Cambodia — some reflections

Though I will expand on these ideas when Elizabeth and I give our presentation on Sunday, Dec. 7, here are a few items that I’ve been thinking about at the conclusion of our trip:

• I have always appreciated what Jack and Susie have shared about Pathway to Hope.  Now having seen it up close, and watched them interact with the people, I am even more appreciative of what they are doing and how they are doing it.  The breadth of the needs in Cambodia are overwhelming, yet they are resolute in their purpose (to train a future generation of Christian leaders for Cambodia), and everything they do reflects that purpose.  They could be easily distracted by providing other ministries that are greatly needed, but they remain committed to doing that which is most important.  They love the people — the greatest way they can love them is to train future leaders in Christlikeness.

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  In addition to being faithful to the task, Jack and Susie’s love for the people and the children at the home and in their sponsorship program is obvious.  Seemingly every time they talked about a child they identified him/her as a “star,” “favorite,” or “special.”  And to Jack and Susie they are.  It was gratifying to see.

• Happiness is not dependent on possessions.
• The extent of the physical poverty in Cambodia is heartbreaking and sad and overwhelming and humbling (especially in light of what Americans possess).
• The extent of physical poverty is insignificant in comparison to the spiritual poverty.  The pervasiveness of the false religion that is reflected in the weddings and funerals (both of which we saw and heard several times) and wats and temples and religious trinkets and statuary and idols are ever-present reminders that the Enemy has deluded the vast majority of these people and they are facing an eternity under the condemnation of God.  The lack of the presence of Christ in the country at large was the most sobering aspect of the trip.  (Though America does not lack for idols either, they are just shaped differently.)
• People are people and the gospel is the gospel.  Those who are headed to hell in Cambodia are headed to hell for the same reason Americans are:  they are trusting in self-righteousness.  The answer to the problem of self-righteousness is the same in Cambodia as in America (and as in Jerusalem in the first century):  the righteousness of Christ.
• I’ve been renewed with a fresh desire to share the Gospel.  Every day I’d make sure I had some tracts with me and I’d look for opportunities to leave them with people, asking God for opportunities.  And He indeed provided some gracious and providential meetings.
• Government is given by God to protect and reward righteous people and punish evil-doers.  It is not only tragic when the government reverses those principles — it is an affront to the character of God.
• Two weeks is a long time to be away from a family.  I was really ready to see Raye Jeanne and Emily and our church family by the time it was time to return.  I am humbled by men like John Paton and William Carey who left their families and friends and churches behind to go serve Christ and never again saw those faces on this earth.  It gives me a renewed reason to pray for our missionaries, like Jack and Susie and a host of others, who may not be gone for a life time, but are nonetheless gone for a very long time.  It is a reminder to me that my sacrifices are most often small in comparison to others, and always supremely small in comparison to Christ’s sacrifice.