The stories and people that affirmed my call to Cambodia

My time in Cambodia in May 2008 was wonderful (except for the first few days of terrrrible culture shock - click HERE to read my first blog from Cambodia) but it was my extended stay in May-June 2009 that affirmed my calling to Cambodia.

Over the course of the year that passed between my first and second trips to Cambodia, I read multiple memoirs written by survivors of the Khmer Rouge - "When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge" and "The Tears of My Soul: The Story of a Boy Who Survived the Cambodian Killing Fields" and "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" and others.  Upon reading these stories, I could not look at the Cambodian people (especially the older generations) the same, even if I tried.  In my eyes, I saw pain and hopelessness.

Many have not recovered from the devastating effects of the five-year genocide from 1975-1979.  More than three million Cambodians (one-third of the country's population) were murdered or died of starvation and disease.  Children watched their parents be killed.  Parents watched their children suffer.  Siblings were separated and often never reunited.  These years of pain and suffering have left very deep scars on both the hearts and the skin of the Khmer Rouge survivors.  Since my first exposure to Cambodian history, the Lord has laid Isaiah 61:1-3 on my heart:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

Titus' Mom

Traveling through Cambodia reveals a vibrant palette of color. Rural rice fields shimmer like emeralds; Buddhist monks’ saffron robes glow in the sunlight.  Khmer food is as stunning in color as it is in flavor, mixing green cucumbers, red chili peppers, yellow mangos, and white rice to create recipes that [usually] gratify even this particular American girl. But the people of Cambodia, their warmth and beautiful smiles, bring the most color of all.

Despite not knowing if and when I would ever return to Cambodia, I built warm, unguarded relationships with many I met in 2007 and 2008.  Because of the Lord's call and favor, many of those relationships continue today!  My favorite Cambodian memories are with these people - doing Bible studies on the floor, praying and fasting together, hearing their stories, visiting their families, teaching new English worship songs and learning Khmer worship songs, playing games, and being vulnerable.  Jesus has been in the thick of many of those moments - opening my eyes, growing my love, and drawing me back.

It's what I'll continue to do when we go back.  My ministry will be in our home - to Titus, to Sophear and Chamnab, our unsaved family members, neighbors, area university students... all who enter our home through the front gate.  My desire is to create a space in our home where old friends and new friends can gather - a place to share the joys and struggles of life and to share with them the Hope of Jesus Christ.

With the girls at the Wesleyan Bible Institute

Teacher Chetra and I with my friends and English students in Kratie

Teacher Tess and I with my friends and English students in Kratie

A Magnet for Hope and Healing - Will you help?

We are so excited to announce that we have 25 Pray for Cambodia magnets that were handmade in Cambodia by a growing Christian organization that employs and teaches new skills to amputees who are victims of landmines. The magnets will be a thank you gift for the next 25 families, individuals, or churches that commit to a recurring monthly gift for our ministry in Cambodia.

We recognize that this is not a big gift. We recognize that these magnets are not worth a lot of money, but we are so excited about these magnets for three reasons:

1. Giving you these magnets is a meaningful, tangible way for us to say thank you for your financial investment in our family!
2. Placing the magnet in a prominent place will remind you to pray for Cambodia and for us!
3. The purchase of these items supports a good Christian organization in Cambodia that is doing great things!

Landmines were laid in Cambodia during the ousting of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 and continued until its demise in 1998. To impede the return of the Khmer Rouge, tens of thousands of Cambodians were forcibly enlisted into constructing a barrier minefield along the entire 466-mile Cambodia-Thailand border.  I’ve read that Cambodia is also littered with other kinds of unexploded ordinance (UXO), left over from half a million tons of bombs dropped on Cambodia by the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Although 50% of Cambodia’s minefields have now been cleared Cambodia is still one of the most landmine impacted countries in the world with over 64,000 casualties recorded since 1979 and over 25,000 amputees - the highest ratio per capita in the world.

At left, the man's sign says: "My name is Phuen.  I don't beg. I want to work.  Please support me that I can help my children they go to study.  Thank you for being [kind]!!!"

Between my first and second trips to Cambodia, I read numerous memoirs (I would love to lend you one!) written by Khmer Rouge survivors. It was these stories that burdened my spirit for the Cambodian people and during this time that God wrote Isaiah 61:1-3 on my heart

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Chum Muy, one of only seven  Khmer Rouge prison camp survivors from prison S-21

Landmine victims are one of the most visible evidences of the remaining damage of the devastating effects of the Khmer Rouge. Yet the emotional scars are much deeper than the physical scars.

My heart truly aches for the older population in Cambodia - those who continue to live with great amounts of pain and grief.  I so desperately want them to know the Hope of the Jesus Christ, but the calling seems too great because I don't know how I can reach this population.  Will you PLEASE(!!!) pray with me?

• That God would prepare the way for my encounters with the older population.
• That God would prepare my heart to grieve with them.
• That God would equip me to speak to their hearts.
• That they would embrace the hope and love of Jesus Christ.
• Because this population largely does not speak English, pray that I will succeed in my attempts to attain fluency in spoken Khmer.

To see Christ glorified in Cambodia,
Titus, Jewel, & Sophear