Guatemala: Donate a Care Kit
"So what do you do on your trips?"
This is a question I am asked frequently and the complete answer takes some time to explain. We do a number of projects and they can vary from year to year and location to location, but I want to share with you our targeted population in Guatemala and what you can do to help us this summer.
It's always awkward for me to ask for money. Even though I've explained where money would go I think it can be hard for people to picture. I understand if you are going to invest in something you want to be able to see where your money is going and how it is helping to further the cause. That is why I love that we are asking for people to donate Care Kits. One is a hygiene kit ($9) which includes soap, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a washcloth, a brush, a comb, and shampoo. The other is a food kit ($14) including rice, beans, corn, tortillas, coffee, and other non-perishables. They are tangible donations that are not very expensive and will impact individuals stuck in the cycle of poverty, but we cannot give them out without your donation. So who exactly are these individuals that I am asking for you to help?
We drove through the national cemetery in Guatemala City until we came to the edge of a cliff. As we stood at the edge we took in the sights, sounds, and smells that brought us all to tears. At the bottom of the cliff, expanding out over an area of 24 football fields, was the Guatemala City dump. 1,500 tons of trash are brought to the dump daily. The smell was awful, vultures cluttered the sky and landscape, and truck after truck dumped its load and left. As each truck came and prepared to dump its load, figures approached the truck anticipating the release. And if you look closely, in every direction, more figures are scattered amidst the blankets of trash. 11,000 people work and live in the dump as a means to survive. They are nick-named "scavengers," for they rummage through the garbage in search of plastic, cardboard, glass, or anything else they have found of value to sell at the end of the day. After searching the dump for 7-14 hours, rain or shine, they end their day by selling their findings for only $3-5 (U.S.).
So why do these people do this? Why don't they leave and find a better job? If only it were that simple.
The United States owned United Fruit Company was the largest land owner in Guatemala at the beginning of the twentieth century, as well as the largest employer. They provided crops for many countries and relied on unskilled, underpaid Guatemalans. During the United States' fight to prevent the spread of communism Guatemala was under the US's watchful eye as well. The Guatemalan president promoted an agrarian reform law which redistributed unused land from the United Fruit Company to landless Guatemalans. The U.S. saw this as an act of communism, and on June 18, 1954 the CIA dropped leaflets in Guatemala City demanding for the president to step down. Confusion and a scramble for power brought a new president, who immediately reversed the land reforms and forced many Guatemalan peasants from their land. The government militarized, leading the citizens to form their own resistance in demand of democracy. A civil war emerged and led to widespread massacres. Over the 36 year conflict thousands of people were brutally murdered and over a million others were displaced. Over 450 Mayan villages were destroyed and the people lost their homes and farms. Many of these displaced people moved into the cities in search of a better opportunity, but a lack of jobs and resources dashed their hopes. Squatter communities formed slums filled with desperate people, one of the largest squatter settlements (in all of Central America) being the Guatemala City dump. (See Reparando at the bottom of this post.)
Our hearts ached as we caught just a glimpse of what the reality is for these people. They have a tedious job that is undesirable and viewed as despicable, but if they don't do it they will die. Over half of the people that live in Guatemala live in poverty, but it's the people who live and work in the dump that are despised by their own. They are viewed as part of the trash. Because of this they are severely limited in employment opportunities and are left to scavenge in the dump. (One little boy told us that when he grows up he wants to be the garbage truck driver, the most prestigious and powerful job one in their community can have, usually.)
We want to show these people that they are not trash, they are treasures. They were handmade by God and His love for them is unfathomable. They were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). And as the hands and feet of Jesus, we want to love them as God loves them (1 John 4:19). We want to honor them not just as the children of God but as human beings. My life is of no more value than theirs'. It breaks my heart that people believe otherwise. So that is a broad idea of what we do on these trips; we love people.
