Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10

This is just one of the 17 layers of the genocide memorial tower in remembrance of all who died at the killing fields.

The people of Cambodia are still rebuilding the walls of their cities and their hearts after the horrific genocide that occurred just 20-30 years ago. 

On Saturday, our team went to visit the Killing fields and Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh to learn more about the history of Cambodia. It’s sickening how much history repeats itself; how Satan continues to steal, kill, and destroy people. Cambodia endured their own Holocaust from 1975 to 1979, a genocide that took the lives over 2 million people.

There are a lot of details, and here’s a good website for a more detailed overview of the full history , but here’s the “Nicole summary” of the time of the genocide: 

There had been a political battle between democratic and communist forces for years.  With the Vietnam war still going on, different parties within Cambodia partnered or were controlled by the Vietnamese.  With groups and parties growing and fighting for power, it was in 1974 that the Communist Khmer Rouge fought their way to the top and led the mass genocide in Cambodia for 4 years. 

Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge leader, wanted to build the ideal communist world, but in order to do that he felt he had to eliminate anyone who was against his ideas. So, he began to kill anyone one with any of their own political or religious ideas, and killed off anyone that was smart because they probably would want to rebel against the ideas of the KR. Doctors, teachers, military, political and religious figures, field workers, or anyone that was educated was targeted to kill. They had mass killings and torture chambers set up in old school buildings and political buildings. Disease, overwork, political oppression and starvation all added to the number of deaths during the genocide.

Vietnam finally attacked the Khmer Rouge, removed Pol Pot from leadership, and declared freedom in 1979.  Even after the declared freedom, the land bombs that the Khmer Rouge planted all along the borders of the country still took hundreds of lives of refugees trying to get back home. There are many people on the streets that are missing limbs because of the land mines.

Although it was a massive victory to end the genocide, Cambodians continued to struggle for freedom from Vietnam for years after that.  Relief efforts continued until a true peace declaration was made in 1991.  Cambodia is still rebuilding its walls and its people from this massive devastation. The population is SO young here, and anyone my age or older has a story about what they went through. 

Here’s some more pictures from the museums and monuments at the killing fields.  Some are paintings from a man that survived the turture detainment, that will maybe say more than my words could attempt:


`

So, how do you rebuild an entire country when most of the educated people had just been murdered? And what can I possibly do in the month I am here?

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”–Jesus     John 10:10

Duh. 🙂  Jesus is the obvious answer.   But SERIOUSLY, HE IS THE ANSWER!!!
I love that God continues to show me more of His heart through things like this.  There are serious strongholds that need to be prayed for.  God’s walking our team through some serious things to bring us all to a place to stand in the gap on behalf of these people.  Not just the people of Cambodia, but all people who go through these kinds of tragedies. 
This is where my heart first felt the hope of Christ while walking through this abandoned torture detainment building. That’s just it:
It’s ABANDONED!  It’s OVER!  The CHAINS ARE EMPTY!!!! 
 
 
Some people might ask, “why would God let something like this happen to the people He created and loved?”

 
I would say to them, “the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came so that we would have and abundant life.”  Satan is doing everything he can to keep people from seeing the love of God, from living out the love of God.  But I can GUARANTEE you, He was there through all of it, holding people, crying with them, suffering with them.  He and all His angels were present and fighting against the evil that was happening.  He has spoken and continues speaking to His church to be a part of His restoration plan.  The crazy thing about God’s crazy love for Cambodia is the fact that 98% of the country doesn’t even believe in Him, but He’s still fighting for them. He’s still so MADLY IN LOVE with the people of Cambodia that He won’t give up on them.  They are still thirsty for something that will satisfy, and God is still sending people filled with the Water of Life. 
 
You could replace “Cambodia” with anywhere or anyone, and the above paragraph would still be true.
 
  Events like this genocide have been happening for centuries, and are still currently going on in the world even when we’re quite wrapped up in whatever’s going on in our own little circle of the world.  I hate to break it to you, but horrible stuff is going to keep going on until Christ returns and claims the ultimate victory over Satan.  As long as Satan is still alive, there is going to be a battle between good and evil.  I don’t mean to get all Superman on you guys, but that’s just how it is. 
 
Jesus DOES WIN, though!  There IS Victory, and God wants His people to walk in the Victory that He’s already fought and won for us.  We have the joy of claiming it!
 
This is a spiritual battle.  A BATTLE!  Like, get your ‘A’ game on, be prepared for attack, and exercise the offensive weapons that God has given us.  Worship.  Prayer.  Fasting.  Listening to God’s voice and taking action.  LET THE SPIRIT LOOSE!  (How can you tell if He’s let loose?)  Love.  Joy.  Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness.  Gentleness. Self-Control.
The Holy Spirit-filled life
 IS the abundant life. 
 
There are TONS of walls that have been built up to keep people from living the abundant life, and they are usually NOT brick.
 
                                                                       What are your walls made of? 

Are you sick of seeing the abundant life though a hole in the wall?  Have you ever found yourself in a place where you KNOW about the life Christ offers, and you’re trying to live for Him but you can’t seem to get ahold of it?  It’s like you’re stuck watching others live it out from on the other side of a prison cell?

 Start asking God to reveal the areas in your life that are holding you back.  He is faithful to reveal walls and break them down!!!

 
Okay, that was a little side bar… let’s get back to God’s restoration for Cambodia. 🙂
I LOVE that education is the one of the main forums that He’s using to reach the people of Cambodia. 

Since education is such a main priority of the rebuilding process, Christian education centers have been readily accepted here. It’s amazing to see how much the country HAS been able to rebuild since the tragedy, and how God’s hope and restoration is filtrating the youth of this generation!   

This understanding has really helped our team learn more about how to serve the people here. It really made me; personally, realize how important it is for places like Destiny Rescue to be a part of re-educating this society. While they are re-learning about hygiene and sanitary issues, how to read and write, and how to behave… these children are also learning how they can find hope in the One, True God that loves them no matter what their current circumstance looks like. 

Even in the nastiest slums imaginable where people are literally living on top of sewage and garbage, God’s presence changes everything.  

I ask that you would pray this over Cambodia with me:

As the physical walls of Cambodia are being rebuilt, may God build a solid foundation of His love, hope and joy to an uprising generation.