by Jessie Chin Ching Ho, Mississauga Alliance Church
El Milagro...the Miracle. This is the name of one of three garbage dumps in the city of Trujillo, Peru. Today, Day 6 of Mission Peru, we visited the garbage dump. When I first heard the name, I thought, “how ironic”. Really, a garbage dump, a miracle? But when I went in, after I experienced it all...er, not even “all of it” –but from the bit that I saw, heard, smelled, and felt, I feel like El Milagro, the garbage dump, was really in its own way, a miracle of God. Not the dump itself though, but rather, the people in it.
It’s a miracle that the people can work so hard, still with smiles on their grimy, weary faces.
It’s a miracle that they are able to laugh with such joy, when they have practically nothing.
The joy that I have seen from the Peruvian people in such desperate situation continues to amaze me.
Today, when I walked in, I walked in, expecting what I saw, but at the same time still shocked. Flies were everywhere, clustered, buzzing over bags of garbage, flying around us. We walked up the path to the dump, the smell of garbage and animals in our noses. As we got closer, more and more garbage littered the ground. Dogs wandered around everywhere. We saw mounds and mounds of garbage. Some were heaped into hills, taller than 6 feet, and had to be climbed. Other piles were scattered haphazardly around. Amidst the trash were motos (basically a sort of bench-seat with wheels driven by a motorcycle in front) and donkey-drawn carts used for carrying garbage away.
Basically what people’s job is, is to go through the piles of garbage, looking for recyclable materials to sell. They get 80 centimos per kilo (for the most valuable product which is plastic bottles). Eighty centimos. Not even 1 sole. And 1 USD is a little less than 3 soles. They take nothing for granted. Absolutely nothing. They work so hard for so little, just to be able to put food on the table for their families? They work to survive. Nothing is taken for granted.
This, personally, was something that hit me. Back in North America, we take everything for granted! Everything...even God. Here in Peru, their faith is stronger than many people’s. They have so little, but yet, they have so much of something. That is infinitely more valuable. “Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the kingdom of God.” I saw the truth of this today.
We also visited the residents’ homes; they live right outside the dump. Their houses are basically hovels, rough walls, with a metal or straw roof. Yet the children greeted us with such happiness. Quite heedless of their destitute surrounding, the children were skipping, running around, smiling. Just like at the daycare, their smiles were so pure. I found myself thinking ‘These children are precious.’ And they really are. They’re not delicate; their circumstances are completely different, but they have something special.
Today, more than I’ve ever experienced before, I felt the joy of giving. The people at the dump received the fruits we gave them (fruits we bought at a market previously- hooray for first time bargaining!) and when I saw them, peeling the oranges or bananas or eating the apples, I felt so happy. Likewise with the little gifts of beaded figures and key chains. The children were overjoyed with so many gifts. I was glad to bless them, in fact, and to even be able to bless them. It was a huge blessing in itself to be able to give.
Afterward, we went back and just “wrestled with questions”. Like the big one: Why has God brought me here? Why has he let us see this? I’m still struggling with these (and more) questions. What can I do in this situation? But, at the same time, I don’t pity them. I feel the injustice of it all, but I see that they are content.
They are just the same as us, except in different circumstances I could have been born as one of them, and they could have been born as one of me. God loves us all, and that was really encouraging.
On the other hand, before we visited the dump, we went to 2 places. First construction in the morning (as usual), and then the local marketplace! With our limited Spanish, we bartered for toothpaste, toothbrushes, apples, bananas, and oranges. (Later we found out the lady ripped us off, but it’s okay...haha)
Peru is really an amazing place. All these new experiences—four days left! Let’s make the most of it!
Peruuu!
Jessie, this is amazing and strong. The message is clearly sent, we can almost imagine what you are witnessing. The struggling these people live yet the the faith and happiness still within them. Truly an amazing blog.