Merry Christmas!!!
This month I am working with a local pastor right outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am doing village ministry with my team and teaching english. This week I told the children the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I think it appropriate considering all of the idol worship that happens in this country. Cambodia is a Buddhist nation. There are fancy pagodas down almost every street and spirit houses in front of every house. Cambodians believe in the spirit world and are very fearful of it. Not even thirty years ago this country was destroyed by genocide, 2 million of its people killed. Within the first week of being in Cambodia my team and I went to S21 and the Killing Fields to better understand what happened to the people in this country.
In 1975 the Cambodian government was corrupt and crumbling. Pol Pot the leader of the Khmer Rouge took over the Cambodian government with his Communist peasant farming society idealism. He wanted to control the people by killing off the wealthy and educated. By the end of 1979, 25% of the countries population was killed by executions and starvation. The S21 museum is where people were taken to be interrogated and processed. They would then be taken to the fields not to far way to be executed. It was incredibly helpful for me to understand this in order to work with the people. Walking down the streets near where I am living and in Phnom Penh I see a lot of young people in their 30’s and younger but not too many older people.
I am really enjoying Cambodia and the people. It is funny I now have been to many Southeast Asian countries but they are all so different from each other. Such different cultures! It has been so fun to experience. Some living conditions have been difficult this month but I have learned to use a squatty toilet and take bucket showers. I got my first parasite this month and thank God I got rid of it. I have heard that Cambodia is the Africa of Asia. I can’t say that as I have yet to go to Africa. I can say that the infrastructure is less built up and there is poverty everywhere, but then I think about what this country has experienced in the last 30 years.
I was privileged to talk to a bunch of university students at a Christmas party and I was so encouraged to listen to their passion for change. As many Cambodians would say that their country is still Communist.The pastor I am working with is really focusing on discipling young men. He wants them to be prepared to go out and plants churches. He believes that his country is Communist and that one day their religious freedom will be taken away from them. Please pray for Cambodia that God’s light will shine in this dark land.
I will post a picture blog of Cambodia soon!
Thank you all for your support!
