Newsletter | April 2022

It is my privilege to introduce you to Ouk Kiang, an amazing woman of God whom I had the honor to meet in Cambodia. The following is the story of her life and the profound effect this connection has had on my life. I hope you are as moved as I was. - Linda

Ms. Ouk Kiang

Ms. Ouk Kiang is 66 years old and alone. Never married, she has no children and no one to care for her or to share life with. Kiang lives on Dump Hill, an enormous pile of garbage on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Unimaginable hardship is the daily experience for Kiang and those who live on Dump Hill. It is the end of the road for the poorest of the poor, and a place of suffering and heartache for those who make it their home.

Ms. Ouk Kiang and Linda Grover

Yet Kiang, a follower of Christ, finds joy in her circumstances and lives each day with the expectation of a better day tomorrow. She has an infectious smile that warms the heart, and she graciously welcomes those she meets into her home. I had the privilege of meeting Kiang a few years ago while visiting Dump Hill. After a hard day searching for plastic water bottles that she could recycle, she still had time to show us her home which consists of a shelter about 6’x8’ with a plastic tarp as a roof. It is surrounded by trash, yet inside her little home it is spotless. This is her refuge from the garbage that defines her daily life. We bonded, two women who love Jesus, hugging each other and communicating through smiles because of the language barrier. In spite of this life of hardship and suffering Kiang says “I am a survivor, this is my life, and I am not the only one trying to make it here.”

Dump Hill

Life on Dump Hill is truly exhausting. Long days are spent foraging and finding plastic water bottles to recycle. It takes about $2 a day to survive in this community. Kiang spends 9 hours a day foraging for plastic in order to earn enough to pay 75 cents for a pouch of rice with a few cubes of vegetables for her one meal of the day. She also pays 50 cents per day for bottled water as the ground water is contaminated from the garbage dump and she pays rent to hte owner of the land she lives on. In the past Kiang was able to make $5 a day on Dump Hill, but now she makes $2 a day, barely enough to survive. She often feels faint and struggles to work each day. Without access to healthcare she doesn’t know what her health issues are, but knows that something isn’t right with her body. Still, like so many in this community, she moves forward each day, finding the strength to earn enough to feed herself.

Dwellings on Dump Hill

Throughout our travels around Cambodia, visiting Dump Hill touched my heart in a way unlike any other. As I observed the residents who live there in utter poverty, many with small children, my heart broke. Their lives are defined by acres of trash, scorching heat and constant hunger. In spite of this, the Dump Hill residents have created a community. My time with Kiang affected me deeply. Here was a woman only a few years younger than me, working hard to survive with joy on her face. Kiang lives a life that I cannot identify with and can barely imagine. Yet, this dear sister in the Lord is content knowing where her hope comes from. Her radiance comes from knowing Jesus and submitting her heart to Him. This has enabled her to live this life she has known for the past 14 years. Her joy rises above the rubble and a lifestyle that is unimaginable to us here in the USA. Kiang is an inspiration, and I praise God for her example of peace, contentment, and trust in Jesus Christ.

Kiang's joy shows in her eyes

Cambodia Impact began providing much-needed assistance to the 170 families that live on Dump Hill shortly after visiting for the first time in early 2020. Since then we’ve provided funding for meals, clean water, medicine, and tarps to cover their roofs during the rainy season. We hope to keep building on this foundation of support and friendship by continuing to provide these crucial necessities. Our ministry partners at Faithful Family of Christ Church (FFCC) are doing the hard work of distribution and follow-up to those living at Dump Hill including Bible studies and wellness visits. Would you consider joining us as we provide support to Kiang and her community, the people of Dump Hill?

When we first visited Dump Hill we hoped to encourage Kiang and her neighbors. Instead we found that she encouraged us. Poverty, heartache, hardship, and hunger have not deterred this beautiful woman of God from living for Jesus and making the most of each day.

Love in Christ,

Linda

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)