The 6 of us walk in silence. We wander along the path, dirt crunching beneath our feet. Periodically, we stop to take a minute to listen to the audio in our ears as we go from stop to stop. We pass signs and stand in shock as we read them: “Killing Tools Storage.” “Mass Grave of 166 Victims Without Heads.” “This Tree Was Used To Hang a Loudspeaker to Make Sounds Louder to Avoid the Moans of Those Being Executed.” “Killing Tree Against Which Executioners Beat Children.”
We were at Choeng Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh. We had just arrived here in Cambodia the night before and we had 2 days free before we started ministry. We decided to take advantage of them and learn more about the history and culture of the area that we will be calling home for the month. We had all heard about the Khmer Rouge and the genocide that took place, but knew very little about it. We went in knowing the information learned would not be easy to hear or understand, but I think we would all say that we didn’t realize just how impactful our visit to the Killing Fields would be.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge took over the Cambodian government. Their goal was to form a utopia. In order to do so, they needed to get rid of any competition or those who would be against them. Their solution was to execute those who were educated; teachers, doctors, those who were rich, and religious leaders. They also went after foreigners and anyone who they perceived to be against them. They not only killed these people, but their families as well- in fear that eventually someone would come after them in revenge. This even included their own soldiers or followers- every word and action was observed and as they grew more paranoid, more and more of their own were killed.
At first, the people that were rounded up by the Khmer Rouge were put into prisons and labor camps. Whole cities were evacuated. During this time, starvation took many of the prisoners. As more and more people were sent to the prisons, the Khmer Rouge moved to the “killing fields”- hundreds of them throughout the country. It was here that they would bring prisoners to dispose of them. They would be loaded up onto a truck and kept in small sheds. Each night, loud music would play to cover the sounds of those being killed. The Khmer Rouge wanted to spend the least amount of money, so they used bullets sparingly. Their weapons of choice were farming tools and their physical bodies.
This lasted for four years and an estimated 2 million Cambodians died. This was in recent history and has left a lot of broken pieces to be mended here in this country. In these 4 years, all infrastructures had been broken and the country lost many of their educated people. PTSD was and is common among the older generation of people that lived through it. There are still landmines throughout the country that cause injury and/or death. Some families that were separated have yet to reunite.
As we walked on our tour of the killing fields, we were struck by the amount of evil and wickedness that the leaders could exhibit. It was hard to understand how these appalling things can happen and still happen today with no one knowing or stepping in. We left with a lot to process and more understanding of the history and battles of the people here. These are the types of things we would like to look away from, but we are called to open our eyes and to feel and experience these things that break the Lord’s heart too. It’s only then that we can look to the Lord and let him guide our words and our movements. It’s only then that we can invest and share stories that we will never forget to bring awareness and bring the Kingdom.
In a lot of ways, you wouldn’t know by looking at the city that this horrendous time period occurred just a short time ago, but this beautiful country is still in the process of recovery. There is healing to be had and stories to be told. I don’t want to turn away from the hard things- those that are in the past and the things that I see each day on the race. I challenge you to press into those things as well. Let the Lord open your eyes to the world around you. Allow him to challenge you in that.
Today I am thankful that the Lord is good. That he is the giver of peace and hope. That one day there will be no more loss and no more suffering. Please join me in praying for this nation- for them to know the peace and the hope that comes from our Father.
