It’s really cold here right now.
And the thing is, it’s not even *that* cold. It gets down to the 50s in the evening and then into the 40s at night. Right now it’s 64 outside. But when you’ve just gone through four months of 110+ and then a couple really amazing months of high-80s, 60 feels downright frigid. When I’m bundled up and can’t get the circulation going in my hands is when I realize that this was only the first night of this, and I know it will be around until probably August. And my water heater doesn’t work.
On Thursday the 12th grade class presented to the rest of a school a project they’re doing in a neighborhood called Bañado (Bathed, ironically). I have never been there, so I can’t say for sure it’s the poorest neighborhood in the area, but I kind of think it is. The kids who live there are probably the ones on the streets juggling for change or selling sticker sheets for $.20 on the bus. The families come to our neighborhoods (and it’s not *that* close) on horse and buggy collecting plastic in giant sacks to take to the recycling plant for about $5 a week. That’s not even enough to feed them to sustain the work. The Seniors talked about the severe lack of education, medicine, clothing, toys, and cleanliness for the kids that live there. I decided I’m going to Bañado the next time Oscar goes to preach. I need to see what it’s really like.
I have known that while I’m in South America, I’m still very sheltered from the reality that is a developing nation. I mean, I can even get internet in my house if I want to spend the $15 a month on it, AND it’s cooler than the internet in the States cuz it’s moblie wifi (imagine your cell phone with internet was actually my computer). My neighborhood is clean, quiet, and probably mostly middle class. I still don’t know what it’s like to live for most Paraguayans.
Now that it’s cold and I am at least intellectually aware of what some living conditions are like, my prayers are for the kids who don’t have two big quilts and a nice, soft mattress to sleep on. Last night I was able to sleep in shorts completely toasty because of my blankets. I’m sure there were thousands of people who were shivering under a tattered rag, barely sleeping. I wonder how many of the kids I see on the street or bus barely have a roof to keep the icy rain out of the house while huddled on their concrete floor trying to keep warm.
Please pray for these kids as the Lord brings it to your mind, that He would keep them warm and send them blankets and shoes and jackets. There are still 3 more months of this to go – this was just the first night.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.
Jason, GO to Banado when you can! It’s a good experience. Life is different there, for sure, but I’m thankful we got to go a few weeks ago, too. I often think about those people that don’t have warm blankets or insulation or even an extra jacket or something to wear. (On another note, I find it hard to believe that it’s so cold now! My last memory is of sweating profusely!