Toul Sleng is the infamous S-21 prison camp in Phnom Penh, which over 17,000 Khmer came through during the Khmer Rouge communist 4 year reign. The buildings are still enclosed with electric fencing and barbed wire, tiny prison cells remain, and the torture chambers with photographs depicting visually taking visitors back to the late 1970’s.
Of the 17,000 that arrived there, 7 made it out alive.
16,983 people murdered, by their own ethnicity, without any reasonable explanation.
Walking down the halls that echo of humanity lost, I was drawn to tears not at the stories of women’s nipples being cut off or men’s fingernails ripped from their hands. Instead, I was drawn to tears trying to see which one of the victims was my tuk-tuk driver’s father. Which face was the husband of our tour guide, and where did the souls of brutally murdered people, and their murderers, go?
I was struck with a question: How God, did you declare Yourself HERE. In the middle of death, How did you bring LIFE? How do you continue to bring LIFE out of the khmer rouge regime?
HOW did CHRIST show up in the 4 long years of injustice and brutality?
He showed me,
“I was in the middle of lines of people, lifting up their heads to look at my face."
“I was comforting mothers when their babies where being bashed against trees.”
“I showed up to the peacemakers and declared myself their Savior.”
“I touched the dirty wounds.”
“I made myself KNOWN, when they had only known false-worship before.”
Still today, Christ is in the market-place as slaves are bought and sold.
Comforting girls who are picking trash to care for their mothers.
Declaring His name to the river children.
Bringing mercy to lonely men.
He Remains the God of Justice, Mercy, and Redemption.
He is fighting for Cambodia; He has always fought for Cambodia
He's also fighting for YOU.
He's in the middle of your tears, your pain, and your desperation.
Waiting for you to look at Him, when evil is occuring all around you.
Look Up.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 24:18
