I’ve been meaning to write about Cambodia all week now…but every time I would try, it would feel so flat. Like I couldn’t really put it into words. Today is no different, but somehow I don’t think I’ll ever be able to really put the thoughts and feelings about this country into the correct words.
Ben and I spent four days in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, during our visit to Asia. We wanted to get out and experience another country while we were in Asia, in addition to being in Thailand. We deliberated long and hard about where to go outside of Thailand, and finally decided on Cambodia. I’m so glad we made that decision.
Here are some shots + chatter from Cambodia:
One of the first differences we noticed from Thailand was the street driving! It was much crazier and full and busy, with motor bikes and tuk-tuks and vehicles just making their way through intersections and streets without any kind of reasoning. We got around mostly by tuk-tuk, which is a little cart thing pulled behind a motor bike.
It was always interesting trying to explain to the drivers where we wanted to go, especially if it was something outside of their normal routes and tourist attractions. Between city maps, iPhone maps, and broken English, we were usually able to communicate and get to where we wanted to go.
We spent a day visiting the Killing Fields and a large prison in the city where prisoners were held until they were taken out to the execution field. This was such a sobering experience…I can hardly fathom how human beings can treat fellow human beings like this…how a soul can know so much darkness that basic human compassion and empathy doesn’t even exist. This was a prison cell at the S-21 prison.
Piles of clothing and personal items from the S-21 prisoners. This happened to real people with real lives…
The actual Killing Fields site is outside of the city a few miles, and this is the place where the prisoners were taken for their executions. Men, women, children, and babies were killed here…no one was exempt, no one was safe. And what is even more sobering is that these events happened in the 1970’s…only forty years ago. It’s not from a far off place in a far off time…it happened in my parents lifetime.
One of our favorite experiences in Cambodia was visiting Daughter’s of Cambodia, an non-government organization that reaches out to the victims of sex-trafficking and exploitation in the city of Phnom Penh. They offer employment to men and women who want to get out of the sex industry…which essentially offers them so much more than just a job. They offer them a new life, value, freedom, and hope.
Once we visited Daughter’s of Cambodia once, we couldn’t help but return several more times. It was just a beautiful place and a beautiful thing to see these women who had been used and exploited and broken now filled with life and smiles and value. It was as though the meals we had there were filled with so much more than just physical nourishment…it was filled with a feeling of hope for these women.
If you ever visit this city, do yourself a favor and stay at the White Linen Boutique Hotel, which is a guesthouse run by the Daughter’s of Cambodia organization. We had originally booked a hotel elsewhere but once we found out about White Linen, we switched our reservation. Such a good decision! This is a beautiful guesthouse, and the entire atmosphere there is filled with peace. The staff are professional and friendly and warm, and the complimentary breakfasts are spot-on!
Rooftops of Cambodia. I failed to get any photos of this experience (because of this!), but one of our favorite things we did in Cambodia was a visit to Agape International Missions in Svay Pak. We had learned of this mission from the Nefarious documentary, and wanted to go and see for ourselves what was going on there. The little village of Svay Pak is known as the red-light district of the world for child sex. As in sex with little girls…men coming to this place to rape little girls. I don’t mean to use shocking language or terms here…but it’s what happens. It happens every day, and we need to know that. We need to care and fight and do something. We need to take our heads out of the sand and let the realities of what other people in our world experience wreck us. We didn’t get to meet any of the young girls that Agape works with…and in some ways I think I am glad about that. I know that if I had, if I had seen these little girls (the youngest girl that agape currently has in their program is five-years-old…five-years-old) with my own eyes, I would never have been able to erase those faces and eyes and stories from my heart.
We had a few meals at Friends Restaurant, which is another really neat organization that reaches out to street youth, and uses their restaurants as a place to provide good training and jobs for them. Once again, food seems to taste better when it supports a noble cause. And this guy…I love globe-trotting and motor biking and smoothie-drinking and experiencing-cultures and living-life with this guy. I love his heart for justice, for people, for Jesus. Plus, isn’t he so cute?!
All in all, our trip to Asia was incredible and fun and eye-opening. We felt God move in our hearts to care for the nations and to make their struggles a part of our prayers and a part of our life. As believers, we are called to shine forth the glory and light and life of Jesus Christ, and how He wants us to do that is different for each of us. Some are called to pray, to give, or to go. However He calls you to shine forth, do it! Don’t wait for someone else to fill the role He has created for you…because you absolutely can make a difference.
What about you: when was a time that you were greatly impacted by realization of injustice or evil done to others? How did this impact you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
The history of Cambodia and the killing fields is incredibly sobering. We Americans can be so ignorant of the suffering that goes on in other countries even in the last 40 years. We have friends who are moving there soon to try and help in whatever way The Father leads.