"We saw the most precious baby at the dump, and she was so pitiful. Diaper rash like I've never seen in my life. Mom only changed her twice a day I changed her and she had dried poop all over her. She never cried or anything when I was wiping her." I was reminded today of this special, special place- Jalapa. My sister shared the story above with me, and I couldn't get my mind off of it. I started thinking about our trip in 2013, and I remembered talking about going to the dump, and I just had no idea. When we arrived, children flooded from the trash. They saw a vehicle, and they were so excited. They thought we had trash. They thought we had trash. They had no idea we had cookies, Koolaid, and kites to share with them. We got out these poorly made, plain, white kites, and I've never seen children so excited, so grateful. As we walked around the dump, we were able to meet some families. Their homes were made from trash. They built shacks to cover themselves with old pieces of tin and tarp. We learned that they would wait for rain, so they could bathe in a nearby creek and that they make a living by creating things from trash and selling it at market. I remember leaving and thinking how abundantly blessed I am to have instant access to clean, hot water, and a shower in which to bathe and a roof above my head. But the thing that got me most was their excitement over trash. They thought we were bringing them trash, but we brought much more. We brought more than kites and cookies, we brought the Gospel. They we're SO excited to think new trash was being delivered. So excited. I remember God showing me several verses about being adopted into His family, and I just couldn't get trash off my mind, and then He reminded me. We are filthy in our sin, and Christ is so delighted to see us come to Him. He gets excited about trash. He takes our trash and makes something beautiful. Im overwhelmed by how God loves. He wants the trash. He wants the clean church members. He wants the filthy church members. He wants souls saved, for He wills that none perish. When I think of the precious place of Jalapa, I always think of the hospitality and humility of the people. I remember walking in a house with a dirt floor, and the sweet lady who greeted us was sweeping away. She took the plastic chairs she had as furniture and insisted we sit down. There was not one for her, and she refused to take our seat. She offered us candy, and she smiled the whole time. We were strangers to her. In America, we have so much and need so little. These sweet people had a need for basic vitamins and a hunger for the Lord. That was a short moment in my life. That night I was blessed to go back and sleep on a bed and take a like warm shower. Tonight, I'll be blessed to lay my head on a comfortable pillow and wake up to instant, clean, warm water. Tomorrow, I'll go to a job that is indoors and comfortable knowing, Lord willing, I'll receive a paycheck. Those sweet people live at the dump day in and day out. They live in trash. They make a living from trash. When I am reminded of this, I just take a step back. Dump or not, we all need the Lord Jesus Christ. Hug someone. Help someone. Pray for someone. Share Jesus with someone.
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March 2020
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