So here I am in Cambodia and I am again amazed at this land and the people that live here. For those who do not know the history of the Cambodian people there was a time during around the time of 1975 to 1979, Khmer Rouge took over the government and basically enslaved Cambodian people. The peasants or lower class were forced to stay in the rice fields and work all day, but the ones who were specifically targeted for slaughter were the Cambodian people who were educated. They were taken out to the fields and killed. Over the span of four years approximately 3 million people were killed, and quite a bit of those deaths were from disease and starvation. If you want to learn more about this there are many links that will tell the history of Cambodia.
The reason why I brought the killing fields to your attention is I want you to understand the strength these people have to overcome the tragedy that devastated their country only a short period of time ago. They are so humble about the way they live and how they will love people they don’t even know. We work at a school that is literally on the owners home and land. The carport is three classrooms and his shed is another two classes. This man has opened his home to 188 students so that they can learn and become educated and these kids are living in poverty and low income communities, half of them can’t even pay the two dollar fee a month so they go to school for free.
The history behind the school is the owner’s name is Sarith and he opened this school on his land which is literally right behind a public school. He also opened his home to missionary teams who want to help with the school and he has employed five teachers. The incredible thing is that he doesn’t have any sponsors to make this happen. God provides him with donors every month with just enough money for salary for the teachers, but most of the supplies comes out of his pocket. He opened this school so that low income children at this school will break the cycle of poverty in that family.
Sorry if I’m rambling but this community just humbles me so much to think about of all the luxury I have back at home. I have food at the house and will not go hungry where the way Cambodians show they love you is they shove food into your hands even when they themselves don’t have much to eat. We have a 3 hour break between our morning and afternoon classes and some of us sleep. The teacher who sleeps in this house that we stay at during our break brought down her pillows and her sleeping mat so we can sleep in comfort.
I always thought I was grateful for what I have at home, but ever since coming to Asia, especially Cambodia, it really made me realize just how much I have. I didn’t truly understamd the term of grateful until I looked back in my life and saw all the luxuries that Cambodians may never get in their lifetime. That I have more than what most of the Cami people do (Cami is the shortened form of Cambodia also is the name of the language). I have food, running clean water, good education, a bed, a family that I get to see everyday, and so much more.
But the one part that gives me pause and just stare in complete awe and wonder is the fact that they are happy. They are happy with the simple lives they lead. They don’t need more than what they have, they are satisfied and comfortable in their little shack with chickens running loose. They are happy to give their food away to people to show them they love them in the purest form possible. They are happy to allow someone they barely know to sleep on their bed. Even through the tragedy that ravaged their land they had the strength to carry on and become stronger than before. Slowly bit by bit they are rebuilding their country to look as beautiful as the people within.
God works in the best of ways even in a country that is mainly Buddhist, there is a small percentage who are Christian and they pray everyday for their country to become free of corruption and turmoil. God is working something amazing in Cambodia and I’m so excited to be a part of this journey.
