Meet the destitute

Time is flying by! I can't believe that in just seven short days, my teaching here will be over and my traveling will begin. It has been 7 weeks since my arrival here and it has been a good time, a trying time, but I feel rich in sights and sounds and experiences.
This week, I had my first close encounter with poverty in the faces of three young children who came to play with my class on Friday. We had all trooped over to a nearby field to do some pinata whacking (boy were the kids proud of getting to tear apart their beautiful creations!!). As I sat on the grass, watching the kids play soccer a ways off, this little girl of about 8 years old walked over with a bag slung over her shoulder, a baby on her hip and holding her younger brother's hand. She looked like a little mother, and she had to play that role, because as I learned later, her mother is out working all day in the fields to try and feed her family, and so Maria (the little girl) has to shoulder the mothering responsibilities. And as I sat near these children I was ashamed at my response to them. I hid it well but I was disgusted. They smelled bad. The baby had a crusty, snotty nose and the boy's pants were torn in three places. Their hair was filthy and flies buzzed around them so much I felt sure they must have lice. I sat there in my pristine white shirt, freshly scrubbed nails and clean hair and all I could think was please God don't let them get too close, I don't want lice! The shame.
The moment of truth came when Maria handed me her baby brother to watch so she could go play--something she must not have been able to do in a long, long time--and as I sat the baby on my lap I realized that I am much too hung up on cleanliness. I chose then and there to never allow hygiene or clean hair to stand in the way of being a light in someone's life, of getting to know them and reaching out. Time will tell if I've learned this lesson, but for one day, I did.
And so Maria and her little brother got to play soccer, and eat lunch, and hit a pinata, and bring home candy. They got a vacation, for just a few short hours. Their smiles made my heart leap and made me sad at the same time, knowing that everywhere across the country and the world, there a childhoods being spent growing up too fast, working hard, suffering.
20% of the population of Guatemala lives on less than a dollar a day. Over one million children leave school to work in the streets and fields of Guatemala, shining shoes, selling fruit, or sitting on street corners singing and reaching out their hands to passersby. 56% Of Guatemalans live below the poverty line. And then there are those who drive BMWs down the street and travel to Monterrico by helicopter. They say that if you are REALLY prepared to deal with the poverty of Guatemala, then you need to go "visit" the garbage dump in Zone 3 of Guatemala City, renowned for its dark, heartbreaking representation of the face of Guatemala that people try to turn their eyes from because it's gross. And so, that is now on my itinerary for my 2 weeks of traveling in Guatemala. I will keep you all posted!
Until next time...have a great week!