Cambodia's Curse
The title of the book I just finished bears an eerie title to say the least. The book is subtitled "The modern history of a troubled land." And troubled it has been and still is….
"No other people lived through an era when thier own leaders killed one-quarter of the population–only to find that when the offending government fell, uncaring,avaricious leaders replaced it" (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 353).
Mostly the educated (teachers, doctors, lawyers) were killed. After the Khmer Rouge was done ravaging the country, Cambodia started from square one using oxen to farm with, building schools staffed with under-educated, under-paied teachers, providing poorly trained doctors who had to demand bribes for any sort of treatment. And now the people are affraid of change…
"Cambodians have been abused so many times by so many leaders over so many years that they expect nothing from their government. In fact, they remain convinced that any change at all will be painful, if not fatal…they want only to be left alone" (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 350-351).
But they are not alone…ever…
"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV)
"Once, just once, they dared to hope. The world's major nations [the UN] gave them the chance to choose their leader for the first time in history. Almost every Cambodian embrased it; 90 percent of them voted. But then their leaders betrayed them, and the world deserted them. Now, once again, most expect nothing more than they have. They carry no ambitions. They hold no dreams. All they want is to be left alone" (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 353).
To me this is a harsh and bold statement. It is true that their leaders have abandoned and betrayed them on multiple accounts…but I cannot and will not accept that no Cambodian has a dream or an ambition of his or her own.
"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
In fact I know so! Last week I spent an evening celebrating the graduation of a young Cambodian college graduate. She grew up an orphan in Cambodia, but an organization called ASIAN HOPE helped her come to the US to attend college. She and the other students studying through this organization will head back to Cambodia after graduation to be leaders, dreamers, ambition-ists among their people. The young lady I met studied public health and is going back to Cambodia to teach health and personal care, knowledge that we daily take for granted.
"Thousands of educated young Cambodians are no longer willing to accept the current state of affairs, unlike generations of students before them" (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 356).
"Nine out of ten may not hope, or care. But change is coming" (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 353).
In the eyes of many, change will come through advances in modern technology or the installment of a different government. But first something larger and deeper must penetrate corrupt and self-centered hearts. Change must come through the love of Christ.
My prayer for the Cambodian people is this…
"O LORD, my strength and my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of trouble,
to you shall the [nation of Cambodia] come
from [southeast asia] and say:
'Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies,
worthless things in which there is no profit.
Can man make for himself gods?
Such are not gods!'
'Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.'" (Jeremiah 16:19-21 ESV)
…That the people would see the lies and fears they have built their lives upon and that they would turn instead to the strength and stronghold and refuge of God.
The book ends this way:
"'Maybe, just maybe…a seemingly unchangeable situation can be altered. Call me a dreamer if you will, but thoughts give rise to dreams, and dreams to actions.' All of that amounts to little more than a warm breath of hope. But for Cambodians, that's more than anyone has offered in a very long time." (Cambodia's Curse, Brinkley, 357).
He offers more that a warm breath of hope…
Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29 ESV)
He offers a hope that is never ending and a word that will break into their hearts and minds as a fire that destorys lies and a hammer that shatters sinful nature.
