An experience unlike any other!
It is commonly said that mission trips change the way you view your life upon return to the United States. It can sometimes be hard to imagine how others actually live,when the most accurate description exposed to us is via movies. The opportunity to experience it first hand was very overwhelming. We Concordia students took to chance to embrace how blessed we are after visiting different houses of people who live throughout the Lake Amatitlan community.
The most breath-taking visit was with a woman, Dona Lupe, who was receiving a new vented stove for her home. It was given by voluteers from a Lutheran church in California. Remember, the word "home" is not what you would imagine it to be. Sheets of metal put together with a metal roof held down by cinder blocks is not my idea of a "home." However, for 18 years, this was the woman's home. She was currently prepping all her food on a giant rock slab that went about waist-high and covered in ash, dirt and various bugs. In order to prepare food, she would burn wood inside her house and place racks on the open flame with no sort of ventilation system for the smoke. She proceeded to show us her bedroom and kitchen which was muggy smelling & bug infested, but looked like she cleaned the best she could as she knew guests would be coming over. What really mind-boggled me the most was when she explained that she received running water through a hose from the city. However, she was not able to drink it because of the pollution in the water. On the contrary, she continued to wash her dishes, cook and bathe all with the water from the hose. In addition, there was one washtub she used and it reminded me of those bins used to burn leaves or debris in the country in order to contain a fire. Except, the bin was filled with water and was used essentially as a bath tub. The tub was not emptied or refilled with each use as the family had to pay for water each month.
It is hard to explain something so overwhelming and such a drastic change to our everyday life with words, as most of us were speechless after what we witnessed. We are beyond blessed to have the opportunity to use our God-given talents to impact the lives of those less fortunate and to have them impact our lives as well. As a group we now have new eyes and a new way that we perceive the world and our surroundings. -Desi
Dona Lupe's and Dona Celeste's new stoves
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