After several days of travel, a 2 day hospital stay, (I am fine, I just passed out at the Miami airport….hey, exhaustion and dehydration will do it) and one really long night in Bangkok, we made it to Phenom Phen Cambodia. This place has come so far in 30 years and it is amaizing to see thier progress.
The Khmer Rouge genocidal regime lasted from 1975 to 1979, and all of Cambodia was put into vast forced labor camps. One third of the population was killed due to disease, starvation, or execution. How do these people still carry on? Why did they decide to come back to Phenom Phen? Everyone from the age of 30 on has been affected by this. Yesterday at church, my heart broke and I just had to cry for the youth and the elders. They have so much faith and love for Jesus.
We had Saturday off and we went to the Royal Palace which was quite a sight. I have dreamed of seeing such adornement but never thought I would have the chance. The King and Queen of Cambodia reside here. It is full of monuments, temples and lavish decorations. Most everything there, from the ground to the water is considered holy. Since your feet are considered the least of you, you must take off your shoes to go into many of the buildings. There were statues of smiling Buddhas, monkeys and dragons. Many worship “dens” were around with cow head idols, or Buddhas with flashing lights or crazy pinwheels behind them. People would get on thier knees, loy on the ground and worship them. Offerings of food, money and flowers are left. What an amaizing place! It is so easy to be intrigued by the beauty and splendor of it all but we are in a place where true idol worship is the norm. The Holy Spirit is alive in this city though and his protection and provision is everywhere! The people here are so friendly and beautiful. They are so happy all the time and the children run to you with a joyful “hello” and hug you until you are forced to let go. Monks walk around in thier orange shrouds collecting offerings from the townspeople as they bow down to them. They are not permited to eat after 12 noon so they walk the town, study and worship. Women are not allowed to talk to them, touch them or hand anything to them so we keep our distance and exchange a few giggles and smiles.
There is so much to share and say, my words can’t do much justice. I am having an amaizing, eye opening learning experience here and God has been so faithful to provide and comfort. I am off to our ministry, New Life Fellowship this morning to research on the Children at Risk here in Cambodia and help them update the website. Pray for our team and the protection of our squad. Much love and many blessings!
