Livin in the Dump....

Today was a very eye opening day. My team and I went to the dump. This sounds utterly disgusting, which it is, but the most saddening part of the entire situation is that people live here. The dump is the place where all of Guatemala´s trash is disposed. There are communities of homes, or one room shacks, that live all around it. The women work at the dump collecting cans, silver, and gold to recycle and make money. It is one of the most saddening, humbling, eye opening experiences I have ever had. I can definately say that I am humbled and there really are no words to explain what I experienced today. I can honestly say that I caught a small glimpse of the life that Jesus led today. He loved on the poorest of the poor and the dirtiest of the dirty....and he did it by merely loving them and not judging them....Once again, the most humbling experience...

We were joined by the boys and girls from the transitional homes. These young men and women live at the Buckner transitional homes, meaning that they are too old for the orphanage but that they are not ready to be on their own. Living here is a reward to them in a way. They have earned their way to these homes by good behavior, grades, etc. They range in ages from 12-20. These young adults have had rough lives of their own. Yet here they were handing out food to these poor people that live in the dump. Just as we had a humbling experience, these youth also had an eye opening and humbling experience. It was neat to see their energy, enthusiasm, joy, and ministry in their own community. It was a joy ministering with these young people and developing relationships with them along the way!

As I sat in church this morning and then ventured to the dump, God has laid some things on my heart. Here are all of these people from Guatemala ministering to people in their own community and here I am in another country ministering to their people and yet I do not take initiative or time to minister to people in my own community and surrounding area. This hit me hard. The missions coordinator and his daughters and family pour their heart, body, and soul into ministering to the people in this country...pour is not the correct term. They dump their entire life in their ministry here working 7 days a week with the toughest situations and with the toughest people. Yet they give and love unconditionally. It is such an inspiration to me. I am sad to leave here and go home because I have gotten so accustomed to the culture and the people, but I am also extremely excited to dive deep into ministry in my own community and country!

This is a mere glimpse of my day today. For updates on the past week you can check out the blog that is under Buckner. It is far more detailed about what our team is specifically doing week by week in Guatemala. I will say something that was such a God thing that happened to me individually this past week. If you have been reading my blog, you know that last week I was sick. This was merely a bump in the road and gratefully, did not hinder my ministry and I am feeling much better this week. But being so sick and so far away from home, I was beginning to get homesick at the conclusion of my second week here. The first blessing happened last Sunday when we were meeting the group from Arkansas at church. The mission coordinator that came from Buckner in Dallas is a friend from Baylor and a familiar face. I was so thrilled to see her. The familiar face was such a blessing and unexpected surprise. She ended up staying later than she though and is still here ministering with us. This is a double treat! This was only the beginning of God´s surprises for me this week.

The group from Arkansas was staying at a really nice hotel. So each morning, we pack a change of clothes and go straight from the orphanages to the hotel to change and have dinner with them. This particular day, I was tired and missing home. I was minding my own business and gathering my things. I was so glad to be getting out of the van after such a long drive and long day. As I obliviously jumped out of our mini-van, I heard my name. This was odd considering I was in a foreign country. I looked up to see none other than another dear friend from Baylor named Claire standing in the doorway of the hotel! I found out that she has been in Guatemala the entire month of June as well with another organization and she had a group coming to the same hotel! This was such a delight for me! This might seem such a small thing, but when you run into someone from home in another country unexpectedly, you have to know that it is God alone that brought us together. I got to see her a few times at the hotel throughout the week and have heart to heart conversation. My team is a blessing, but since we haven´t known each other for long, sometimes it can be hard to open up. All this to say...God is good! God has a way of blessing his children if we are faithful to do what he has called us to do, even if it is something as small as seeing a familiar face so far away from home!

This has been my week thus far. Thanks again for all your prayers. Please pray for my team as we wake up at 4 am in the morning and drive five hours to Zacapa to deliver food to the villages. This will be a long day because we are making the trip in one day. Please also pray that I will continue seeking what God has planned for me and that I will take what I have seen, observed, and learned to heart. This time next week I will be back in the states, so please also pray as I prepare to leave and go home! Until next time be blessed......