The Killing Field

Saturday was a day to remember, a day everyone should remember, but a day I along with millions of other people rather forget because the heartache is too great. We spent the day visiting the Khmer Rouge prison camp and killing field (one amongst hundreds). At the prison there were empty rooms that were heavy with the truth of what happened. There were torture tools, stories, and so many pictures of the innocent people that were executed. It was brutal and inhumane and unbelievable but it was real and all too recent. Men, woman, and children "lived" in repulsive living conditions, starved, were raped, abused, tortured, and murdered. It all broke my heart but just to be broken again at the killing field.

 As I walked through a place were thousands of people died I listened to the history and to the stories. There were mass grave sights everywhere, building spots that previously housed torture weapons and chemicals in which were used to cover up the decaying smell and finish killing those who were buried alive. Soldiers blasted music to cover up the screams of those being murdered. On the ground you could still see scraps of clothing stuck in the soil. The hardest part of the day was the mass grave of 100 naked women and children which was next to the execution tree. Babies were slammed into this tree and then thrown into a pit to be buried. Bracelets covered this sight in remembrance. It was terrible. The last stop was the memorial stupa. This is a 17 tier building that held the bones that were dug up from the mass graves. I don't understand how something like this could happen. This country is slowly rebuilding but there is still a lack of hope throughout the streets.

Lord,
Let your love, your strength, your healing hands roam through this country. Let your light illuminate the lost hope and joy.

Pray for Cambodia.