Guatemala - Day 4

I was a little anxious going into Monday.  We were going to the ravine (dump) and I just wasn't sure what to expect or how I would feel when we were there and afterwards.  The ravine is in Chimaltenango, not terribly far from My Special Treasure.  The land was bought by a Guatemalan man a few years ago (not sure how many, maybe 5?) and is used for a city dump.  He has 17 people (families) who work for him, and they pay him weekly to work the dump.  The families take turns going through the garbage as it is brought in by big trucks.  I think that what they find in the first part of the day goes to the owner and then rest of the day what they find they can use.  They look for anything they can sell, like plastic, etc.  They live day to day, so if they don't find anything that day, they don't eat.  It is a horrible way to live and a very desperate situation for all of them.

The road to the ravine

Our first view of the ravine

As we arrived, Cesar explained this to us so that we had an understanding of how things worked.  He also warned us about the smell.  I honestly hadn't even thought about how it would smell, so this caught me a bit off-guard. As soon as we stepped off the bus, I understood.  Now, as a nurse, I have smelled a lot of unpleasesant smells in my life.  But this belongs at the top.  After gagging down some breaths, I was able to calm myself and focus again.  We were on kind of a plateau of dirt that overlooked the ravine.  If you looked far out, it was beautiful, with green trees and lush plants.  But at the edge of the ravine, all that was there was garbage.  The garbage trucks from the city come and dump the garbage at the edge and the families take turns going through everything.  Every. Single. Piece. of garbage, hoping to find enough to sell for a day's worth of food.  The reality of this life was staggering. 

 We walked around and took it all in.  The smell, the people, the stark dichotomy of beauty and ugliness.

We crossed a little stream to get a better view of the ravine

Each family had a little shelter area that they would use to get out of the heat and also while they waited for their turn to go through the garbage.

This view took my breath away.  Not in a good way, but in a way that I have never before experienced.  It was shocking, saddening, angering and heartbreaking, all at once.

This lady was so sweet.  She gave me a big hug and right then and there, I loved her.

 We went back over to start handing out food to the families.  As we handed out the life preserving food, I prayed that each man, woman and child there knew that they felt Christ's love through us.  It was hard to not be able to talk with them and hear their stories.  But I think they understood why we were there.

This is Aurora.  She is a widow and has three young children.  Little did she know that this day would be her very last day digging through trash to feed her family.  She never had to come back here again. 

We then loaded back up into the van and drove a few miles back down the road to the ravine school.  This school was started by Cesar and Carol of MST, because they knew that education is the only way for these children to have a different life. There are about 50 kids at the school, ranging in age from 5 to teenager.  They had prepared some songs for us and lined up along the wall and began to sing.  They worshipped God like no one I have ever seen.  It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.  These kids who have NOTHING, worshipping a God who they know loves them and gives them hope.  Amazing.

We then spent the next couples of hours with the kids doing crafts, playing games, and just enjoying them.

PARACHUTE!!!

Me and Manuelito, such a cutie!!

 

Then we had to say goodbye.  I wish we could have had more time with these sweet children.  

Remember Aurora from above?  Well her two daughters, Yasmin and Monica came with us when we left the ravine school.  We knew that something was going on but didn't know fully what until later.  The girls are darling.  We stopped at Pollo Campero for lunch, which is pretty much a chicken fast food restaurant. Yasmin and Monica were so excited that they had a play area there, and our younger team members gladly took them to play while we waited for our food.  Then they had lunch.  This was the biggest meal the girls had had in a long time, maybe ever.  We were getting ready to leave and saw that Yasmin was still eating, seated between Pablo and Ranfis.  It suddenly occurred to Renae that maybe she thought she had to finish all of her food, including her ice cream!  Ranfis told her she didn't have to eat it all, and the look of relief on her face was priceless!!  Sweet girl  :)

Love this girl

 We headed back to MST, where we spent the afternoon with the girls playing games, painting nails, and doing crafts.  So fun. 

One of the two girls' bedrooms.  Their rooms are shipping containers (I think) that are each divided into two areas, each with a bunk and a dresser for each girl. 

Gina and I played Uno with Ingrid.  Let me tell you, she is hilarious.  She didn't play by the rules, would give me more cards than anyone else, and played it off with a poker face when I brought one of the interpreters over.  Ha!

Karlita's nails!  :)

Yasmin again

So here is more to the story about Aurora.  Renae took a team to Guatemala in May, and while they were at the ravine, they met Aurora and heard a little bit of her story.  Being a widow with three children and working at the dump is a near impossible situation.  All of the other families there have two adults to sort trash, allowing them to work twice as much as Aurora to feed themselves.  Some other things happened on that trip as well, but it started the ball rolling with Orphan Outreach to see what solution they could come up with.  Our trip was the culmination of months of work, prayer and God's hand, and that day, Renae and Carol told Aurora that she would never have to work at the dump again.  Orphan Outreach had found a home for her and provided some funds to help her get on her feet.  She wanted to sell things (trinkets, etc) at a market, and Carol was going to help her get that going.  It was amazing to see the smile on her face.  I can't even imagine the weight lifted off her chest that day.  Look at her smile!  I am pretty sure she had not smiled like that in a very long time.  :)

The girls.  Notice Miss Thang front and center.  :)

Dinner that night was AMAZING.  We ate at a crepe restaurant and it was the best meals we had the whole trip!  Mine had chicken, avocado, cream sauce, spinach, oh yum.  Then we shared dessert crepes.  Even yummier!

Abbi and Emily

Me and Erin

That night a few of us stayed up late and played Farkle.  I had never played before and I am now hooked!  It was very fun, what an amazing group of people I shared this trip with!

Mindy and Tina.  There weren't enough seats around the table, so Mindy played from the window.  Heh

Emily, Erin and Timothy.  Erin?  Hello?

Whew.  That was a very long day and so many details to remember and get written down.  There is no way to remember everything, but I am doing my best.  Thanks for hanging with me on this day!!