Unfortunately the reality of most of Guatemala does not look as promising as it does to the kids here at Dorie's Promise orphanage. These precious faces here are because of people investing their time and donations into sponsoring these kids, but the rest of Guatemala doesn't look like this.
We spent another amazing day at the dump yesterday. Like I have said in a previous post, we have a missions group of 20 here this week, so they had lots of donations to give out to the people living in the slums. They wanted to give these kids a pinata party, so that is what we did. The people of the slums were so excited for the kids that they blocked off the road so no one would get in the way. As much fun as it was to see these kids stuff their shirts and pockets with loads of candy, it was even more fun to see these kids engaged in one of our missions group men sharing the gospel and having Joel translate it. For that many kids and mothers, they all listened so well. Walking away and watching the kids holding their tracks explaining the gospel and their new Bibles, I knew that God was going to do something in someone's life that day. We may never know who came closer to the Lord yesterday, but we know that some of those people may have heard of the gift of Christ for the first time that day.
Desi and Joel have it set up so that we continue to bring a chicken lunch to the same family each week. They are trying to pour into this family so much that they may build relationships and continue to share Christ with them each week. This family takes a small little break of going through their trash in order for us to bring them lunch. Any time wasted to them is less money they make. It's still hard to process for me because one day a week of missions groups bringing donations for the people of the dump is not enough. It is not enough for these people to move out of the slums or to even buy something other than garbage bags to sleep on, but we just continue to pray that these people will find their value in Christ and know that they are loved.
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another picture of the dump from up above....imagine thousands of people working down there for 12 hours a day digging through garbage... |
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34 center from the LA lakers...must've been nervous, I know I could take him...cuz thats how I beat Shaq!! |
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Sitting with the girls who are part of the family we bring lunch to each week |
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little boy with no shoes...and by the grace of God, our group had a few extra shoes thrown in their donations this week! |
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I see these two precious girls playing around outside each week...they know no different then to be happy with the lives they're given...they jump around outside in the dirty streets all day long. |
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the gospel being shared with all these kids after the pinata party...so awesome! |
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Happy little Alyson sitting inside the house while her mom sorts through trash all day. |
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Imagine if this was the entrance to your house |
And then tonight...oh how I love precious moments like these....every time I tuck the little 3-4 year old girls in bed, I cry. I was in there tonight helping them all brush their teeth and get in their beds. I walk around and every little girl gives me kisses. And then I try leaving, and each girl says, "mama kaley, mas besas." (more kisses). Seriously, if adoptions were open, I would have way too many kids! Bedtime is so special to me because it just reminds me of bedtime at home with my little sisters. Whenever I'm home, I usually end up snuggling them and falling asleep in their beds. I wish I could fit in their tiny little bunk beds here and do that with a different one each night! But seriously the only thing that keeps me from going emotionally insane is knowing that Christ has His hand on all the kids here at Dorie's Promise. These kids are loved, loved, loved by their special mothers, Desi, Joel, and the other staff here. They are being taught about Christ's love every day here and that is something to praise Jesus about!
XoXo