
It’s such a privilege to come along side Mario as he is making a difference in people’s lives. I know I’m a short-term missionary and was only there for an hour or so but it’s encouraging to support people who are doing this for the long-haul.
Sometimes people just need extra hands and feet to help serve food.
Sometimes they need extra ears and mouths to encourage youngsters in trouble.
Sometimes they just need your fingers to type kind letter to the elderly.
Whatever the case, we are all needed somewhere. We can all make a difference by either starting our own movement or joining someone else’s.
It was such a privilege to support our brother Mario’s efforts to bring hope to the people of this Nicaraguan dump. All we did was give an encouraging word and serve food but that’s a big deal for Mario and his ministry. It felt a lot to Him to know there are people supporting his solo-ministry.
More so, it glorifies the name of Jesus in the process. Because Jesus would have done exactly this, uplift the poor, the people that have been shamed by society.
May the Lord continue to guide and encourage Mario to continue ministering to the people in this dumpster.
Please keep brother Mario and his family in your prayers.
