The Mural - Thursday
Day of Light

I’m drawn to the mural, but I’m not sure why. I’m certainly not an artist, but I know I want to be a part of it, so I ask Austin if I can help with the kids that show up while they paint. The bonus is that it means I get to join a small group that will be worshipping in the sunrise in the heart of La Chureca this morning.

When we arrive there are already men starting another typical day of work. They seem to be drawn to Brad- wanting to stand next to him as he talks to us. Emaciated cows move past us, eating trash- one with her udders dragging the ground- can’t someone please milk her, I think?. How strange to be standing in the middle of the trash with guitars and drums- singing- But for some reason it doesn’t feel weird at all. Instead I feel God’s presence and total peace. I wish my family were here to experience it with me. I don’t want to be anyplace else. But why am I here? Am I here to help them somehow, or has God put me here to have them help me? To work on my heart? Brad talks about the trash dump as a metaphor of how our hearts look when we’re angry, unforgiving…and it’s so true.

After sunrise we head towards the school to work on the mural. It’s already so hot and smoky, and it’s only 7am. We move through pockets of smell that catch me off guard and make me cough. How can anyone actually live here? It seems so wrong. I find myself kind of disconnecting, shutting down so that I don’t just collapse in hopelessness.

When we get to the school, I see the start of the mural- it already looks amazing! All week I’ve been in awe of the talented and incredibly loving people that have been drawn here. Again-where do I fit in? I really don’t know what I can bring to the table. I’m not an artist or a musician??

Since no kids are around yet, I start to help paint- mostly paint by numbers, filling in rainbow colors. Patrick gives Jessica and I the job of painting stems for flowers so that when the kids start showing up we can have them do thumbprints for the actual flowers later. Yea! Creative Liberty!

We haven’t had anything to eat, not a conscious decision; it’s just that we left the hotel before breakfast- poor planning on my part. The sun is beating down on us, and I forgot my sunglasses. I know I packed them last night- My head is starting to pound and I feel nauseous. The thought crosses my mind that my forgetting them might not be an accident. I feel like crying as I think of the kids and adults in the dump that experience this feeling everyday- They’re hungry, hot and sick, and they have no option but to go on anyway. I could ask for help and be swept out of here. They have no way to escape.

The kids start appearing in small groups. Some are in school, we can hear them on the other side of the wall, but others don’t seem to go. Some are shy and have to be coaxed and some are bold. Their smiles are amazing. Their eyes shine. One girl of about 10 wears a cast that has mostly disintegrated, but she is so excited to be a part of the project- she stays all day.

Another little boy who looks to be about 18 months old- hangs out with us all morning- no mom in sight. Instinctively he runs behind our legs when he hears a truck coming, to avoid being hit. We give him a bottle of water and it’s nearly as big as he is.

Eventually I’m surrounded. I don’t speak Spanish, so most of the time it’s pure chaos. Every time I lose focus, paintbrushes disappear out of my pockets, and my paint pallet is covered with little fingers. I can see flashes of panic in the eyes of the real artists. Are the kids going to create more of a mess than a work of art, I’m sure they’re thinking.

But in the end, the chaos and messiness add to the final beauty. As always I’m struck by how God’s vision is so much bigger than ours. Beautiful hearts, butterflies (mariposas), and flowers appear that we never expected. Thumbprints are everywhere- some even make it close to a flower stem!

Somehow it all comes together. God has been working on my heart all week, and this mural has become a tangible representation to me of God’s love for us, and our love for these kids- a love that grew even as we helped create beauty- together. We’re obviously not here for a quick fix, and helping the people of La Chureca is going to be a long term, relationship building process. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Brad, KC, and all the beautiful friends they have gathered are just trying to figure out what that looks like, so I guess I’m just here as one thumbprint in God’s mural- He’s the one who has it all figured out.