Searching for Beauty Among the Trash

 One of the ministries we've been focusing on here is the garbage dump just outside of Puerto Barrios. The first time we went there I was overwhelmed by everything: the smell, the trash, the bones/carcasses of dead animals,  and the fact that people were allowed to live in little shacks on the other side of the dirt "road" that curved around the dump. As many of you know, I'm a huge nature person. I love going on road trips and seeing the beauty of God's creation. I also love hiking and looking at trees and... grass! But at the dump the land was overtaken. It had rained that morning of our first time there so the path was really muddy.
So, in order to walk through it and talk to the people searching through the trash we had to walk on top of the trash. I just remember at one point having to step on a doll to avoid the mud. The thought that it once was probably a little girl's best friend broke my heart. I couldn't speak the whole time we were there because I was in such shock. All I could manage to do was smile at the people we met and shake their hands. When we got back to our house that day I was determined not to go back. But as the days passed I felt more and more like God was calling us back. I was fighting it at first, but as another day got scheduled for us to go I felt more and more ready.
So we went the second time on a Monday to walk around and invite people to a children's program we were going to do the next day in the entrance of the dump. It was still overwhelming at first, but then something unexpected happened. I was walking down the path when I saw a butterfly. I was so surprised to see something so beautiful in a place i considered so "ugly." Every time after that when I was getting overwhelmed another butterfly would float by. This was such a God thing because butterflies are very symbolic of rebirth and a renewal of life. So God just kept reminding me that he can make all things new, that His love restores everything. So my attitude changed that afternoon. Instead of only seeing destruction and death I saw the hope of new life and renewal.
When we left that day I couldn't wait to return the next day. I was worried no one would show up, or there would only be a few kids, but I knew God had something really good in store. So the next day it was 2:30 and we were heading out to go round people up, but we had to stop on the way to get another tire because we had popped a tire the before at the dump. So we ended up being 45 minutes late. Even though it's the culture to be late, I was really worried that they would've given up on us. But when we pulled in we were in for a huge surprise. One of the guys a few of us had met before at the dump was there with a welcome sign he had made.
And then as we continued up the road we drove past not just a couple people, but a mob of children. They started waving and yelling excitedly at us and we shouted back  back to them and they started to follow. And then we passed another mob of kids and the same thing happened. It was so amazing and sad at the same time because it was great how many were coming to the program, but also so sad because that many kids basically lived/worked at the dump trying to find enough things to make money for their families to be able to survive.
As soon as we stopped I hopped out and started shaking hands and greeting the kids. Our program consisted of a few songs, a skit and.... a pinata! The kids (and some of the older ones) loved it so much. We also passed out juice bags and cookies for the kids, rice and beans for the adults (they were packages so that they could take it home to cook), and some clothes for whoever needed them.

It was such an amazing day and one that I will never forget. It was such a tangible way that God used us to bless so many people at the dump and give them something that would help them not only physically, but spiritually too because they knew someone cared about them. We still have one more day tomorrow (Friday) there and I am so excited to see what God has planned and encounter people! Whatever happens, his plans are perfect and I am so grateful for how he changed my heart towards the dump.
           For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. -Romans 1:20
          The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. -Psalm 19:1
Even though in the dump it might be difficult to see the glory of God's creations, it's still there. You just have to search for it.