Dia De Luz - Nicaragua
March 11th, 2008
Love Light and Melody
Photos by Brian Nevins and myself
People have been asking me how they can donate to this cause. If you are interested in donating or contributing in any way to La Chureca please visit, Love Light and Melody Thank you and God Bless.
The group that arrived Monday, about 1/3 of us, roughly 25 people, gathered in the courtyard to share words. It felt like everyone was frozen for the first few minutes as Brad began greeting us and welcoming us to his home away from home. The tension eased with every word Brad spoke. A short time after, I was called upon to speak about the mural, which I had been invited on the trip to help create. I spoke about my passion for the arts, and how Dia De Luz was about connecting with the local people, and not about a perfectly executed piece of work, how it was more important to make the kids feel that they were a part of the production, that their hands and minds would mold the mural, that street art is about being in the moment. Art changes, taking a different shape everyday. I talked about urban decay and the beauty it has in a community, layers that build over time, art getting covered up, new art taking over and leaving traces of old– a metaphor of life itself…
I jumped in the back of a truck with my camera. We flew down the streets of Managua, hitting several speed bumps and dodging huge pot holes, getting confused glances from traffic and commoners. The dump, La Chureca, was 8 or so miles from our hotel. The entrance was scary, 5 burnt teddy bears dangling from a telephone line like shoes in the US, small fires, middle aged men, faces covered with bandannas, with pitchfork- looking tools in their hands, picking through the garbage.
Trash got thicker, the smell of tires and rotting garbage grew exponentially as we continued into the dump. Egrets posed far off to the left, and vultures loomed well over the highest peaks of waste. Hot pink, teal, green and yellow colored plastics scattered the land. We passed by the first 20 or so piecemealed homes, each one less than 25 sq feet and 5ft tall, some with light bulbs dimmed, others with running water, but all surrounded by heaps of trash and smoke.
I caught eyes with some of the people, each seemed as if they were looking through me. I felt no acknowledgment, just blank looks on their faces as if they had seen a ghost and never been right since–numb, I felt. I could only relate it to the feelings I had while reading Stephen King’s series, The Dark Tower-The Waste Lands. I felt like I was in the city of Lud, a place empty and foreign to my mind, yet intriguing.
The truck stopped all of the sudden and Brad jumped out. The rest of us sat waiting, wondering, each breath harder to take in. My lungs wanted to reject the smoke. A girl ran out of a barb wired metal home and jumped into Brad’s arms-”Mercedita,” he called out. Spanish flew back and forth. He stared into her eyes and I heard words but didn’t understand what was being said. Tears welled up in my eyes. Her coffee-colored skin only peeked through the finger streaks which cut the black soot on her face. Her once bright clothing, now dulled and tattered, no longer fit, and her hair was matted, but she was beautiful, and all of us in the truck were frozen.
A naked boy waddled out shortly after, and Armistead jumped out of the truck to embrace him.”Ray,” I heard him say. Following his lead, I felt the urge to get as far away from the truck as possible and close to Brad. The life was precious, the kids magnetic, dirty and smelly, yet extremely clean. Each of their eyes glossed over. It looked like a tear would drop at any moment, but it never did. Smiles emerged from all of us as we began to melt into this world, all reservations put aside. I was in total disbelief of what was in front of me and around me. As I threw Ray in the air and saw him smile, I melted. I repeated this action and squeezed him, the dirt leaving marks all over my white shirt. I was in, no longer on the outside-somehow I felt at that moment that I was part of this place.
A group of us wandered about 100 yards up a mountain of trash, a few people burning their shoes, even skin–pockets of hot ash and material went into flames all around us-combustion, chemicals and gases hidden under fresh dumped trash. At this point, the smell had overtaken the senses, and I felt me eyes tear. All I could think was, how can anyone live here. This was just the beginning. The sun was going down quickly and we jumped back into the truck driving towards a school that sits a safe distance away from the meat of the dump. Several kids were curiously peeking out to see what we were doing as we roughly drove past, some smiled, others frowned. Animals were all over the place: cows, dogs, birds, chickens, all in horrible health. Emaciated cows stood eating plastic bags with snot strings stretching down to the ground. The truck stopped suddenly, Brian jumped out and took several photos of a dead pit bull lying like a stuffed animal amongst the trash with one leg hacked off- disturbing to say the least.
The photos online from previous visits were brought to life, my senses overwhelmed, confusion and sadness took over as we retraced our tracks, exiting the same way we came in.
For the next 4 days I would enter the dump before the sun rose and leave after the sun set. Each visit was a different experience, each time I learned more about myself. I dug deeper within to understand why, how. I tried hard to connect with God and with everyone around me. Smiles and hugs: you couldn’t give enough, and surely not receive enough in this place. There were times that I felt more at peace in the dump than anywhere I have ever been in my life. This disturbed me, but made me realize a lot about humanity. As I look back on it now, I feel that I was forced to break myself down into the simplest form of life for that short time, which would have never happened at my lake front home with clean, heated, running water and non-stop media distractions. The face of advertising and all government corruption was exposed in these hours of enlightenment. My connection to nature- a disturbed nature-evil nature, made me sick, but I could see far off into the distance-beauty and hope, stars and light. Many times I felt helpless, I still do. These people need us and we need them. It is a balance of life-the reason we live, growing to be better people, to learn and live out our dreams to help the clouded mind be clear again and the darkened ground turn green.
Watch last years video on YouTube.
30 Comments Add your own
1. Bean | March 11th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
wow bean.
what an amazing experience.
the pictures show more than i can even comprehend. I am so proud of you for helping out in such a huge way. i can only imagine how much this has opened your eyes to a whole other world outside our comfort zone.
