More than Survivors

On Sunday we had the privilege of hearing a survivor of the Khmer Rouge killing fields come to preach at our service. I was amazed to hear his life story. He didn't share all the details of living under Pol Pot's regime. But what he did mention was that as a child he prayed that if he survived, he would dedicate his life to serving others and preaching the Gospel. All of his brothers and sisters were killed. Miraculously, he was the only who survived. Now a pastor in Denver, CO, here he was preaching back in his formerly war ravaged country.


People in Cambodia are survivors by nature. On the ship, I was lucky enough to serve with some volunteers from a Christian orphanage in Phom Penh who again opened my eyes the harsh life in southeast Asia. Some of the volunteers came with us on our faith trip a few days ago. They seemed happy and healthy. Before the ship left, one of the volunteers wrote me a note that said, "Thank you for being a brother. I have no brothers, no sisters, no mother or father. I am so sad."

Over the course of two weeks, the volunteers we served with had become our friends. Though there was deep pain that lay under the surface of their smiles, they shared a joy that was nothing short of amazing. How could these teens with no family and so much pain exude so much warmth and love? Nearly all of them shared that their faith had led them to a desire to serve those in need in Cambodia.

To me the pastor who came and the volunteers are more than survivors, they are conquerors. Their courage was a testimony to the powerful tranformative power of their faith in Christ. I am thankful and humbled to have met them.