Second Stone::
“David”
One of the things I hate about film, is having to do the act
of filming. I just like the end
product. Putting my camera in
those children’s faces was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!!!
But they knew why I was there and they gave me such grace!
—————————–
I met David in a small town in the middle of Northern
Thailand at a Thai restaurant. I
randomly discovered that David was involved in working with the Karen people-
and that his work was undercover and sensitive. I asked if I could interview Him. He was a little hesitant and weary of me at first, but he
agreed. The interview was
emotional and intense! For some reason during the interview he invited me to
join them the next day to visit various locations. He said… “I’ll take you to meet the people, I’m sharing
their stories but you can get them from the kids- you can meet them
yourself. There are hundreds and
thousands- with stories unlike anything you have ever heard. I’ll take you and you can see for
yourself! Come with us!!”
Long story short….. I went!
The next 24 hours penetrated my heart in a raw a new
way! I came face to face with
genocide! Hundreds and thousands
of kids displaced in the Thai jungle!
Hundreds and thousands of families; adults with missing limbs, blind,
tortured; kids who have experienced unthinkable things! I met the people and began to hear “the
stories!” I went all over to
various places! Each place seemed
to be a very large family within itself.
One place was in the middle of nowhere… “Off the grid”…nearly 100 kids
by themselves. Many kids came that
week! Each place was a large community or “family” of people that David and his
team looks after! They bring
supplies and food weekly. They
minister to them and care for them!
It’s as simple as life and death!
The crazy thing about hearing these stories is, the least of
these stories would make front page national news in America!
In one of the locations David would grab a young boy or girl
and put them on his lap and proceed to tell me their story! I’ve never heard of such things!! One
of the little boys, no more then five, was found in the middle of His burned
down village, sitting next to his father who was burned alive in front of
him. He was the only one left
alive in his village. Some of the
older ones told me their stories, but one by one I entered in!
I told you at the beginning of this series that I wasn’t
going to guilt you with the facts!
I won’t! But this is the
reality! However, HOPE IS THE REASON why I write any of this! HOPE is what devastated me more then
the tragedy! Why do I say
devastate?
I was devastated by the site of children walking out the
revelation I so frequently try to live— I came into the presence of Children
who had complete freedom and joy- in the midst of the most horrific
circumstances I have ever come to in the nations or heard with my own ears! I
was devastated to feel, see, and hear that I have barely tasted it for myself
in comparison! I don‘t know if I‘ve ever seen something as holy as what I
saw and experienced with those kids!! (Sad thing is I probably have but it
took that context for me to see it so clearly) Every time I try to talk
about this “experience” I end up weeping with memories- not because of their
pain- but because they have something more beautiful then anything I‘ve ever seen!! A GOD- A LIFE- A
REALITY- that is not of this world -The substance of that which I’m constantly
perusing more of! A LIGHT that truly SHUTS OUT THE DARK!!- They live in the
presence of God! I did not deserve to see what I saw- or to even worship
with them!- that‘s how holy it
felt! I pray I never forget!
However I was there… no matter how I feel about deserving it
or not!
They’re my hero!.
Stay with me so I can tell you why!
Click Here– Thailand- Face to Face with Genocide #1
Click Here– Thailand- Face to Face with Genocide #2
