Day 2--Dandora slums, part 1

Another day...Or was it really just "another" day.  What I saw as I rode in our bus on the way to worship was rather overwhelming. Dandora was filled with people, lots of them in a very small area. Walking and riding their bikes within inches of our bus and not even bothered by the fact that one wrong quick move and tragedy may strike. Many looked as if they had somewhere to go, very dressed up and rather clean. The irony there was that all you could see was dirt, garbage, just filth everywhere, and nothing green besides a random bush popping up. Lots of buildings, which really were small mismatched shacks made from metal, wood or whatever could work as a wall for their "home". People selling their wares and others buying items, carrying large bags on their backs which held possibly their precious belongings.
As we headed in further their was a smell a smell rather difficult to describe,  just more offensive than probably anything I'd experienced before. Then I saw why. THE DUMP. Literally. It was overflowing and about a couple feet from the  road we were traveling on. There were pigs digging around in it, along with children and their parents. What could they possibly be doing there? Who would allow their children even near a place like this let alone come along side them to search. We were told they may be looking for food, an item to recycle or something they could sell. Quite possibly a hidden treasure? This is so wrong on so many levels. I would NEVER allow my children near such a health hazard area let alone rummage through it. How do you process such a sighting? We were headed to Dandora Baptist Church to worship, how could my heart change gears so quickly to worship  God after experiencing such a sight.
While in the bus Misty asked me if I noticed everyone's face. I had been thinking about that same fact,  there were no bright smiles like the day before just solemn, serious looks, almost as if it was a movie filming and they were told to Not smile. But as I internalized seeing their surroundings it made sense. Why would you smile and be filled with joy when this was what you saw and lived in on a daily basis. My children have grass to run on, trees to climb and creeks to play in. And our garbage gets put in a container and carried AWAY from our home. Not overflowing next to it...

Apartment High-rise and laundry mat

A typical "home"

The Dump and neighborhood rummage area

Really Day One--Paradise Lost Park 9-29-12

An amazing day! We visited a park called Paradise Lost which cost about $3.75 for adults and $2.50 for children. This is an opportunity these kids only get once a year!  There were about  a 100 kids plus moms bused in to spend the day, which we provided lunch, games, crafts, camel rides, boat rides and lots of love.
I wasn't quite sure what my emotions would be but once our bus arrived and all the children came running to it my heart began to melt. Their precious smiles and warm eyes grabbed my heart and i wanted to hug them all. I hadn't been informed what the protocol was, can I hug them? They offered their hand to shake so I did the same and told them my name, & asked them theirs. This took a bit of time as there were alot of them.
Shortly after the greetings we were brought together with the moms to have a little "meet and greet". I noticed Bonnie was carrying two kids and holding hands with a couple more. WELL, that was my signal that it was totally ok to love on these precious lives. I began my hugging and taking pictures, and had a few specific friends in no time flat. All the kids loved to have their photos taken then wanted to see themselves in the camera. Some would laugh and others just smiled. Just like my kids! They reveled in the idea of seeing their reflection.
Background info: these women(moms) were all HIV positive and some of the children. You could tell some of the women were newer into the program as they didn't look as healthy. But they were all so beautiful, you could see and hear their love and thanks to God for this path of love through the HEART organization.