(WARNING: Not all the stuff in this blog is kid-friendly, so read with care.)
Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Technically, we’re only half way around the world (or 7/16ths) and technically it took 81 hrs and 59 minutes. But never the less, that is something quite amazing. YWAM base in Santo Domingo, DR to YWAM base in Phnom Penh (pee-nom-pen), Cambodia in a little over 3 days.
So on Sunday, as a squad we took a tour of Phnom Penh to learn about the history and heritage of Cambodia. We went to an old prison/torture hall used in the 1970’s civil war/genicide. Over 2 million people died in 4 years under one ruler. It was sickeningly haunting walking through the torture rooms knowing what went on there. Then one of the areas had the pictures of all the people that were held at that prison. It was enough to make you cry out in lament. We learned that of the 10,000 people that were put in that prison, only 7 survived. Only 7. And there were plenty of women and small children that were taken there. Such hate is alien to us. And anyone here over 30 years old remembers this time.
So on Sunday, as a squad we took a tour of Phnom Penh to learn about the history and heritage of Cambodia. We went to an old prison/torture hall used in the 1970’s civil war/genicide. Over 2 million people died in 4 years under one ruler. It was sickeningly haunting walking through the torture rooms knowing what went on there. Then one of the areas had the pictures of all the people that were held at that prison. It was enough to make you cry out in lament. We learned that of the 10,000 people that were put in that prison, only 7 survived. Only 7. And there were plenty of women and small children that were taken there. Such hate is alien to us. And anyone here over 30 years old remembers this time.
After that we were taken to the Killing Fields were they executed all their prisoners. They would just cut their throats and toss them into ditch like holes they had dug then dumped strong chemicals over them just in case they were buried alive. It made many of us sick to our stomach to see these places and stand where they had stood. Hate is real. In turn, our love MUST be. We are called to be the light of a world in the midst of a black out. We have to shine with all we got! To empty all our light daily, and trust the Lord to refill us in the night. We are Manna.
Later we were taken to a temple. Beautiful arcitecture dedicated to Buddha. So lost. So dark. So needing of His love. This will be a trying 3 months. I know that God has equiped me to rise to the task. I can only pray my will is as well. I think it is.
On the lighter side of the news, we are once again teaching english at an orphanage, but this time the kids already know a lot. So we’ll have to pull out the big guns on this one. We’re gonna start verbs next week. The kids are really cute. This girl named Sium has already attatched herself to me. Tomorrow we go to the other orphanage (we’re working a two different ones) and we will get to see what our ministry is there.
Gotta go. God bless.
Nate
