Ahh, its the long anticipated response to my trip to Gautemala- The reason it has taken me so long to collect my thoughts is because it is so hard to describe what God did through us, and in my own personal life on our trip. I still struggle to put the things I saw, and the things God did into words. There are some things that just can't be described. It was an incredible trip; God did some unbelievable things; and I saw some things I didn't even know existed in this world. There are some things you just have to see.
There were two things that really spoke to me- one was the night with the homeless on Thursday night, and the time we spent at the national cemetary overlooking the City Dump.
First of all, the night with the homeless- what an incredible opportunity to share the love of Christ with the broken, who so desperatly need to be loved. I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with the whole group-- it was an experience. I have never shared through an interperter, or to a bunch of people who were high on glue. However, I have never felt the Spirit of God more. He was so alive in the midst of the junk these people live through. I know 100% that God was in the midst of these men as they were loved as Christ loved them.
Second of all, the city dump- We drove into the Guatemala City cemetary which was a scene in itself- these people create temples for their family memebers who have passed away- one resemebles a tomb in Egypt! However, as we made our way to the edge of the cliff that the cememtary sits on...we looked over the edge and witnessed the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen in my life. As we looked over down into the city dump, we saw a community where 11,000 people call home. 11,000 people call most of the cities trash, their home. They work there, they look for trash they can grab and re-sell. They raise their families there- you hear the boys saying "I want to grow up and be like my daddy who is a scavenger." There biggest aspirations is to grow up and live in the city dump. It was insane. I saw Jesus down there though. I saw people who are loved by our creator, searching for their Savior. I knew, as I stood far up high on a mountain, and looked over- that if my Jesus were there, He would be in the midst of all those lost souls. It was incredible. I saw people store up their trash to watch bulldozers come by and knock it over and clear it out. Everything they had worked for all day, gone in an instant. It was incredible. But through it all, I saw Jesus.
As I was on my way home, I was listening to the new Leeland CD, "Love is on the Move" and the second song is called Follow You. The lyrics sum up my trip:
You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?
And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
'cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was shed
So how could I not give it away so freely?
And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(x2)
I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself?.to you.
And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself?.to you.
And i'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
:) What an amazing Song. My Jesus, I will follow you wherever you call.
Will you follow Him?
Love yall,
Toes :)
