A Walk through the Killing Fields

Posted by: Tim Perkins

This morning we boarded buses to head to S-21 or Tuol Sleng (literally means a poisonous hill or place on a mound to keep those who bear or supply guilt) , a former high school that Pol Pot's regime converted to a prison and torture facility. I'll spare you the details simply because they are too troubling to rehash. The pictures of the precious, wide-eyed children moved many of us to tears. It makes you wonder what kind of beast could perpetrate such an act of depravity.

From there, we proceeded to the Killing Fields, a place that needs little introduction. I was moved to stay in a spirit of prayer the entire time if only to ward off the intense heaviness that surrounded the place. So many mass graves, so many piles of bones, such a reason to pray for these people. Keep them in your heart for this place has so far to go and only God can completely restore the hope that is absent.

Our interpreters are so great! They are all saved and little fireballs for Christ. They talk about teaching English to others, then using the classes as springboard for preaching the Gospel. They really, really disciple their students, and they themselves are SO YOUNG! One young man named Dong has unbelievable facility with American English. He knows all the jargon and colloquialisms. He learned from Americans who live in his town right outside Phnom Penh. He said that there are over 900 Americans living in Phnom Penh, most with various ministries.

Later in the day, we had an amazing venture to the "Russian market." It was your typical indoor straw market, but the goods were anything but. I was amazed at some of the hand-crafted artisan furniture, ranging from small trinkets to huge chests. More amazing were the prices. They started low as it was, but once you started to walk away, the haggling began, and oh my goodness, these folks want to make a deal.

We started tag-teaming vendors with the whole good cop, bad cop routine. They had seen it all: the frown, the walkaway, the indignation. It was a fun afternoon - I just may need more luggage.
Tomorrow we're off to Singapore for the day and one evening. Then, we'll be headed back to all you guys who've been lifting us up. Thank you so much - you're loved and appreciated.