Behind the Wall

Recently I was thinking back to  our mission trip to Peru in 2004.  I pulled out the poem that I wrote in response to that trip and share it now with you.Behind the wall lies another worldWhere the dust swirlsAnd the acrid smell of urineclings to clothing andinvades the nostrilsBehind the wall lies another worldOf several adobe buildings built on cold, concrete slabsA dormitory with sparse furnishings of stark bunk beds and asmall locker for one change of clothingA classroom of 2 neat rows of wooden desks and rough hewn benchesand a single blackboardA kitchen equipped with a faucet that produces cold water that is notpotableAnd flies -plenty of fliesAnd a large table around which children gather for their daily mealof rice, beans and breadBehind the wall lies another worldwhere children run and play and climb on the rickety old swing setsitting in the dirtBehind the wall lies another worldto which these children awakedayafter dayafter dayBehind the wall lies another worldwhere there was great joy the day the Americans arrived in their bus,bearing gifts ofclothesand toysand food for lunchBehind the wall lies another worldwhere orphans, who have nothing,laugh with ushug uskiss us andpray fervently and aloud - prayers of thanks to GodGracias, Senor, Gracias, SenorBehind the wall lies another world where our lives were changed by the witness of these orphaned children to usthe 12 missionaries.