"National Clean Up Day..."

I did not want to overshadow Joshua's birthday on Saturday, so I waited to post this blog.  This last Saturday was National Clean Up Day here in Freetown.  Now we were all rather puzzled on what that meant.  We would ask the day volunteers on the ship and some would say:  "Everyone stays home and cleans" or ""Everyone helps clean up".  In my western mind, i thought it was something like what we call "spring cleaning."  When we asked how long this would last, we heard-until 8:00 am, 10:00 am or even till 12:00pm. 

Inspite of the mixed reports we decided we would still venture out into Freetown and see what was happening.  Until Becca came to the door.  "Oh man does it stink out there!...There is garbage everywhere."  She then began to unfold the mystery of  "National Clean Up Day" for us.

Basically what it was, it was a time for everyone to clean all the garbage in the streets and out of the sewage gutters on the roads. (Apparently this is done in preparation for the rainy season so the garbage does not impede the flow of water.)  Now, in a western mind, that may not see so bad.

My friend and I decided to hold off until noon to venture into town.  Boy are we glad we did.  There were LARGE piles of wet, smelly garbage everywhere. The streets were as packed full as usual, but with the added piles of garbage and large trucks picking up the garbage.

 The saddest part to this story, was kids.  Many young kids were barefoot standing in the middle of the garbage...hunting for something they could use or call a "treasure".  The level of desperation we have been faced with here, for me is very overwhelming.  I just have not been able to put it into words.