No Trash Cans or Dumps In Heaven

Have you ever smelled a dumpster being dumped into a garbage truck on a hot day? The scent of rotten garbage reminds me of thrown-out unwanted junk. What, you may ask, does that have to do with Heaven? Everything.

I was born after my parents already had two boys and they had decided they did not want any more children. My early years were full of abuse and rejection from my parents, my brothers, and even boarders who rented a room in our house.

On birthdays and Christmas and Easter I usually received a present from my parents. But sadly, any little mistake I made brought down their harsh judgment. My parents would break my present and throw it in a special trash can in my room. I was forbidden to touch it. There it would sit for a week or so to remind me I was not wanted either.

At the age of thirteen, I heard God tell me differently. By attending a Bible study and hearing the truth about God’s love, I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. A whole new life opened up to me as I studied and prayed: a life of total acceptance. A life God created because He wanted me. I realized He would never throw me away or leave me (Hebrews 13:4-5). God only wanted to heal me and keep me.

My faith in God was challenged in 1986. An accident involving three other cars left me with a traumatic brain injury and severe short-term memory loss. 

No longer of use to my husband, he abandoned me five years later. Divorced, thrown away, not wanted, I cried out to God. Prayer became my only source of comfort. With prayer, my relationship with my Heavenly Father slowly deepened. His Holy Word, His Holy Spirit increased my faith through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

Before Easter several years ago, I knew it was going to be hard to be all alone to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. In God’s loving way, He gave me a beautiful gift. 

As I shopped for some vitamins, I overheard the lady at the counter talk about going on a mission trip to Managua, Nicaragua. She explained that she was going into one of the world’s largest garbage dumps. It was the desire of her mission team to help build a home just outside the dumps gates to rescue a few children, teach them a self-sustaining trade, and bring more children out.

These unwanted children live in terrible conditions amid the stench of death, the stench of unwanted junk. Young children themselves are dumped like garbage into the dump. Some babies are left naked on cardboard boxes—unwanted stuff.

My heart ached as I heard the woman tell about her mission trip. I resolved to pray for her and the mission team, and also for the children.
I cried out to God to tell the children: THERE ARE NO TRASH CANS OR DUMPS IN HEAVEN.

Today’s Perspective:

After I had to sell my home, I moved into a one-room apartment. Outside, only twenty feet away from my one and only window, stand two smelly dumpsters. Most people would not like that, but I count it a blessing.

Now, whenever I smell or see the dumpsters, it reminds me to pray for the needy children in Managua.

Each day, when I hear the garbage truck come to pick up the junk, it reminds me to pray for the little girls being abused by the drivers who deliver their loads to the dump. Please join me in praying for these little children.

“Let your manner of life be without love of money, 
being satisfied with your present circumstances. 
For He himself has said, and the statement is on record: 
I will not, I will not cease to sustain and uphold you. 
I will not, I will not, I will not let you down. 
So that, being of good courage, we are saying, 
The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What shall man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5-6

For more information, go to: Forward Edge International

Under “Sponsor a Child,” you can click “Villa Espranza” (Village of Hope)

Shirley Embanks

Portland, Oregon