Our second time out to the dump, just four of us headed out
around 9 p.m. We drove up to a makeshift
home just outside the gates and met Chi Chi and his brother Jose before
being shown to the bedroom they had given up in order for us to cop a couple
hours of sleep until midnight.
During
the night, I kept hearing the strangest noises coming from outside. Eventually, curiousity got the best of me and
I popped my head up and shone my headlamp around the property…only to find that
what I was hearing were pigs…a lot of them, just outside the front door. Which explained the smell that permeated the
place. Immediately, my mind went to the
story of the prodigal son…
“So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of
that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach
with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to
him. But when he came to his senses, he
said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am
dying here with hunger! I will get up
and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven
and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one
of your hired men.'”
(Luke 15:15-19)
Living among pigs.
Eating what they eat. Sleeping
where they sleep. Hungry and
hopeless.
But with a loving, compassionate father waiting at home to prepare a feast the moment his son returns.
“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
(Luke 15:20-24)
Sleeping next to a pig sty brought a whole new level of
understanding to that passage.
I asked God to give me His unconditionally loving, compassionate heart.
So, our alarm sounded at midnight and we got all geared up…pants,
closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and layers (it was cold and raining), gloves,
t-shirts to cover our heads and necks, hats, and bandanas to cover our mouths.
We met Chi Chi and Jose outside and were
given a couple tools we would need in order to work the night shift with them,
then we all hopped in the back of their tuk-tuk and headed into to work!
Once we got there, we hung out and waited for the next dump truck to come in. As we waited, Chi Chi began to ask us all sorts of questions about ourselves and our faith. Then he gave up his seat so that Will could be sheltered from the rain, and his jacket so us girls could gain some sort of warmth.
Chi Chi is a new Christian. He’s been working in the dump since he was eight years old because his parents did. He has a wife and two daughters. He tried to leave the dump at one point in search of a better job, but to no avail, so he returned. He is thoughtful, warm, generous and joyful…
Eventually the first truck came, and off we headed to dig through garbage for a bit in search of recyclables. Glass, plastic, cardboard, and food for the pigs. Those were our treasures and we were on the hunt. Digging through used toilet paper, cow carcasses, dirty diapers and the like, the smells were almost unbearable at times.
At one point in my search, I came across a yellow daisy. Dirty, but still perfectly intact…and still so very beautiful. In fact, even more beautiful amidst the surroundings. Like a diamond in the rough.
I asked God to give me eyes to see His beauty among the ashes.
As it got colder and continued to rain, my glasses began to fog up so badly that I could hardly see. So I decided to take them off and stick them inside my shirt for the time being.
Two truckloads later, I realize that they were gone. They must’ve fallen out as I was digging and been counted as another welcomed addition to the trash pile. We retraced our steps and dug around our piles for awhile in search of them. No luck.
And honestly, I wanted to cry.
I wanted to cry because they were my favorite pair of glasses.
I wanted to cry because they were new; I bought them in January.
I wanted to cry because without vision insurance, they cost me $300.
And then I wanted to weep.
For the simple fact that I wanted to cry over a pair of glasses.
Over something that, in a few years, would be added to the trash pile anyway.
Over something temporary.
Over something with zero eternal value, and very fleeting earthly value.
Those glasses would hardly even be worth anything to Chi Chi and Jose in the way of recycling.
They were definitely not a treasure in heaven, and far from a treasure on earth.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21)
I asked the Lord to give me eyes to see value in what He considers valuable and a heart that treasures what He treasures.
