Just Outside of Town

Two hours of two lane highways
Red dirt roads and pot holes
Mud floors and unpainted cement walls
Beautiful landscapes and simple community
Everybody knows everybody,
Or everybody is somebody's cousin, aunt, or uncle.




Yet, within the walls
You see
No running water
No gas
No electricity
Trash
Beer bottles and homemade cigarettes
Just sittin'
Just drinkin'
Just smokin'
Arguing and laughing
Saggy eyes and slurred speech

Hunger and thirst
For food and water
And so much more

There is
Emptiness in the midst of a feast
A feast of the flesh
Filling a belly with beer
And lungs with tobacco
Ignoring the stirring in her belly
The heartbeat of a child
Unknown months until labor
Bringing forth a beautiful infant

To be taken from his mother
Joining three siblings
Rescued from a life of poverty
And abuse
But, imprisoned by the new walls
Of being "unadoptable"
Because Mama
Although she lost her kids
Won't choose the difficult road
Less traveled
Of change and restoration
Neither will she
Give up her rights
But holds onto their futures.

This is one of our latest adventures here in Brazil. 

If you want to know more, you can send me a message.