Cambodia is a war-torn country, still suffering the effects of a brutal civil war and genocide. My team and I recently took advantage of our off days to journey to the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We visited the Choeung Ek genocidal center to learn about the tragedies that occurred there back in the late 1970’s. Pol Pot, the leader of a communist dictatorship, created a group of followers that called themselves the “Khmer Rouge”. They were dedicated to creating an “agrarian society”, doing away with all education, religion, healthcare, and free thinking in general. The Khmer Rouge’s desire was for everyone to be on an equal playing field. So, in order to achieve that, he murdered doctors, teachers, lawyers, engineers, or even people who wore glasses. Anyone that had the appearance of being educated was shipped off to death camps where they were murdered at night under the guise of loud music and the drowning out of a generator. They were forced to create false confessions of all the “wrong things” they’d done; stories of treason against the government. When they ran out of stories to tell, like being a spy for Russia or working for the CIA, their time was up. The innocent were punished for wrongs they did not commit. Bullets were expensive, so the Khmer Rouge used various other means for murder. Basically, anything they could find. Such little regard for human life was an act of pure evil that is not easily forgotten. The place that we visited, the “Killing Fields”, had once been a mass grave with giant depressions in the earth where holes had been dug for bodies to be dumped. There are similar killing fields all over the country of Cambodia; some are still being discovered to this day. They have been found in places like deep in the jungles or hidden in mountains, as well as in plain sight. They closed the borders they shared with Thailand and Vietnam with land mines. The place where we are living this month, Pailin Province, still has the highest number of land mines in the entire country. They say it will take another 20 years to remove all the mines that are still left. It is common for people to have missing limbs due to these explosives.
3 million people died during the Khmer Rouge.
1 in 4 Cambodians were murdered.
An entire generation was wiped out, and now there is very little education in Cambodia. They are still striving to put the pieces back together.
BUT, there is hope! As I have seen in the tiny orphanage where we are staying this month, God is redeeming Cambodia’s tragic past. Although this country is a nation destroyed by poverty, hatred, disease, and false religion, God is raising up a new generation of believers to go out and share the Good News with their countrymen. I have seen the simplicity of their childlike faith. They love the Lord and worship Him more wholeheartedly than some adults can say they ever have. God is providing for His children; He loves them so much that He sent His Son to die for them. Despite the fact that they have lost everything, perhaps abandoned by family members or fled from abusive homes, possessing so little, they have so much in the Father.
So, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!! These kids are such a blessing. God has provided for them in numerous ways, even since we’ve been here. Our host, Rotha, has given us some information on things that the orphanage is in dire need of. We’ve already provided him with the money to purchase a new vehicle to take the kids to school in; one of my teammates supporters donated $4,500!! Praise God! They are in need of money for school supplies, new uniforms,a new fence around the property, we’d like to build them a new soccer field, and most importantly, for when they get sick. The budget is tight, and when the children get sick, Rotha has to borrow money from the government at times to be able to pay for their care. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you friends back home, being blessed with SO MUCH, gave to the children for the sake of their health and welfare? God cares and provides for them. He takes care of them. I’d love for you all back home to play such a vital role in this. The Bible says to care for the orphans and widows. I am so thankful for the generosity and obedience that I’ve already experienced from other believers! We as Christians have a responsibility to care for places such as war-torn Cambodia. To entertain indifference is disobedience on our parts; something I have been guilty of at times. Talk to the Lord about how He wants you to respond.
So, we’d love your help!!!
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