Thick gray smoke hangs in the humid summer air creating shadow-like scenery while the putrid smell of decaying garbage baking in the ninety-something degree sun makes breathing difficult. Every few minutes large trucks overflowing with waste rumble in and out unloading their bloated bodies as men, women and children search and sort its spilled contents looking for buried treasure.
Welcome to Rubbish Mountain, job and home to some 500 Cambodians.
We turn and walk down a path, past the sign warning us of unsafe and hazardous conditions, and climb another mountain of trash. At its summit we find simple tents constructed of wood and tattered cloth – home to several Rubbish Mountain families.
A swarm of winged insects dance in the pale indoor light just above sleeping mats. A lone pink sandal lies near one tent entrance and I wonder if it is trash or treasure. Children run and play, some crossing barefoot over shards of glass and broken shells without noticing.
We pass two young girls whispering to each other childhood secrets and plans. They glance up at us and giggle and my mind drifts home to the girls whom I claim as family that I miss so much. My heart breaks at the thought of them, or any child, growing up such a place.
A tenant approaches and surprisingly he speaks English quite well. His name is Sihn. We discover his English is so good because he works hard to learn the language and talks to many foreigners. It is a joy that comes at a great cost for him. Others on the mountain threaten him for being so to nice to people like us, but he doesn’t let it stop him because he has a dream.
Sihn is 25 years old, an orphan, alone here. For the past five years Rubbish Mountain has been his home and place of employment. His dream is to earn enough money to put himself through school and become a teacher.
He was also happy to share with us the wonderful news that two weeks ago he became a Christian. We were able to pray with him and connect him with a local pastor and church. He can now fellowship with other believers and possibly get in touch with a group that can help turn his dreams into reality.
I stood on that “mountain” for only a few hours one morning. Amidst the trash and stench, under layers of tattered clothing and dirt, I saw some of the most beautiful people in the world and witnessed the hand of God working in their lives.
