I don't know how to write this except for simply and quickly.
I've discovered that I am going to be the cryer of the group.
I waited as the hose filled up the large tank that sat on the bed of the truck.
"What's this for, Nathan?" I asked. I didn't understand why we would fill a tank so large with water that no one could even drink.
"People will take the water they can get." was his response. I let an 'oh' slip out still not quite understanding. We all hopped into the back of the truck, our usual mode of transportation as of late, and headed to the garbage dumps. The truck bounces along dirt roads lined with hills and hills, mounds and mounds of unwanted treasures. Anything that should have smelled like garbage was masked by the smell of smoke. The truck backed up onto a hill with three makeshift houses on it. We greeted the people living there with big smiles and 'hola's. They started bringing us big empty plastic bins and canteens. Like this was done regularly. The bins were for washing and the canteens for drinking. The insides of the canteens were worn and stained with dirt.
Everytime we'd spill water the kids made it very aware. Wasting water? Not on their watch. At one point I stood back and just had to soak it in. Really think about what I was doing. What was happening. Why it was happening. They really would take whatever they could get. I was warned to not even rinse my toothbrush in the tap water and here little kids were…drinking it.
On the way back to the church I looked at our ministry host and asked 'Porque? Como?' 'Why? How?'. I wanted to know why things like that continue. How people grow up into that life and not question if there is something more…something better. I haven't gotten my answer.
