Team Cool Runnings loaded up into two tuktuk vehicles and drove 30 minutes out to the Killing Fields of Phnom Pehn, Cambodia.
Back in the 1970’s this was a place where people were taken and promised a better life. However, when they got there, they were murdered with garden tools and thrown into mass graves–all for the sake of one central power trying to create an equal society.
This place is eerily quiet–and not just because of the option to take an audio tour–you can cut the sadness, despair, and loss with a knife. I took my walk among the mass graves and killing trees, and was at a loss–what the heck was the point in being here? Everyone here is dead, and God calls us to preach among the dying who’ve yet to be raised to a new life in Him.
While solemnly strolling, I saw that there was a good-sized pond ahead. Relieved for a chance to catch my breath emotionally, I started towards it. Yet, before I could actually see it, a sound in the distance broke all the silence of the memorial and caught my attention.
Talk about a complete contrast from the heaviness of the looming death and destruction of the past. Just beyond the pond, on the other side of the memorial’s fence, I saw a small shack with children playing outside. Before getting near enough to actually see the children, I saw a medium sized hole dug out from underneath the fence that separated us–and it was perfectly my size. “Aw, why not.” I thought.
So through the hole and out the other side I went–escaping the sadness of the killing fields, into the brightly light unknown.
I stood up, feeling excited. Not only to be out of the sadness but also out into a crazy–slightly foolish–adventure of my own (sorry leaders for breaking some rules), with one intent: telling these kids about Jesus.
I then saw the children face to face and we all were soon smiling, laughing and giggling together–breaking the “respected” silence. (Not sorry)
I was actually invited into the small shack, and soon bombarded with pictures from a wedding album. As the mother flipped through her daughter’s pictures, she beamed–this was the only thing in her possession of value by far, and she was so excited to share it with me. Beyond that, she ended up giving me a picture of her daughter out of the album. I was speechless and offered anything of substantial value that I had dear to my heart: my best friend’s earrings that she gave me for Christmas (sorry Meag.) We smiled, grateful for the material treasures and new friendship we had obtained.
I looked at her square in the eye and said, “Praya yeh hesu throw line neyah” with a giant smile. It’s the only thing I know in this language (other than the word, "mango") and it means Jesus loves you.
She just kind of half smiled at me, as though she’d never heard the name Jesus before.
Just then, a group of little girls came up. I greeted them all saying, “Jesus loves you!” in Khami.
One of the girls ended up speaking great English and made a cross with her index fingers, “You: Christian?” “Yes! I love Jesus!” She smiled really big.
I asked, “Can you do me a favor?”
She giggled and answered, “Yes?”
“Can you tell Bon-Dree (the mother’s name) that I came over because Jesus sent me to her–tell her that He loves her very much and takes care of her always”. The young girl translated, and Bon-Dree responded with her arm motioning toward the sky that soon meet my hands, shaking them. I got a thought in my head all of sudden and told them quickly that I’d be right back.
I ran back to the fence, ducked under and through the hole and back on the other side into the killing fields. I was met by solemn, yet surprised and confused, faces of strangers but hardly even noticed it. I bolted around until I found another squad mate–Clark!
I sprinted up to him as fast as I could and said, “I need ten bucks!”
“Hi to you too? *hands cash*”
“Thanks Clarkie!” and with that I ran away back underneath the fence.
(yay for community and awesome brothers!)
I made my way back to the shack, and this time was greeted with even more people than before. I found my little translator and told her to give these instructions to Bon-Dree: “This $10 is a gift from Jesus–He wants to take care of you, and because of that, He wants you to take care of others now too. Use this $10 to help feed your family, and anyone else you see that needs food too. He loves you so much BonDree–He wants you to love him back.” After that was translated I asked the little girl if she knew Jesus and goes to church. She said that she did and goes up the road with her family. I told her to invite Bon-Dree and her family, and to keep telling others about Jesus too. She heartily agreed.
With that I gave all my new friends a warm hug, a quick wave, and ran back underneath the fence to meet with my teammates.
WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID: When we sit in complacency, with our heads stuck in the sand, coasting as Christians: we miss life. Dying people are all around us. We have been raised to new life in Christ and are compelled by His love for us to share His Gospel with everyone: our friends, our family, neighbors, classmates, strangers, enemies, etc. It only takes getting out of your comfort zone–or ducking under a fence–and investing your time in others, getting our eyes heavenward and off of ourselves, and becoming Kingdom minded.
As Christians, we’re all called to preach the Gospel to the world–when we embrace this call on our lives, I think that’s when true life starts for us.
