Cambodia

Yesterday Caleb and I went to several different temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was truly remarkable seeing these 1000 year old structures. THe detail on every peace of stone was breathtaking. We had a great day.

Cambodians: Cambodia has a very dark past, and a very challenging present. They have more heartache and pain that I could imagine. The slaughter that took place 35 years ago in the genocide killed over 2 million people and left many more without anything. Families were separated and land destroyed. Even now, those memories burn in th minds and hearts of many of the people we meet. In addition, schools do not have enough funding, people are intensly underpaid and millions of families live on the brim of intense poverty every day... they live with the contant pressure of knowing if one family member gets sick, that would push the family from hardly holding on, to a life of poverty for the family. Families are faced with intense choices every day of finding ways to simply survive... Yesterday I watched as a father walked back from a day of fishing. He had empty baskets and three little boys watching with heavy eyes as they realized dinner would be thin that night. These images give such perspective about a life that has hardly their needs met to a life that has all our wants met. The difference is incredible. I hope to think about this image next time I feel disapointed with eating rice.

Through all the pain, struggles and hardship these people face, they demonstrate soo much love and care to eachother and outsiders (us). We have felt welcomed, embraced and cared for from the people. I am so awed by the resiliancy of the people. They demonstrate a strength and grace far beyond what I have seen before. I have never been so impressed with a people group in all my life. God Bless Cambodians!