Americans take for granted how easy it is to be a Christian in America. One of the youth in Cambodia was talking about her life, and she said that her family has a small grocery store, but because her whole family is Christian, nobody wants to buy from them. It would be so much easier for her family to make money if they were to be Buddhist, but their faith in God is so strong and they believe He will take care of them. Americans sometimes seem to just go through the motions of going to church (sometimes only on Easter and Christmas) but they do not have half the faith this family or the teenagers at the youth rally here have. Some of the kids here live in dorms because their parents forced them to choose between their faith and their family, and they chose to follow God. Worshiping here is amazing, because they dance more and sing louder than any church I’ve been to in America. Even though I don’t understand what they’re singing, their enthusiasm is infectious.
With such a recent and terrible history in Cambodia, it would also be understandable to not have any faith at all. I spoke to one woman who was 14 when the Khmer Rouge came to power and ended up killing half of her immediate family and her entire extended family. It is only natural to wonder how God could let something like genocide happen, and as a result wonder if there even is a God. However, the Christians I have met here have some of the strongest faith I have encountered, and they are eager to share it with others.
One Comment on “Faith in Cambodia”
Beautiful reflections, Becky! Now you know why I was eager to return. The good news of Jesus isn’t hearsay, it is the basis of life itself. I wish I could be there with you all. It sounds like great experiences all around. My prayers for you all persist!