Our goal is not to go to other countries and tell them what to do and what not to do. We want to come alongside the people and engage with them. We work with churches, organizations, and ministries that have already started something and do what we can to work with them to further their mission. Our time in the country is very short, but the people we work with live there and we want to also encourage them to continue. We are making ourselves available and offering ourselves as their servants, they are showing us what we can do for them. Last summer we met a pastor who took us into the heart of the dump community. He's showing us the needs and what we can do for these people.
Ultimately we want these people to overcome the cycle of poverty and leave the dump, but there are far too many problems for our small group to tackle this in a week. But we can make a dent in the community. I think people too often undervalue their potential to change the world. "It's just one drop in the entire ocean." Yes, but that is one drop more than yesterday. A baby step in the right direction is still closer to the end goal than none at all. One simple act of kindness can set a fire of hope in someone's life. I've seen people receive homes, enough food for a month, and various other gifts and services but it is the love that they receive and experience behind all of these things that makes the greatest impact, and we are all capable of loving others.
Some of the negative effects of working and living in the dump are reflected in the poor health of the people. With these Care Kits that you donate we hope to put some of the basic necessities for hygiene and nutrition into their hands to prevent some disease and malnourishment. The items for the Care Kits will be purchased in Guatemala to help the local economy and provide goods that will best meet the needs of people in this area. Our team will then assemble the kits and hand them out personally. When you purchase a Care Kit it will include a personalized note of encouragement from you as well.
The number of Care Kits that we distribute depends on how many we receive in donations from you. I would love to be able to pass out hundreds of these to our friends who need a message of hope and encouragement. This act of kindness from you can be just what someone needs to set the fire of hope in their life as they experience this act of love.
You can visit livesareforgiven.com to donate a Care Kit to our trip. Prayers are also needed for the Guatemalan people. This country and the people in it are so beautiful, but many are in ugly situations and need prayers. I have seen and experienced the power of prayer and hope that you do not underestimate the power your prayer has.
Thank you for your time in reading this and the attention you have already given to a group of people in Guatemala that do not receive it enough.
Thank you and God bless!
This is a question I am asked frequently and the complete answer takes some time to explain. We do a number of projects and they can vary from year to year and location to location, but I want to share with you our targeted population in Guatemala and what you can do to help us this summer.
It's always awkward for me to ask for money. Even though I've explained where money would go I think it can be hard for people to picture. I understand if you are going to invest in something you want to be able to see where your money is going and how it is helping to further the cause. That is why I love that we are asking for people to donate Care Kits. One is a hygiene kit ($9) which includes soap, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a washcloth, a brush, a comb, and shampoo. The other is a food kit ($14) including rice, beans, corn, tortillas, coffee, and other non-perishables. They are tangible donations that are not very expensive and will impact individuals stuck in the cycle of poverty, but we cannot give them out without your donation. So who exactly are these individuals that I am asking for you to help?
We drove through the national cemetery in Guatemala City until we came to the edge of a cliff. As we stood at the edge we took in the sights, sounds, and smells that brought us all to tears. At the bottom of the cliff, expanding out over an area of 24 football fields, was the Guatemala City dump. 1,500 tons of trash are brought to the dump daily. The smell was awful, vultures cluttered the sky and landscape, and truck after truck dumped its load and left. As each truck came and prepared to dump its load, figures approached the truck anticipating the release. And if you look closely, in every direction, more figures are scattered amidst the blankets of trash. 11,000 people work and live in the dump as a means to survive. They are nick-named "scavengers," for they rummage through the garbage in search of plastic, cardboard, glass, or anything else they have found of value to sell at the end of the day. After searching the dump for 7-14 hours, rain or shine, they end their day by selling their findings for only $3-5 (U.S.).
So why do these people do this? Why don't they leave and find a better job? If only it were that simple.
