Written by: Chris Giovagnoni
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17 Responses on “Your Thoughts?”
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April 14th, 2008 at 7:19 am
And here we sit in the luxury of our homes many times oblivious to the poverty out in the real world…
Keep up the great work guys!
Blessings,
Arnold (Australia)
Supporter of Compassion for 8 years
April 14th, 2008 at 7:35 am
The most amazing thing for me is that the children are simling and, unbelievable as it may seem, they look really happy.
Who can explain this? Why are they so happy? What’s the story behind the photo? Could the author say something?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Hope.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The photo was taken in Indonesia in 2007.
In the developing world, garbage dumps are often a favorite playground for children – sometimes the only playground. There’s always the hope of finding someone else’s discarded toy or finding something(s) that can be used to create a toy. A child’s imagination doesn’t flee at the smell of the environment.
Of course, dumps are often the way people provide for themselves.
I didn’t include any of that in the post, although I debated doing so, because I wanted your gut reactions. I didn’t want to influence them.
I was struck by the depth of their joy. Some of the kids are smiling shyly, but most have smiles that extend to their whole body. Personally, I haven’t smiled that big or laughed that deeply in a while, and I felt my mood lift because of them, and despite their environment. I felt amazed.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
My first thought when I examined the picture was, “Man, I wish I could be there right now.”
April 14th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Children provide color to a drab world.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Beauty and miracles truly can be found anywhere, even in the worst poverty. This is the true difference between joy and happiness. These children obviously live with joy in their hearts every day, no matter what their surroundings may be. Can I come and play??!!
April 15th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Place a dirty-bomb-of-garbage in the middle of a city, detonate all hope, and top-it- off with children smiling above the rubble. This is the love of God shining over the so-called impossible – this is Christ in tiny hands and feet. love it.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
What causes this joy in the children?
Knowing this, I think I would be closer to understanding the words of Jesus about our need of becoming like children…
April 15th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
As Wess Stafford has said, joy is one of the “pearls of poverty.” I don’t think it can be explained, apart from our Father.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:40 am
The picture draws me back here like a magnet.
I wonder, are the children believers? Does their joy result from their faith in Jesus, or is it just an expression of their childless nature?
April 16th, 2008 at 8:26 am
This picture was taken by Tonny Tunya, our talented Indonesia Communication Specialist, in an area called Kampung Sawah outside of Jakarta.
This area is predominantly Muslim – the Compassion-assisted church that ministers here is surrounded by 4 mosques! At first the church wasn’t welcomed, but once the community realized the church was there to help, they began to accept them.
Some of the children in this picture are sponsored by Compassion and have had the opportunity to hear about Jesus, but the others are Muslim.
They enjoy playing and laughing on the garbage dump despite the smell and the health risks. Many of their parents make their living from the dump – when a dump truck pulls up, they quickly come in behind, scavenging anything that could be used or sold.
The church that Compassion partners with here ministers to the people through a free health clinic, sewing classes, and through child sponsorship. The church has become a safe haven and light in this community.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:23 am
They look so happy because they don’t have any choice about where will they live. For children, they never think about enviroment. The important think is I am HAPPY and ENJOY my life. So, who must responsible for this if not us?
April 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hi Chris,
I show this photo on Monday, and showed it to one of my friends, and do you know what he said; the picture is a perfect example of peace.. and couldn’t agree more.
April 19th, 2008 at 1:29 am
The children’s faces shows just the opposite of what the background portrays. That’s amazing! The hope these children have is outstanding. Traveling to projects in Peru has opened my eyes some to what children and their families face day in and day out. It’s very, very humbling–and I believe with all heart and soul, I’m underestimating when I say that. I go on these Compassion trips to help these projects, besides visiting my sponsored child. It makes me want to help these people, even if it’s just a little.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
This picture was in my current issue of Discipleship Journal and I purchased Amber’s book, “Hope Lives” because of it.
Thank you Amber for such a great book! I’m reading the book again.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
What’s really sad is that one of my acquaintances was convinced it was 2 photos that someone combined in Photoshop. They didn’t want to believe that it’s real.