Picking up cans and empty crisp packets? Painting over graffiti? Black bin bags stuffed with litter along the roadside? Regular stops to have a nice cup of tea and a cream bun?
That sounds like a day out compared to the meaning of a community clean up within a dump site area.I'm really not a writer so I'm finding it hard to even think of words that properly describe the physical appearance and smells within the place. I vaguely remember at some point in primary school the teacher saying to write down all the "describing words" before you start a story. I am stumped so here goes!
BLACK, THICK, TOXIC, RANCID SMELLING GOO, HUMAN EXCREMENT,LIQUID METHANE, FERMENTED TRASH LIQUEFIED, RATS-DEAD AND ALIVE, A RIVER OF TAR LIKE MUSH, A SMELL THAT CLINGS TO YOUR BODY AND CLOTHES LIKE AN UNWANTED SICKNESS, DISEASE RIDDEN SLUDGE.
This is Kuya Dodie
His "work".....
- To dive under the toxic mush with his eyes closed feel around for the trash and unblock the drainage.
As Ron told him last week- HE IS A HERO!!
I wondered before if it sounds like we are exaggerating when we talk about the infested waters in our newsletters, but they really are infested! They seep into the church hall after it has rained for any length of time. but much worse, they pour into the homes of the children. Its hard to even begin to imagine the disease in it. We have often seen the children play in it and then come to the activities with their skin actaully peeling off or discoulred.
Every few months Ron leads some of the team to help do a "clean up". The goal is to try and make the area a bit less flood proof. Garbage blocks every crevice leaving the molten liquid trash no where to go. So at least by removing as much as they can from the drainage it helps for a while. The community always get on board. There are amazing men, women and children who come out to help. It's really a team effort!
The people who come out to wade through the muck are diamonds. Some of the kindest people I have ever met.There is a real sense of community here in spite of all the problems. When there is tragedy and crisis they pull together. This community is so resilient.They don't just pull through- they spring back! I have witnessed them experience great loss and they don't just survive- they recover. We have seen them recover from floods and typhoons where some have them have lost every earthly possession they had. We have watched them rebuild after fires have destroyed whole rows of homes in minutes. Of course they are sad and weep over these heartaches, but I can honestly say I have never heard a moan. I have never seen the complain and say its unfair, I have truthfully never heard any of them blame God. Never.
We have learned so much from them. We came to serve them and bless them. But in actual fact they bless us. They are a constant reminder of how beauty dwells where you least expect it. They are a challenge as to whether our joy is really dependent on Jesus or our circumstances.They are a reminder that we were all in a dung heap before Jesus rescued us.
Some of our overseas volunteers have described the physical place in their own way. Here are a few;
"Its like a war zone"
"Everything is grey"
"Its the closest thing to hell on earth"
"I have been to many poor areas. This is the worst i have seen"
Strong words.
And YET the people are treasures.
I think if Jesus was on earth he would sit himself down in the mud with them, talk to them, love them. I think he would stand with his beautiful feet in black liquid waste for hours and tell the the good news. I think he would kneel down amongst the garbage and the flies to let the children climb up on him and let them touch his face with their dirty hands.
If only I could have His eyes for just one second. I wonder what words he would use to describe this community?
I wonder?
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