I'm Tired of Eating Rice.

     That's really all I have to say about this week. 

     Just kidding. I always have too much to say. This has been a very historic week. By that, I mean I've learned a lot about Cambodia's history. SHE Rescue wants all of its volunteers to write a research paper about Cambodia's culture, religion, history, and politics. So I've been learning about many aspects of this culture I'm living in and realizing how its destructive past has shaped its present. This weekend I visited one of the the Killing Fields, Choeung Ek, where an estimated million people were brutally murdered during the Khmer Rouge between 1975-1979. I also visited the Toul Sleng Genocide museum, which was a high school-turned prison during the Khmer Rouge. This country has been through so much unnecessary turmoil, it actually amazes me that it has overcome so much in just over 30 years. 

Choeung Ek, the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

     I have one more paper to write on Christianity in Cambodia, based on the book Killing Fields, Living Fields by Don Cormack. The history of Christianity in this country only dates back to the 1920s, it's incredible! As Christians in America, we take for granted basic "essentials" like education and the internet - tools that help us know and understand our Christian heritage and our vision for the future. In the 5 years leading up to the Khmer Rouge, Christianity was spreading like crazy all over the country. However, when 90% of Christians were killed during the Khmer Rouge (only 3 pastors lived), the few survivors suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves to be alive but alone, having to start afresh but still afraid to share their faith. Even today, many Khmer believers may not know their Christian ancestors or the stories of their fallen brothers and sister from the Khmer Rouge era. How discouraging and scary it must be, thinking that you're alone in your faith, especially after the religious oppression set in place by Khmer Rouge leaders. Although being a Christian is legal now, evangelizing in public is illegal (oops-see last week's post) especially in such a dark, Buddhist environment. Please continue to pray for Christians in Cambodia. It's been such an honor meeting some amazing godly men and women here, and reading about some revolutionaries from the past. 

Things I've done this week:

Wat Phnom, Buddhist Temple

Lots of Merchandise packing to send back to Australia

So much flooding! These pants were originally light blue