In November, I went to Juarez, Mexico on a missions trip. The first thing we did there was hosted a food and clothing event where people from the community could come and get things that they needed.
This sweet girl visited us first. She and her mom and grandma had been in line since 5:30 in the morning in the cold (it was in the 30s). I still can't get over that they arrived so early to wait for used clothes.
She had such a sweetness about her, a shyness. I think she was 7. I thought that I could communicate, but found myself only good at numbers. She allowed me to take her photo several times, tres times;-).
The next day, we visited her grandmother, Lupita's house. Her home was one small room and had a rotted, moldy plywood roof, yet she welcomed us in eagerly. Offered us her own seat on the couch. This opened my eyes to my own lack of hospitality, the stress of people seeing my house messy.
It makes me wish we could transport all the clothes people have cast off, for these people! Its always good to see others happy in such a different and difficult life!
I remembered this beauty from your project last fall before I even read the narrative. I think it's fabulous that God gives us an opportunity to recognize the blessings in our life through the spirit of those less blessed with physical things.
Just amazing. Only this morning I heard that the average Australian buys 27kg of new clothes each year. Someone is buying a lot to make up for what David and I don't buy... my point being, that's a lot of clothes discarded every year just by Australians. Imagine how many are discarded by Americans. No one should be in need of clothes anywhere in the world I would think. Just not the case I guess. Beautiful sweet image.
I must remember your excellent comment about the grandmother, hospitality and the stress of people seeing your house messy, and try harder to change that about myself.