The United States owned United Fruit Company was the largest land owner in Guatemala at the beginning of the twentieth century, as well as the largest employer. They provided crops for many countries and relied on unskilled, underpaid Guatemalans. During the United States' fight to prevent the spread of communism Guatemala was under the US's watchful eye as well. The Guatemalan president promoted an agrarian reform law which redistributed unused land from the United Fruit Company to landless Guatemalans. The U.S. saw this as an act of communism, and on June 18, 1954 the CIA dropped leaflets in Guatemala City demanding for the president to step down. Confusion and a scramble for power brought a new president, who immediately reversed the land reforms and forced many Guatemalan peasants from their land. The government militarized, leading the citizens to form their own resistance in demand of democracy. A civil war emerged and led to widespread massacres. Over the 36 year conflict thousands of people were brutally murdered and over a million others were displaced. Over 450 Mayan villages were destroyed and the people lost their homes and farms. Many of these displaced people moved into the cities in search of a better opportunity, but a lack of jobs and resources dashed their hopes. Squatter communities formed slums filled with desperate people, one of the largest squatter settlements (in all of Central America) being the Guatemala City dump. (See Reparando at the bottom of this post.)
Our hearts ached as we caught just a glimpse of what the reality is for these people. They have a tedious job that is undesirable and viewed as despicable, but if they don't do it they will die. Over half of the people that live in Guatemala live in poverty, but it's the people who live and work in the dump that are despised by their own. They are viewed as part of the trash. Because of this they are severely limited in employment opportunities and are left to scavenge in the dump. (One little boy told us that when he grows up he wants to be the garbage truck driver, the most prestigious and powerful job one in their community can have, usually.)
We want to show these people that they are not trash, they are treasures. They were handmade by God and His love for them is unfathomable. They were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). And as the hands and feet of Jesus, we want to love them as God loves them (1 John 4:19). We want to honor them not just as the children of God but as human beings. My life is of no more value than theirs'. It breaks my heart that people believe otherwise. So that is a broad idea of what we do on these trips; we love people.
Our goal is not to go to other countries and tell them what to do and what not to do. We want to come alongside the people and engage with them. We work with churches, organizations, and ministries that have already started something and do what we can to work with them to further their mission. Our time in the country is very short, but the people we work with live there and we want to also encourage them to continue. We are making ourselves available and offering ourselves as their servants, they are showing us what we can do for them. Last summer we met a pastor who took us into the heart of the dump community. He's showing us the needs and what we can do for these people.
Ultimately we want these people to overcome the cycle of poverty and leave the dump, but there are far too many problems for our small group to tackle this in a week. But we can make a dent in the community. I think people too often undervalue their potential to change the world. "It's just one drop in the entire ocean." Yes, but that is one drop more than yesterday. A baby step in the right direction is still closer to the end goal than none at all. One simple act of kindness can set a fire of hope in someone's life. I've seen people receive homes, enough food for a month, and various other gifts and services but it is the love that they receive and experience behind all of these things that makes the greatest impact, and we are all capable of loving others.
Some of the negative effects of working and living in the dump are reflected in the poor health of the people. With these Care Kits that you donate we hope to put some of the basic necessities for hygiene and nutrition into their hands to prevent some disease and malnourishment. The items for the Care Kits will be purchased in Guatemala to help the local economy and provide goods that will best meet the needs of people in this area. Our team will then assemble the kits and hand them out personally. When you purchase a Care Kit it will include a personalized note of encouragement from you as well.
The number of Care Kits that we distribute depends on how many we receive in donations from you. I would love to be able to pass out hundreds of these to our friends who need a message of hope and encouragement. This act of kindness from you can be just what someone needs to set the fire of hope in their life as they experience this act of love.
You can visit livesareforgiven.com to donate a Care Kit to our trip. Prayers are also needed for the Guatemalan people. This country and the people in it are so beautiful, but many are in ugly situations and need prayers. I have seen and experienced the power of prayer and hope that you do not underestimate the power your prayer has.
Thank you for your time in reading this and the attention you have already given to a group of people in Guatemala that do not receive it enough.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
-Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)
Thank you and God bless!
Reparando
Reparando is a documentary production by Athentikos that discusses the injustices in Guatemala that resulted from the civil war including the dump community, poverty, gangs, drugs, etc. but also the hope that is rising. La Limonada, Guatemala's most notorious slum, is also one of the places we visit to work with Tita in one of her schools and is also featured in this film.
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