We see injustices every day. Some of them large and some of them relatively small. Living life in a third-world country sometimes I think the injustices I see on a daily basis fall more into the large category. Poverty, homelessness, abuse, lack of basic necessities etc.
Today as I was out on a run enjoying the beautiful scenery here in Matagalpa I came upon a small, frail woman curled up in a ditch along the road. At first I didn't know what to think. Was she alive? How did she get here? What happened to her? As I got down on my knees to see if she was ok my heart just broke for this poor woman. Lupita had a bulging black eye, a dried bloody nose and a leg that was badly injured.
As I talked to her and tried to assess her injuries and figure out what had happened she mumbled incoherently at first but with time I started to be able to make out more of what she was saying. She was from San Ramon, a community 10km from where I found her. She appeared to be homeless from her matted hair and unkept nature. Once she decided that she could sit up and clean off some of the dried blood I tried to flag someone down to help us. I didn't have a cent on me or a cell phone but found a guard at a nearby house who enlightened me with a little of Lupita's story.
He said that she is the loquita (crazy woman) from San Ramon. She was probably hit by a car last night. He said, "I heard a car break hard on the road last night. I went out to see what happened but it was dark and I couldn't see anything." Maybe it was just a dog he thought. He said I should call the Red Cross and that they would take care of her. Meanwhile I continued to try and flag someone down and brainstorm a way to call the Red Cross without a cell phone handy.
A kid rode by on his bike and I asked him to stop. He didn't and said that he didn't know this lady. Shocked by the fact that he didn't stop I thought this is not the Nicaragua I know where people don't stop to help. Meanwhile buses, cars and motos continued to pass by every so often as I tried to talk to Lupita and gather more information. How heartbreaking to know that she had been hit by a car and spent the whole night cold and alone lying in this ditch. God how can this be and give me wisdom to know what to do now I prayed. At that moment I heard what sounded like an ambulance siren.
One of the passers by must have called the Red Cross and an old fashioned, foreign donated fire truck came rolling around the corner. Six young men climbed out and immediately identified Lupita. They called her Lupita Loquita. They often pick her up and interact with her in San Ramon. Lupita does not have any family to care for her and this is the second time that she has been hit by a car. They young guys loaded her up and were careful to find her sandals on the side of the road and take her bag of belongings as they headed to the hospital in Matagalpa.
Several things struck me as I reflected on all that had happened on my run. What types of supports are available to people like Lupita who seem to roam the streets with no one to love on them? Why is there not a safe place for people like Lupita to be loved and befriended?
What can I do for the Lupita's in my world? We've all seen those people that dress a little different or are awkward socially. So I asked myself what is response to these people? Do I extend a helping hand, a hearty smile or even a friendly conversation? Sadly, if I am honest with myself my response is one of avoidance and not extending the love of Christ as I should.
Lastly, I was impacted by the power of words. Used to build up or to tear down. Referring to Lupita as the loquita of the town are not words that build her up or help her feel like she is a part of anything that matters. This makes her situation that much more lonely and isolated. Do I use words that isolate or do I use words that welcome and give value to the person I am talking with? I want to be that person. It is only in God's grace and strength that this is possible.
How about you? What do you guys think about these types of people? How can we love and honor them well.
Thanks for this thought provoking blog, Carey. I enjoyed reading it! - ellen b.
ReplyDeleteHi Carey, I am Jess Edgerton's aunt in North Carolina. This is a great post and one that makes me think. I think the first step is to see these individuals as real people, that will help us start to love and honor them.
ReplyDeleteDear Carey, Your blog was posted yesterday by one of the Rochester, NY, members of our team that was working on your beautiful school from August 11-18. We were the group privileged to meet you right after your position as director was announced. I am the recent retiree of forty years teaching in PA middle school art, who also enjoyed planting the school's front garden with my compadres. I am much impressed with your story of Lupita loquita, as you obviously wrestled with how to minister to her effectively, and with love. You indeed followed Christ's example, and did all in your power to give her aid, and ached for the respect she apparently doesn't receive from her own countrymen. We
ReplyDeleteare all guilty of this, and it humbled me. I had just read minutes before about the death last week of little Jimy, a ten-month-old child in the renutrition center. He touched many of us in his tiny body's suffering, and his departure made a strong impression on the staff and our group. I hope and pray that there will be people like you and Brenda to continue to serve the Nicaraguans they have come to know and love...and those yet to be touched by God's grace. Now for some better news - I have asked a member of our congregation who is a lawyer for Bimbo, the Mexican bakery which puts bread and other baked goods from PA to Nicaragua
in grocery stores. He was confident, with proper connections, that we could get their product, through the Mexican company headquarters, into the renutrition center...and I'd LOVE if that could be pluralized!! I also reconnected with a technology person from my school's staff yesterday about computers for your school.At first he could not remember the exact name, but finally together, we located "One laptop per child", which is apparently an offshoot of Amazon.com. I spent an hour on their site yesterday, and was surprised to see that they already provide their computers in the eastern coast town of Bluefields, Nica. I'm not sure how the NICA III would qualify for their program, and had to move on to other responsibilities, unfortunately. BUT he-and I- felt that the Apple products our school works with would not be wise to place in Nica, due to their expense and lack of co. infrastructure in Nicaragua. If you would like me to, I'd be happy to follow through in whatever capacity I can. I have not contacted Brenda yet on the Bimbo bread, but hope to tomorrow.
God bless your mission, inspiration, and plans for developing a wonderful new education experience for the students-and teachers-who will soon be working with you in Matagalpa! What an exciting and awesome challenge, and I know you'll do it with much faith!
Best wishes, Carol A. Little calart128@verizon.net