Wake up dry bones!

Last month I had the
opportunity to visit the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields. Honestly, before coming to
Cambodia, I knew very little of the heinous acts that took place in this
country. The sobering fact is that approximately 1.7 million people were killed
between 1975-1979, exceeding the number of those whom died in the Holocaust;
the estimated number does not include the hundreds of fields that still have
not been located nor the many remains of those still uncovered from the ground
due to lack of proper equipment to excavate. The reason for all these horrific
acts, in my opinion, was due to fear. Pol Pot targeted anyone that was wealthy,
had an education, wore glasses (appearance of looking educated), those with
prominent jobs, religious figures, etc. Men, women, and children all suffered.
Usually, children were killed because Pol Pot didn’t want them trying to exact
revenge later in life. He took communism to a whole other level, wanting
everyone to work in the fields and live in the villages. It was so severe that
Phnom Penh, the capitol, was a ghost town up until about 15 years ago. This is
because those who didn’t get seized fled for safety.

Today, as I walk the
streets, one would never know that the country was in such turmoil as little as
15 years ago. Sadly, the only signs that do prove this took place is that one
doesn’t see very many people over the ago of 50 and there are a lot of people
with mutilated bodies due to mines that Pol Pot and his army planted which are
still active in different areas as of today. It has been 13 years since Pol Pot
was put on trial for his heinous crimes committed in the Khmer Rouge. Before
sentencing in 1998 he died of what was believed to be “natural causes.”

It would definitely be easy for somebody to read this and feel
such a sense of hopelessness. The reason for this blog is not to leave you with
this emotion though, but to enlighten you with God’s endless love for the
people of this country. After being here for over a month, I can say with full
confidence that what satan made for bad, God always turns for good.

Because this is the word of the Lord: “Where you see bones, I see an
army.”

 

 God is restoring the land of
Cambodia; He is waking up what was once a place of such turmoil, destruction,
and death into a place of revival! The Holy Spirit is moving on this land and
people are waking up to the amazing love of Jesus Christ. God is using basic
English classes to steal the hearts of His people, and the army He is raising
up refuses to settle for a watered down Gospel! Healings are taking place,
demons are being cast out, brothers and sister are entering the Kingdom, and
new life is being breathed out onto this land.

The first week I was in
Cambodia, my team helped a church in the city teaching English. One night while
we were there they held a Youth Prayer Movement… over 100 youth came out! They
prayed so fervently for this nation, for Haiti & Malaysia, and for all of
the current things taking place throughout the world. It was so encouraging to
see these young men and women crying out to God with such passion and zeal;praying with their whole heart, knowing with confidence that their prayers are
changing things. 

 

Another week we spent time
in a village helping with various projects. One night April drank a little too
much palm fruit juice and got sick. All of a sudden, what seemed to be all of
the children from the village came and started praying over her. It was so
beautiful and it really reminded me of why Jesus said to become like little
children. These little ones believed so strongly that when they prayed, April
would be healed… and she was! After they prayed for her she was finally able to
eat something after going the whole day without food!

 

All of this to say, I feel so blessed to be in this country for such a time as this because I feel like I am taking part of God’s story for this land! Where many still see dry bones, I see an army emerging for God’s Kingdom… With confidence, I can say, I really do see a generation rising up to take it’s place! Things will never be the same for Cambodia because hope is on the rise! Amen! 🙂

 

Below is a video Annie made depicting some of our time here in Cambodia! Hope you enjoy it!

Peace and Love