Woah. Heavy stuff I know. (I have put off writing this blog for a while, but I think it’s an important story to tell, so stick around until the end :)).
I don’t know about you, but until I signed up for the race and started this journey, I had no idea there was a genocide her less than 40 years ago.
At the beginning of our time here in Cambodia I thought it would be a good idea to learn about the history-so we decided to go to the killing fields and the S21 Museum.
So here is what we learned:
Pol Pot was the leader during this time. He wanted to create a classless society where everyone could be self-sufficient. His first victims were the educated (doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.) So, he began luring these people in, even those out of the country, to execute them.
On April 17th, 1975, the Khmer Rouge forced everyone to head to the countryside to the labor camps out there. They would execute people in these ‘Killing Fields,’ or send them to prisons like S21.
We went to one of hundreds located all around the country. We walked around where people were murdered. There was a tree where they would throw babies against to kill them. No one was an exception. There was a case of hundred, maybe even thousands, of skulls and other bones from victims during this time.
No one was safe. What would a country be without anyone in it? It is believed (our Pastor told me) that if this genocide lasted two more years the whole country would be eliminated.
S21 was a prison, which was once a school, where they would hold, torture, and kill people. As we walked the halls of this place, we saw the faces of many victims who suffered here. We learned about different ways they were tortured. They left one of the buildings pretty untouched-stalls and cells still up. It was hard to see. Difficult to walk through.
People were tortured. Shackled, Chained. Naked. Afraid. Dirty, Alone, Scared. There was no religion allowed during this time-if you practiced it they would kill you. They did their best to prevent suicide. Children would betray parents. Soldiers would betray soldiers. Everyone was alone.
I don’t understand why the Lord would let something like this happen. So. Many. Questions. Why did this happen? Where were You in this Lord? How are survivors supposed to find you in this? It just doesn’t make since.
But, I am human and You are God. I don’t have the answers, You do.
Pastor Raiya said something cool the day after our time at S21. He said that because religion was banned during this time, a lot of people are lukewarm Buddhists today. This gives the country more of a chance than other countries to hear about Jesus!!! Raiya said in Thailand people are pretty firm in Buddhism and in China they believe in themselves and their own abilities-“which is like a steal door.”
With this being said, PRAY FOR CAMBODIA!!!! For soft hearts. Open ears. Visions. Dreams. These people are so sweet, kind and loving. Going to the museum at the beginning of our time here was the best thing we could of done honestly. Each and every Cambodian family has been affected by this genocide. One forth of the country died between 1975-1979.
In my opinion, it’s a miracle anyone survived. That anyone had hope. These people are so hard working. So strong. God must of saved them at the end. He must have given them hope somehow. Positive thoughts. Something. I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t even know that is was God. I may never know until I can ask Jesus face to face, but you bet I’m going to ask a whole bunch of questions.
Another mind blowing aspect (there are many) about this is one of the main guys in charge of S21, Duch, became a Christian in between this time (1975-1979) and going to jail (in 2012-WHAT?). So God’s grace covers a murderer of thousands. He gets to go to heaven? Duch gets to go to heaven. He is saved just like you and me.
God’s
grace
is
that
big.
There are so many aspects about this genocide (any genocide really) that I just don’t understand. I could stand here and ask questions all day long. Why? How did they get away with this for so long? Where was God in this?
But He was there. He knew that it was going to happen and yet Pol Pot was born anyways. This doesn’t change my faith at all-it’s just something I don’t understand. I am human and God is God and He understands and knows all.
I don’t want this to rock your faith or anything, I just think it is an important part of history that I feel very silly that I didn’t know about it before coming here.
I choose to believe God saved this country from it’s possible end and that now is the time to spread the gospel here to these lovely people.