2. Learn Spanish - Your Guid&hellip | March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
[…] De Luz Katt - MySpace Blog wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSpanish flew back and forth, he […]
3. JReezie | March 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
These photos touch my heart, Reeze. An amazing trip. I look fwd to joining you on one of those next voyages.. My favorite pic is you drawing the heart on the lil boy’s shirt.. Symbolic.
Peace&Love.
4. Art Blog » Dia De L&hellip | March 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[…] Austin Blasingame added an interesting post on Dia De LuzHere’s a small excerpt […]
5. I Love Prayer | March 12th, 2008 at 2:34 am
forever in love with JESUS who loves us forever!!!!!
6. AMG | March 12th, 2008 at 5:36 am
My goodness Austin…words cannot express the beauty in which you have given & to also capture a reality that lives and breathes deep in the soul of the world - thank you for your enlightenment and for being an earth angel. Blessings a million times. Xa.
7. dawn gray | March 12th, 2008 at 7:34 am
wow…it’s amazing to see the work from a far..can’t wait to go home..I hope your heart is filled with God’s awakening love through this trip..God bless you for going..
dawn
8. maria rogal | March 12th, 2008 at 8:11 am
profoundly moving images. i’d love to talk to you more about this project. hope you are well and impressed that you made this trip.
9. Megan Boley | March 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Really incredible experience. Very inspiring. This will spark more people to act no doubt. See you on Sunday.
10. Bruce Garrison | March 12th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Yo Dude, that had to be an amazing experience. Its amazing how we take so many things for granted. I’m soooo proud of you bro your definitely changing peoples lives. Keep up the good work and amazing pieces.
Your Boy
Bruce
11. AJ Neste | March 12th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I know that was a life changing experience. I am happy to see that you are sharing your talent witht the people who need it the most.
12. Amanda | March 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
wow austin, what an amazing trip. your words and the pictures brought tears to my eyes. to think where we live and the problems we think we have, compares nothing to that.
13. Scott | March 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Austin- It was such a blessing to have you on the team for Dia de Luz ‘08. You inspired all of us with your passion, child-like faith and sincerity. Love your work… love your heart!
14. leezer | March 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
isn’t it beautiful to reach across cultural lines like that and realize that we are all the same… we are all God’s children… we all desire to be loved and seen.
I love the pic of you holding the little girl, she is so beautiful!
15. FATIA | March 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
GOD BLESS YOUR HEART FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THESE INNOCENT KIDS.
16. Jeff Lin | March 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Absolutely spectacular buddy! What an amazing experience. The pictures tell 1000 words and I’m sure that is only the tip of the iceberg. Welcome back, and I look forward to catching up soon!
17. austin.blasingame | March 12th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Thank you everybody for taking a moment to comment. I am so glad I am able to share this with all of you.
18. Raphael Estrada | March 12th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Very inspirational, motivational piece, it made drop a couple of tears even-though I have a permanent one tattoo in my face. WOW incredible story, it brought me back to childhood when I used to visit a very similar place in South America where I grew up.
Makes me rethink what my causes are.
Raphael Estrada
19. Nicole Van Every | March 12th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Austin - Thank you for posting/sharing this… that had to of been an amazing experience!! You are an amazing person… What an incredible direction to take your art and tallent… and your heart!! That’s awesome!! Just keep going… I can’t wait to see more and especially how you touch other people’s lives…
20. mom | March 13th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
boom, quite moving and very well written. the photos come alive with each scroll. it is good to know you can find meaning and hope in such a blackened environment. just proves, love is everywhere.
21. leo | March 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Every person has enough energy to do a certain many things in a day… things which will affect only themselves. Here you’ve managed to affect not only yourself but so many people… and in such an awesome way. I’m so proud of you Austin. Keep up the great work!
22. tuggs | March 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wow, so shocking to see people living everyday in this way. And then to see them smile in those conditions is amazing. God is amazing inthe ways he taps on our hearts, I’m sure you’ll cherish this experience forever. Love you!
23. Casey | March 27th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
so beautiful, touching and inspiring. Thank you for sharing Austin!
24. austin.blasingame | March 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
So awesome to see this thread of comments grow. I really appreciate the time each one of you took to put down your thoughts.
25. +austin blasingame+&hellip | April 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
[…] bonds made in La Chureca (lovelightandmelody.org to learn more) continue to strengthen!!! Much love to all of you. Look […]
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27. +austin blasingame+&hellip | May 28th, 2008 at 11:27 am
[…] Nicaragua. I wrote about my experiences when I returned to the states in a past post called, Dia De Luz. Recently Love Light and Melody featured my story 0n their new site, which is gorgeous, […]
28. Audria&hellip | June 10th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Audria…
A friend is someone who sees through you and still enjoys the view….
29. Miniature Stuff Animals | July 30th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I enjoyed your article. Please keep up your blog posts, I\’ll be back.
30. Sheryl | March 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I have been to Nicaragua at least 10 times. We always go to the dump. My husband and I are nurses. I am finishing school to be a nurse practitioner. My desire is to open a clinic at the dump. I have literally thousands of pictures from over the years. Your pictures could have been mine. I know I recognize some of the people. Once our bus broke down in the dump. It was a little scary to see people running towards us with pitchforks and poles. But they came to help. I love them, I never forget them, I can’t wait to go back. Thank you for what you have done for these precious people. People are born there never knowing there is something different. Last time, I held a new born baby, Anna, she was covered in lice and had scabies. What will become of Anna? I pray for her everyday.
Sheryl in SC
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