So this week, I'm spending time building a house in Anapra, Mexico. Anapra was built from the waste of Juarez. The town was literally built on top of the city's landfill. Out of the most dangerous city in the world, where the ground is a mixture of rock, sand, and garbage, this humble little town emerged. No plants could survive the hazardous earth, this town is even too rough for the rugged desert life. Properties are lined with barbed wire and pitbulls run wild, fighting each other for food on the streets. After returning from my first day, I instantly thought of this stanza from Isaiah 5 (vv. 5-6):
And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
A town, so thoroughly beaten, that nothing could grow. From a culture that is built on farming, it's difficult to see people living where not even grass could grow. People built houses at first from concrete, but as this town grew, they ran out of materials and money to build solid houses, they turned to any scrap they could find. Building walls out of pallets and car doors just to protect then from the piercing wind. They build roofs out of tarps and sheet metal, to keep out the snow and burning sun. These one room shacks were set up anywhere the steep, mountainous ground could be made level.
Yet from this rugged town, something did start to emerge. Something came back from the ashes of the world's most infamous city. If we go back to Isaiah (49:8-10), we can see how God's promise and plan for His nation of Israel is echoed in this one town:
In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.
Gods creation was laid to waste, but that isn't the end of the story. God restores and promises that it will be better than before. Now the land in Anapra isn't flowing with water, there's no running water in most of the town. The land hasn't become better. But God has raised something else from this ground, which historically been a place of violence and sin. What has survived the brutal land and lifestyle are the people themselves.
All the people we met were filled with joy, despite having nothing. The kids were always laughing and the elderly always gave such ernest, genuine smiles. They were so peaceful and nice. In this wasteland they were born in, the byproduct of Juarez, they grew to be kind and full of life.
That is what the peace and joy of Christ looks like. It isn't in our lives of abundance, when things are going as we prayed, but when life is seemingly despairing.
This town is a living testimony to God and His power. The ability to restore the broken into something better is the character of God. So, glory to God for the people of Anapra, Mexico. They may not have shelter now to protect them from the winds and sun, but they have the hope that is secure in the life after death where they will be completely protected, utterly surrounded by God. They have hope in a kingdom where they can rest in safety.
Though we see if we look in Isaiah one last time, that God has been silently working in the people of Anapra (58:7-12):
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darknessand your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
The people here have been sharing their food, sacrificially. Opening their homes to the homeless poor, adopted abandoned kids. They give when they have nothing. And what does God say through the prophet, that will be the result?
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
We did play a small part here, in building 5 houses. But in the 51 weeks our group isn't here, it's the families and neighbors in this town that are providing for each other. Sharing food out of their poverty, out of love. That is what God is doing down in Anapra, Mexico. That is how He is rebuilding the ruins, raising generations, and restoring streets to dwell in.
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