Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Retrospect -God is the Main Character


We are visiting the States presently and have looked back at our first 3 months. We are simply stunned at how much God has truly done. The accomplishments are breath taking. We can hardly believe this has all really happened. We have seen substantial transformation in so many different areas. We are in the middle of God’s work and it is exciting. He is bringing together an amazing team of churches, non-profits, and individuals that will work to see this garbage dump completely transformed. We are happy to play a large part.

We are drawn to the idea of us being the heroes. It sounds great to say, “Look at all we have accomplished in 3 short months.” Sure we always begin with a ‘thank God’ but deep down inside, we take credit for the work. Yet as we have looked closer, we have come to an astounding conclusion – we are not the main character in this drama.

A closer inspection will show how wrong we really are to think we were the heroes. You see, we have not been the main characters. Neither has Jeony been the main character. Nor churches, nor non-profits, nor the families living and working in the garbage dump. If we look really close, we can clearly see that God has been the main character of Project Transformation.

Who loved the families living and working in the garbage dump? Who decided to do something about this problem? Who sent Pastor Jeony and his family? Who sent the Diaz family? Who gave us the vision of a transformed community? Who has been providing for us? Who has worked miracle after miracle on our behalf? This whole thing was God’s idea. We are just minor character. Valuable, important, vital, minor characters, but minor characters nonetheless. This perspective changes the way we look at our role. The main character of this story has always been and will always be God. It’s His plan. His goals, and His vision. He is just using us to accomplish His will. And that is just fine by us. For His name and His renown.

God is the main character. That is great news because all the success hinges on Him. He will not let us down because his heart breaks for the poor.

God is the main character, but he is not the only character. God has chosen to work through humans. God works through vessels. God looks and searches for people to work through and most of the time he comes up empty.

Not this time. Not when it comes to transforming this garbage dump with the power of His love. Project Transformation has stepped up to the plate. Here we are, God. Use us.

We are really looking forward to the next chapter. God has some great stuff up his sleeve.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Exposure


I have been sick the last few days from eating at the garbage dump with some of the children. I must have been exposed to bacteria that have invaded my intestines. Although I am feeling horrible now (especially since I have to travel14 hours tomorrow), I understood the cost in working in this type of environment. I am exposing myself to all sorts of germs, viruses, and bacteria which explains my recent bouts of sickness since moving here. All this exposure is eventually going to catch up with me. Although I am not saying one is above the other in the nature vs nurture argument, I strongly believe I am influenced and shaped by what I am exposed to. I am product of what I have been exposed to. This truth works for both good and bad.


I wonder about these hundreds of children who are exposed to all sorts of evil at the garbage dump. How is that evil affecting them? The children and young adults of who live and work in the garbage dump are exposed to things that no one should ever see. The other day I went up and saw a dead body. Without being to graphic, the person had been killed by both a machete and gun. All the kids I knew were surrounding the body. Afterwards they told me about the body as if it was the norm, with no sense of tragedy. This is their world. This is what they see all the time. But this is also the world God loves so much he sent his Son to save. Somehow, we have to get more of the children out of the garbage dump. That exposure is vexing their souls. We need to expose them to God’s love and to so many of the positive this life has to offer.

The good news is that slowly but surely this is happening. So far we have convinced 6 kids who usually work in the garbage dump, to play on a soccer team 3 afternoons a week. Those are two days they will not be exposed to evil but be surrounded by a team that encourages and challenged them. This is great news but we have so many more left.