I was in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, a few months ago for a pastor’s conference. We had a great time meeting the leaders of the Mongolian churches and appreciated their excitement about and dedication to learning about ministering to children.
On the third day of the conference, the president of my organization opened the day’s sessions with a story about visiting the local trash dump the day before. He had seen men, women and children there, who were all desperately struggling to survive. They actually lived in the dump and made their living by collecting and organizing recyclable materials. Before our president finished speaking, he had the entire room in tears.
Later that day, one of the leaders of the conference announced that they had made a decision. No one felt that they could enjoy their dinner that evening knowing that so many of Mongolians were starving in that terrible place. They had all agreed that they would fast that evening and ask the kitchen to box up their dinners so that they could take them to the people at the dump site.
I was privileged to be allowed to witness their act of love, and I’ll share with you some of the photos from that day. (To preserve the dignity of those living in the dump, I’m excluding pictures that show faces.)
Church leaders taking their dinners to the people living in the dump site
Church Leaders taking their dinners to the people in the dump site
First exposure for some of us
Resident of the dump site
Talking with the people
Dump trucks bringing garbage and taking recycling materials
Dangerous environment
One of the many children we met
Animal carcasses
Praying for some of the residents
Taking a break to enjoy the meal
A hard life
Houses built by the residents of the dump site
Getting to know the people
Sharing dinner
Build Your Walls! Guard Your Gates! 