Our day started with me being sick (again!). This happened on Sunday when we were suppose to go the ghetto. Joel said we could cancel, but I said no, we needed to go. I fully beleive that it was a spiritual force that was trying to keep us away from that place. I say that because of what happened to Marlee.
We delivered food baskets to three families. The first was at the top of ghetto and the last was at the bottom. The ghetto has been built on the side of a canyon. It was a very steep walk down very steep and high stairs.
This ghetto was built after the 1976 earthquake. Most of these families homes were destroyed in that earthquake and so they moved to this canyon and began building. But in a place where it rains a lot, what happens to the canyon walls? Mudslides. So the first family that we gave the food basket to is living in one room...because the rest of her home has been destroyed. When asked what she would like prayer for, she answered that God would provide medicine for her son and food for her family. She then knelt down on the floor, we put our hands on her and Joel and I prayed.
The second family had a newer home...because again...it had been destroyed. She had three children and her husband. When asked what they needed prayer for...enough money for school for the children (about Q30 a month) and for her husband to stop drinking. She knelt on the floor, I prayed and then Marlee prayed. This was when the change happened...this was what I think was being fought against. Marlee's prayer. Now, we pray at home around our family table after dinner every night. Marlee's prayers usually are, "Dear God, thank you for this day, please let tomorrow be nice." Every once in a while she adds in a little more, but this time she began praying for this person, for this family. That her husband would come home tonight and not be drinking, that her family would know that God loves them and will take care of them. That God would provide for them. Her prayer changed in that moment...and I don't think she'll ever be the same.
The third family was a very young family. She was 25, her husband was at work and she stayed home with their 4 year old son. Although the floor of thier home was dirt, it was immaculate. She had a lovely home. Again, her prayer needs were that her husband would continue to work and that she would find a job...and again, Marlee prayed for this person. That they would know the love of God everyday, that God would continue to provide for their needs and that her son would could go to school.
This was a good day. The ghetto was hard to see, yes, but the people were happy. They are hard workers and they trust God. Many people may look at the conditions and say, "They are lazy! They don't work!" But this simply is not true. They are a working class, living in poverty, and believing God will take care of them. And, in reality, He does. From the American stand point, we don't see it. But you will never hear these people complain. That is a lesson we, in the United States, need to learn.
Tomorrow, I will tell you about the City Dump. Tonight, I have to process it. I probably won't sleep because I will be thinking of all that I saw.
By the way, with a new president coming into office soon, it will become a reality that each family will have to pay Q125 per month, per child for school. When the average income of a gheto family is Q200-800 per month, how will they every put a child through school...let alone three? This country has a 60% illiteracy rate, with this law it will increase.
Good night friends. Be thankful.
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