I just don't get it

I have now been to over 25 countries serving with World Orphans and I’ve seen some amazing things. I’ve felt the highs and lows. The highs of seeing children rescued and the lows of children begging. The highs of children signing and laughing and the lows of children crying in pain. I’ve visited slums in Africa, Asia and Latin America. I’ve seen a lot.

But I have never seen this.

Before leaving Cambodia, we stopped at the local dump, hearing there were kids scavenging through trash. Our driver stopped at the entrance, unable to drive to the active dumping site. We got out and hiked over the hill, nauseated by the smell. What I saw I will never forget - families, including children picking through rancid, disgusting garbage.

I stayed long enough to take some pictures, completely overwhelmed by emotion, feeling helpless. I had to leave.

I walked back the way I had come, head down. As I approached the van, a child, maybe 4 or 5 year old, naked as can be, ran up to me and hugged me. Some things I just don’t get.

 

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Comments

[Marcello]

Wow, and in the midst of all of that, look at their faces. Still smiling, still loving. Kids are a gift for sure.
tnx for sharing.
m

[Derek]

Beautiful...glorious faces...of children..my heart aches for them but their smiles proclaim glorious lives worth dying for....

[Kate]

Scott, thank you for sharing - sharing the faces and the stories so they won't just be numbers - thank you for sharing your heart. I am honored to work for you and the others at World Orphans who are so passionate about and committed to doing something.
Thank you,
Kate