The name itself brings to mind starkness - "a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides; chasm; abyss". Imagine that, but filled with garbage, vultures circling overhead, smoke rising from the fires that burn the trash constantly. Then imagine working there, day after day, digging through the trash to find scraps of food that you can sell to the farmers in the surrounding areas to feed their animals, items that you can resell, things that you might be able to use in your home.
This is where we begin our week in Guatemala. Soon we will visit the children at school, but first we go to see their parents, to bring them groceries and pray with them. They are as thankful for the prayers we say as they are for the food and soap.
The Ravine is a bleak place, but there is hope amidst the smoke and garbage. Many of these parents are now able to send their children to school. They have hope that their children will not live this life, the life of waiting for the garbage trucks to come, unloading them, resting in their crude shelters when it's not their turn to unload the trucks. These children now have an opportunity for education and dreams of becoming teachers and doctors and lawyers.
But today, they are here. We hug them and pray for them. We ask the names of their children who go to the school, and they tell us with pride. We say a special prayer for the parents and children. We also pray in our hearts that the children who we see still working here will be allowed by their parents to go to school.
They need to continue their work so we board the bus to leave. The smell of smoke that lingers in our clothes and hair serves to remind us of the people we have met and the future God holds for them.
Many of the children that attend the Ravine School are available to sponsor. Child sponsorships impact the entire family and even community. More information is available at orphanoutreach.co. one month. one purpose. every child sponsored.
