After devotions, we set out on our annual trip to the the workshop of Only a Child, a ministry for street boys, begun 20 years ago by Boston native, George Leger. George and his boys' stories are moving. Our teams always enjoy meeting Geroge's kids, and honestly, I think the boys enjoy meeting our chicas just as much. The boys range in age from 9 to 30+. George gives each boy a sense of family, safety, and a means to work for a future for the first time in their lives. The bond between the boys and with George is akin to that of the relationship between brothers and a father. The boys earn a small wage by making boxes from native cedar and have the opportunity to live together and to attend school. Many of you have received those boxes as gifts and 100% of the money earned from the sale of the boxes goes to the support of the ministry. If you are interested in reading more about George, Only a Child, and his boys, go to his website, onlyachild.org.
Marvin demonstrating the process.
From there we went to the cemetery that overlooks the Guatemala City garbage dump. I never cease to be amazed at the changes each year. For a few of you who have seen it, it is almost filled to what use to be the overlook from the cemetery. It has been pushed into the far reaches of the ravine and the rainy season has taken its toll in and around the dump. The stench was substantial, the vultures up close and personal, and the human presence, mind-bending. I hope the photos help tell the story better than I can here. Many of the people served by Groundwork Guatemala have direct connections to the dump; they either live in its shadow or have family members who are working or have worked there combing the trash for useful items or recyclable material like plastic or cardboard. To put this in perspective, toilet paper is not flushed in Guatemala because the infrastructure cannot handle it. So it goes into a trash can, which goes into the garbage dump. Think about that. Nor is the dump vented. It is a human wasteland in the truest sense while providing a living of sorts for the extreme poor who work there as a last resort. Thank you again for the many donations you have given to support the children and families in this area and in other locations we will visit this week.
We were surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of vultures.
After a lunch of rice and beans and another round of Happy Birthday with the Guatemalans on behalf of Emily (and the lighting of the requisite b-day firecrackers later in the day), we set out on the first of three home visits. As I try to write about our afternoon, I find my head in my hands, wondering how I will find the words. I have not looked at the photos yet, but I pray they will help me share the story. Here goes. We were blessed to find ourselves in the homes of three extraordinary families. I felt exceptionally blessed because I had a connection to all three families from previous visits. Each family seemed to be exceptional in the sense that they had kept the faith despite circumstances that might have paralyze many others. Overall, they were stories of how faith and family can lift people from the most trying of circumstances.
Marta and her husband, their five children, and her mother-in-law live in an area of Guatemala City that is halfway down the side of a ravine under a long expanse of a bridge connecting one mountain top to another in the city. (See below) It was urban mountain climbing between the shanties on either side of a fairly steep decline. I hesitate to use the term shanty because these are people's homes and they are proud and grateful to have them, but by American standards they are unthinkable and I would guess virtually nonexistent. They are built from plywood, corrugated metal, iron bars, and for lucky families, cement block, and cement, although many have dirt floors. Some have electricity many do not. Imagine living in a dark, hot room with your only protection from the inner city a plywood plank door and a eye hook. Imagine the rain running through your home during the six month rainy season. In Marta's home the mattresses were up on cider blocks and we sat and talked with her and three of her young children while sitting on these mattresses and the molded plastic chairs that support most of the third world. It was a lot to take in, particularily for new team members. Marta asked us to pray for her oldest son who had been attacked and cut by drunken teenagers when he asked them to quiet down so they could sleep on Saturday night. Her husband had been unemployed unemployed but had a job today painting a house.
We were also blessed to visit the home of Lucy and Julian and their two daughters. Julian is one of the Guatemalans who works in the ministry and is sponsored by Trinity. They live in an area adjacent to the Guatemala City dump with extended family. In fact Lucy's family is located all around them. Lucy's family also includes Oscar and Odi and their families. This is complicated, but we were all moved to be in their home and have an opportunity to express our appreciation for all they do for us, for their fellow Guatemalans, and for the example they set for all families.
Julian and youngest daughter
Across from Julian and Lucy is the home of Lucy's sister and her three children ages 6, 4 and 1. Her husband was shot not far from their home last year, and she is raising her three children without a job in a dark, damp, dirty shanty with the help of Julian, her brother-in-law, Odi, her sister, and Oscar, her brother. Armando, her 6 year old son, is sponsored by Trinity school and her mother expressed her thankfulness that Armando has the opportunity to attend school... thanks to many of you. He read from the Bible for us and we were impressed by how articulate he was. It was exciting to meet him in person and to have a chance to talk with his mother and pray with her.
Armando, on the right
There is no way this even begins to get at the day we had. The quality of photos disguises the danger and desperation that exist in these places, but I hope the photos helped you see our day, a little bit. Tomorrow we are off to Amatitlan and the volcano Pacaya for another faith walk and a first attempt at our lessons, crafts, and songs.
Thank you for your comments and your interest.
Blessings,
Katherine, Michael, Gordy, Bruce, Andrew, Kelsey, Jeannie, Riley, Emily, Emma, Jeannie, Rachel and Sally
The pictures of the dump are insane! I cannot believe how it has grown since I first saw it in 2007. Its heart breaking to think what it will look like in another 5 years. Cant wait to hear how your lessons went today in Amatitlan!
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