We have started going out into the community of Urias to minister to the people. Urias is a colonia in Mazatlan that is home to the city's garbage dump and more importantly the individuals and families who work there. Garbage dump workers sift through trash all day, looking for items of any value to sell. It’s a dirty job and often times a dangerous one. The work conditions are exactly what you might imagine when picturing people sifting through mountains of trash in the hot sun. The stench is nauseating; the heat almost unbearable; and the environment bleak. Fights break out over things as simple as two people reaching for the same item. And the dispute is left to run its course, no one bothering to intervene.
Just down the hill you find homes. Poorly constructed shacks that house so much collected garbage you can hardly distinguish where the dump truly ends. Families oftentimes live outside and store items they've collected in their humble shacks. Running water is not a standard commodity and families can only acquire it by filling buckets for a fee when a water truck passes by.
Amidst all this we find children. Children covered in filth and the smell of garbage. Children who play barefoot on trash-covered dirt. Children who should be in school, but more often than not are left at home to fend for themselves while their parents go "up" to work.
God has opened a door of opportunity to show His love to the children and moms of Urias. We have partnered with a local church to minister to them once a week. Our first
event allowed us to share a meal with them and gave us a chance to begin getting to know each other. Moving forward, we hope to begin nutrition classes for moms, specifically those who are pregnant, and integrate Biblical principles in our lessons. We will also have Bible lessons and educational activities for the children to encourage and promote their mental and spiritual growth.
One month ago we would have never pictured ourselves already doing regular ministry so early on! Once again God has shown us that His plan and His timing is perfect. And we rejoice in the knowledge that He has taken care of the details and asks only to trust in Him.
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