Recently, I joined my church in local outreach at one of the large trash dumps that flanks Jakarta. The mountain of garbage (containing everything from McDonald's to medical waste) was several stories tall. There is a population that lives here, looking for recyclable items that can be resold for a profit. We walked to the top, informing workers along the way of the medical clinic which was also taking place on the same day. It is an environment that is difficult to imagine unless you have experienced it. Rising above the stench of refuse, the constant and ever-present hum of flies prevailed. With every step, our feet sank into the muck. I tried my hardest not to look down and avoid eye contact with the maggot-littered ground beneath my feet.
With each step we took, it became harder and harder to digest that people live here.
