Construction Trip Day 5

Generations. Today we return to the lot where a new school for the children of the landfill is being built. The sun is especially hot today and shade is scarce. As we walk in to the lot, we all greet our friend Salvador the welder just as we have everyday this week. He stands right at the entrance welding grates. No doubt this is divine placement. We have been talking to Salvador all week about why we are here and what are doing. He has been with us to church and he said he wanted to help us feed the people in the landfill tonight. When we asked him if he was ready to accept Jesus into his heart, he said "Tonight at church." We tell him we look forward to calling him brother and continue on with our work.

It was a day filled with manual labor. We tore down a material shed that needed to be moved, poured concrete the Guatemalan way (with a portable mixer and wheelbarrows), hauled concrete block to the second floor of the school (via a Guatemalan ladder which is just as scary as you might imagine), sorted and moved a giant lumber pile, pulled nails, and several other tasks of the same. Today wasn't as immediately as gratifying as previous days. We didn't get to know the families that we were helping, put on a new roof or build new walls, or provide a place to cook their meals. But today was about vision and knowing that what we were doing today was for the children to come. That they may one day find Christ and share their faith with others. I look at this skeleton of a building and I close my eyes and I can see the classrooms filled with children. Children that are full of hope and laughter and song. Children that will have a better chance to break the cycle and get out of the dump. Today's work was for these children. Children we'll never know, but I pray that we will get to meet them one day in heaven.

After our work and our bodies were exhausted at the lot, we went to feed to people of the landfill. This is such an amazing experience. To be able to serve so many people in such a vital and basic way. We see mothers with small children getting maybe their only hot meal for the week. We see children getting food for their families, because they are too sick to come, or they are still sorting through the trash for the last few minutes of daylight. Of course, there is never enough food and we have to close up before everyone gets something. It is truly heartbreaking.

Then comes the highlight of our day. We go to the church where we have short service and at the end we have an invitation. When it is asked if there is anyone that has not accepted Christ as their savior, our friend Salvador says "Me!" without a moment's hesitation, and heaven stopped and the angels rejoiced! My God answers prayers! We welcomed Salvador as brother with hugs and tears of joy.

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Luke 15:7, 10, 32 ESV)

Jason Dykes





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