Here in Cambodia there’s been an immense amount of
suffering. A country so recently
traumatized by a horrific genocide led by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime.
Most commonly known as the Killings Fields, my team was able
to visit one of the genocide centers in operation only 37 years ago. The audio tour shared details of Pol Pot’s
vile vision to cleanse Cambodia of all things Western resulting in the death of
many millions of innocent people. We
heard stories from victims who attributed their survival solely to HOPE. It was truly humbling.
At the genocide center I bought the book, First They Killed
My Father (if you haven’t read it I highly suggest you do), about one family’s grueling
story of survival. Author Luong Ung was
5 years old when her family was tormented, tortured and torn apart.
Here in Cambodia I am reminded I know nothing about suffering.
Other than my Dad’s death, I haven’t experienced a lot of
pain in my life. At least nothing
compared to the pain I learned about at the Killing Fields and the pain I’ve
seen around the world. On the WR, I’ve
seen a lot of agonizing situations I would consider suffering…
In Peru, I visited large
families living in one room on muddy dirt floors, infested with bugs and bug bites, in
horrible heat with no running water or electricity.
In Mozambique I
tutored young children, who’ve experienced mental, physical and sexual abuse, and
then are abandoned to fend for themselves on the street.
In Romania, we
delivered food to a father burning plastic and other toxic materials from a trash
dump that happened to be his front yard, in order to heat an abandoned, rat
infested shipping container he calls home, in the freezing temperatures of
winter.
Leaving the Killings Fields and these situations I felt
helpless. I can only pray my encounter plants seeds of HOPE in their lives and
in mine. The same HOPE for greater things yet to come that helped sufferers endure
and survive the Khmer Rouge atrocities.
Reflecting on the hurt around the world, I’m initially grateful
for my incredibly blessed life but then I’m reminded the bible says not to be
surprised by painful trials, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings
of Christ. If you endure trials in the
name of Christ you are blessed. (1 Peter
4: 14-16).
Gives a whole new meaning to the idea of a blessed life.
