I am in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am living at Pastor Kent’s house at the New Life Church and New Hope School. I am living in pretty nice accommodations, but it is hot here. I have really been loving Cambodia. In many ways I feel like I am home. Ever since I stepped foot into Cambodia I have felt alive and at home for the first time in two months. My heart breaks for the people here. I want to share with you some of the history of Cambodia and the story of Pastor Kent our host.
In April of 1975 The Khmer Rouge (a communist movement), led by Pol Pot took over Phnom Penh and became the ruling reign for Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge forced everyone out of all the cities including Phnom Penh. No one could take anything with them. The people were told that they only had to leave for 3 days due to a threat of bombings to the major cities. In reality it was Pol Pot’s plan to make all of Cambodia a farming country. The only type of work was farming. The Khmer Rouge got rid of the monetary system, private property, educational system and medical systems. They killed all the educated including the doctors, teachers and Buddhist monks and over 90% of Christians in Cambodia. Someone who wore glasses was considered educated and could be killed. Those in the Khmer Rouge had authority to kill just about anyone. There was no freedom at all. Everyone had to work long hard hours in the fields and sometimes got as little as one cup of rice each day. If you did not work you did not eat. No one was allowed to cook. The Khmer Rouge had people who would cook. People only got three days off a year from work. Between killings, disease, and starvation as many as 2 million people died during the Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia. That was about 1/3 of the population. In January of 1979 Vietnamese troops had taken control of Phnom Penh and the government.
Pastor Kent was 17 years old when this happened. Him and his family had to abandon their home in Phnom Penh. Because of his age, Pastor Kent was sent to live in a youth camp where all young adults lived in dorms. This was far from his family who he only got to see once a year. He had to work everyday for long hours in the fields. His only possessions fit in a backpack and consisted of two sets of solid black shirts and pants, one plate, spoon, and fork, a towel, and a hammock. He had no soap, toothpaste or toothbrush during this time. He was not allowed to talk about his life before the Khmer Rouge’s invasion. He could not wear his glasses because then he would be killed. Everyday was a challenge to just survive through it until the next day when he had to do the same thing again.
From 1975-1978 the Khmer Rouge would not allow anyone to get married. They finally allowed marriage in 1978. Pastor Kent married his wife, Sally in 1978. He chose her out of the women there without ever being able to talk with her privately or really at all. He spoke her parents and his parents spoke with his to decide this marriage. The wedding ceremony was with several other couples they did not exchange vows. It was more of a marriage to the Khmer Rouge than to each other.
In 1979 Pastor Kent, Sally and his family escaped to a refugee camp in Thailand. It was at this refugee camp that both Pastor Kent and Sally came to know Christ. After time in the camp, an uncle in Los Angeles sponsored Pastor Kent and Sally to come to the US. They then made their home in Hawaii. In 1990 they sold their business they owned and went to bible school and in 1994 they returned to Cambodia. They began the church and school that are currently here.
What is so amazing about Pastor Kent’s story is how he views those 4 years of his life. He has no anger or bitterness about that time. He shared how he developed his character of being a hard worker, of perseverance, and of submission. He shared with us how those hardships help us become more like Christ. I am amazed that he can reflect on his experience of suffering and see the good that God has used through it. In Romans chapter 5 Paul writes:
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Pastor Kent is a living example of these words lived our each day. I hope that I can view suffering I may experience in life with that same kind of wisdom.
This nation has been brutalized and deeply wounded. I have visited the Genicide museum and the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh. I have seen faces of the men and women who were killed. I have seen hundreds of skulls piled into a monument to be a reminder of this tragedy. I have stood over the mass burial graves where some of the 2 million dead where buried. My heart breaks for those who are still trying to heal from the loss and pain of those years. This is a nation that is in need of the love, hope, and freedom of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to help be a light for Jesus in this country.
I am sorry for my lack of posts this month. I do not have my own computer right now because I had to send it home to get fixed. Pray that it can get fixed and sent back with our coaches at the end of April. Our internet also does not work consistently.
