Tuesday evening we participated in a meeting to brainstorm the development of a new community for those who actually live in the garbage dump. Part of the mission of “Project Transformation” is to address the whole person with the whole Gospel. This involves helping people to create and own a healthier living environment. We are among a group of dreamers planning how to support the community's creation of new housing structures for these poorest of the poor.
Here is the Dream: Help the community to build 300 homes for people who currently live in the garbage dump. This effort would be similar to the creation of the Linda Miller Community - people getting involved in building their own houses and taking ownership of the work.
Visits to their current homes are driving this effort. Jose Ramon and his sister, Ritzy (a student at AFE) invited our team to visit his two children. They were beautiful children even though they were covered in dirt and soot. Their smiles reminded me of my own son, yet saddened me as I saw where they lived. On dirt floors, surrounded by garbage and terrorized by vultures, six people eked out an existence in a six foot by eight foot make shift shack. They had no water, no electricity, and were under constant threat. The health risks apparent from no way to flush waste, no way to clean dishes, and a dirt floor are too numerous to mention.
With tears, Jose Ramon confessed his children suffer from constant sickness from the conditions in which they live. The father felt obvious shame that he could not take better care of his family. Jose is a hard worker. He is not lazy. He is the victim of circumstances. Caught in a vicious cycle, only God can work a miracle in this family's life.
But God works through people like you and me to work those miracles. That is why we dream.
Imagine moving Jose, his wife and their two children, and his mother and sister who live with them, to a house with clean floors, running water and flushing toilets, light in the evening and a stove to cook healthy meals. His children would not fall ill but grow healthy and strong. No longer would Jose feel ashamed of who he is, but take pride in his family and his God who reaches down to help the least of these.
Pray that our dream will soon become reality.
Pastors Rey & Elise Diaz
1 comment:
This story really tugs at the heart strings. It also makes me personally take stock of just how good I have it here. For the last 2 years we have lived in a double wide manufactured home that's starting to fall apart. Every time something goes wrong - like when the heater went out or the wiring in the wall fried and we lost power to about 1/3 the house...I would complain about how I can't wait until our new house is done. Truth is, this place is very livable, and as Americans we have become accustomed to a high living standard. I would be untruthful if I didn't atleast say I feel like I have more than I have worked for / earned in my life. Certainly there are others who have worked much harder than I - and like Jose live in deplorable circumstances - no matter what standard you judge it by.
I am so proud that you had the courage to follow Gods call into such a challenging place. It's one thing to sympathize, and another to move your family to a poor country and work your tail off for others.
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