Tegucigalpa, Nicaragua
We went to the city dump today. I have read about city dump ministries before and I have read the words, "Nothing could have prepared me…" many times. In most ways, I agree…that was my experience.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight. Garbage, cows, buzzards, filth.
Nothing could have prepared me for the smell. In my nostrils, in my clothes, in my hair.
Nothing could have prepared me for the interaction.
"Give me your ring…my baby needs milk."
"I'll trade my shoes for yours. I need them more than you."
"How are you 29 and don't have kids?? I am 20 and have three."
"My son is deaf."
"Their father left me."
"I don't want to give birth to my baby in a place like this."
But there is something that I was prepared for. As we approached the entrance I was overwhelmed with excitement. I know my Father God. I know how He loves to pour out His love on His children. He has proven Himself to me over and over and I was prepared to see Him pour out love on these people. His love never fails.
At one point I looked over to see Danae praying with a woman who was seven months pregnant. I was surprised to see tears rolling down her cheeks as it was the first emotion besides anger I had seen displayed in that desolate place. The scene caught my attention again a few moments later when I heard people yelling for Devin to come. Devin is an EMT on our squad. The lady had lost consciousness. I knelt down beside her and began to rub her arm as Devin checked her pulse. He stood up and announced, "Ok guys! Time to pray!"
We began to pray for this lady as Devin gently called to her to come back to us. I had the urge to lay my hand across her heart. I did not know how serious the situation was, but I felt that it had something to do with her heart. I tapped it gently and her eyes fluttered open for a second. "Do it again," I felt the Lord nudge, so I tapped her chest harder. Her eyes immediately opened and she began to respond to us. As soon as she could talk, she shared with us that she is scared to give birth to her baby in such an awful place. She told us that although she is not doing terrible things, she knows that she has walked away from God and she desired to pray and be right with Jesus.
Devin later told us that she was going into cardiac arrest and could have died had we not been there in that moment. I was excited and blessed, but not surprised. I know the love of my Father God for this beautiful daughter of His.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!
Photo by Kirsten Hughes
