The other day we took a journey that was not in the schedule of our trip. A journey that will stretch our hearts beyond what we can even tell you today. It will not be forgotten by any of us...ever. This is a story of utter destruction and pain hiding behind cute smiles and giggles.
In a place called Bududa (lucky for us in the Eastern part of the country) there was a landslide on Monday July 2. We went to Bududa on the 5 (Thursday) and they were still searching for bodies. So many things crossed my mind in the short time that we were at the landslide site. So many people were affected by this event. Entire communities. In this culture you dont marry far from your home where you grew up so your neighbors become your family. These are the people you turn to in times of trouble and need. Because of this some people have no place to go. The pastor was killed along with 2 children and his wife. Others are still buried and many homes have been lost, at least 20. Also, mind you, understand that the birth rate here is much higher than in the US. Many of these families have more than our average 2.1 children. As we were told though, God does crazy things. This landslide happened when it was least expected but at one of the best times it could possibly happen, if there is such a thing. It happened on a Monday some time between 12 and 2 in the afternoon. On Mondays there is a big market in town where many people residing there bring their goods to sell and the children were in school. So the people left would have been the elderly, small children, or people who didnt have anything to bring to the market on that day. Many came home to find their homes completely covered with dirt and totally gone. Obviously, it is still a very serious tragedy and there is no way to possibly diminish that, but there could have been a much greater loss than there was.
As we were standing on the sidelines watching and listening to our friend speak about the occurance of the landslide there were children gathering around us as they ususally do. This specific group of 3 kids were laughing and giggling to themselves about who knows what, but they were enjoying themselves. They were making faces at one of my classmates camera as they were trying to take a picture of something else and did not even notice them. So i took a picture of them with my camera, since the kids here LOVE that. They absolutely love to see their faces on your screen after you take the picture and they just start laughing and laughing! So that is exactly what these three children did. But I couldnt help to be reminded of myself in that very instance. In how whenever something bad happens I always try to cover it up with a smile and thinking about other things. It gets me to notice even more so that how when faced with the mountains placed in our lives no matter how great or how small we are all of the human race. We are not different because we live in a first world country vs. a third world country. We are not different because we can afford "nice" things and they cannot. Deep down inside we are the same, we may think we "need" nice things but we dont, not in the slightest way. We have the same needs: love, understanding, and peace. As I have always known these things, it sunk in even deeper in that moment.
Walking back to the car I met a little girl. She was the most adorable thing ever, probably about the age of 8 or 9 and had the most beautiful smile. She had been following us so I decided to strike up conversation with her. I asked her how she was and her name and I told her mine, as the normal conversation goes. Then she began to ask me questions. How was my home? I told her it was good, not even really thinking and not really understanding what she was asking. I asked her how hers was and she said fine, I dont think she quite understood me. As we were getting into the car, the lady that was showing us around asked her about her home. She said it was buried when she was in school, her and her mother no longer had any place to go. That is the only family she has left. They are homeless. I was already in the back of the car at this point and could not get out. But her lip began to quiver. I wanted so TERRIBLY badly to stay with her, and hug her, and tell her it would be ok, tell her that God loves her and I love her, and give her and her mother a place to stay. But guess what, I couldnt do any of those things. I cannot describe to you how my heart broke in that very moment...
I will never forget that moment, not ever in my whole life. Feeling so helpless and that only Gsod can help them and my hands are literally tied. I have never had that feeling before. I've always been able to provide for others and myself.
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