In my blog, “Vision for Change” I wrote about the dark history of Cambodia and how the country has been affected by its wars. Since visiting the mass gravesites and the prison camps I’ve been wondering, “Where was God during this violent time?”
After leaving the city and heading to the western villages, I’ve begun to hear the other side of the story – the side that includes the hope and love that the museums can’t put on display.
“He will remove the cloud of gloom,
the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
He will swallow up death forever!
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.”
Isaiah 25:7-8
Our friend and translator, Kalyan, told us her story a few days ago of how she was born into a family divided. Kalyan’s mother is a Christian who came to know Jesus through her mother, and her mother through her mother…on back into the 1930s where one of the first missionaries to Cambodia shared the Gospel with Kalyan’s great grandmother. Kalyan’s father, however, was a solider – a Khmer Rouge solider – forced to serve, apart from his family and apart from his country. When the war ended and he returned to his family – he did not share their faith. Having trouble finding work in Cambodia as an ex-solider he crossed the border to Thailand as an illegal alien. While running from the Thai police late one night along the border he found himself in a landmine field. Not knowing where to go he decided to ask help from the God that his family prayed to. As he asked Jesus for help, a bright light came and led him to safety. Now Kalyan’s family shares one faith, and together they plant churches around the western villages.
Our friend Vanny was my age during the Khmer Rouge, and his family spent most of the war in Thailand’s refugee camps. Vanny began to trust Jesus here, after Christian missionaries shared food, shelter, and Jesus’ love with him and his family. When the war ended Vanny and his family returned to Cambodia to begin a church and an orphanage. Vanny travels around from village to village preaching and teaching the other church pastors. He told me of one village in particular that he went to visit this year – the Khmer Rouge village. This village is made up of ex-soldiers and Khmer Rouge leaders, who have sort of been exiled to a northwestern village where landmines still dot the territory. These two factors make this spot a very unlikely tourist spot, and the locals keep quite a distance as well. So when Vanny heard God telling him he needed to go and tell this village about Jesus, everyone told him he was crazy, but he went anyways. With lots of prayer and a racing heart he marched into the Khmer Rouge village and obediently preached the Gospel – God allowed Vanny to find favor with their leaders and was not only welcomed but also asked to come back. They seemed to be starving for any contact from other people – and eager to find forgiveness for their war crimes.
So, “Where was God during this violent time?” He was surely in the midst of it protecting his messengers so that they could be givers of hope and healing during the country’s time of restoration.
RESTORATION – restitution of something taken away or lost: renewal, revival, and reestablishment
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jer. 29:11-13
I’m learning that God always sees the BIG picture, even when we only see what is in front of us.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecc. 3
(Attempting to learn how to wash-by-hand…)
