We’ve been welly-deep in rubbish, mud and human waste under and around the houses at the Badjao village. It’s preparation time for our bridge-building project here at the village and have been clearing several times over the last few weeks.
Our focus is clearing around the rotting, broken bridge walkways which we will be soon replace with new wood. Removing the rubbish will make it easier to work in the area building the bridges. It is hard, smelly work cramped under the houses and walkways – because they have no toilets or sewerage systems, just holes in the floor that lead directly to the mud and sea bellow.
Despite all the difficulties, I enjoyed my time in the rubbish. I loved the way we were there working side-by-side with the local people, helping them to clean and improve their village. We went in as a small team with all the gear and lots of the locals joined us and received the help happily – eager to improve their living conditions.
Until now all of their waste and rubbish was thrown straight into the sea below, but we hope that way of thinking is starting to change – now that many of them helped us clean up. Already of the elders came along and said to those helping and watching that they should start to put rubbish in the bin not the sea – that others should not have to clean up their rubbish.
For us, as preparation for the main project of rebuilding the village main walkway, it was a way to get closer to the community and give a small example of God’s love for them… and how Jesus can clean away all the rubbish from their lives.
Click here to see lots more pictures.
Click here to see lots more pictures.
