As we walked around S-21, I paid special attention to the faces before me. I made note to look at each one, to make sure I noticed them. After all, they didn’t ask for this to happen. Face after face, child after child, it hurt my heart to look in their innocent eyes. Potential lost, dreams extinguished, all at the hands of another.
T
he more pictures I looked at, the more it sank in, the more I began to see the very faces of the family I’m staying with. It seemed like every room I went into I saw Sopheap’s smiling face or Vuthy’s silly grin and I was reminded: these weren’t just pictures, they were lives.
Walking around this former prison, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Who were those lives lost? What is this world lacking now that they are gone?” I looked into the eyes of some of the youth and asked myself, “Could he have been the one to stand up against human trafficking? Could he have been the leader Cambodia needs?”
I think for me, one of the most heartbreaking things about the genocide is that each individual who died, whether soldier or civilian, had something distinct to bring to this world, this nation. When I look around these villages, I see laughter, I see joy; but I also see a people in need of more hope. I see a people in need of the men and women of their nation to rise up and cast vision, to motivate others to step into a higher calling than the lives they are living. I see a people the Lord has created as unique, with something special to offer this world.
But, while it saddens me greatly to think of the talent lost, I refuse to believe the Lord hasn’t brought forth others. I refuse to believe this nation killed its only potential, its only hope. After 3 weeks in this village, I know it’s still alive.
Just this past Sunday, 
a young man named Ravy accepted Christ. He’s just one of many new young believers full of potential. As I was teaching the new believers yesterday, I posed the question, “How did you feel when you first accepted Christ?” Among the answers were “happy, like a new creation, and peaceful.” And who do you think was the first one to burst out an answer, immediately responding, “happy?” Yep, Ravy. There are already amazing things happening in this village, no doubt, but I have full faith this group is going to take it beyond. The Lord has anointed them and they don’t even know it! (Well, they kind of do because I tried telling them…)
Lord, I pray for Ravy, Somnang, Pektra, Sokorn, Chiv, Srey Mio and all the other new believers in this village. Would you continue to stir up within them a desire to to know you and to learn more about you. May they keep asking questions and seeking the Truth, Lord. I pray you would simply download it all on their hearts-everything they need to have confidence in sharing with others. May their lives serve as examples and may they truly be light in the darkness as they go about Cambodia. Give them dreams and visions, oh Lord. Speak to them of the many things you want to do through them. Build them up to be mighty warriors for your Kingdom and remind them of their identity as your sons and daughters. Fill them daily with unexplainable and uncontainable joy beyond that of what they felt the day they accepted you. Strengthen them on the hard days, oh Lord, and give them the passion and desire to persevere throughout it all. Silence all scoffers who may come against them and give them your words when needed. Give them boldness, courage, and confidence, oh Lord, as they begin this new journey with you.
