Official Name: Royal Kingdom of Kampuchea
Religion: 90% Buddhism openly practiced with a revival of interest nationwide.
Bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia is one of the world's 20 poorest countries. It went through 20 years of war, during which nearly 2 million Cambodians died. Every family suffered traumas which could mark them forever, and many children found themselves orphaned or abandoned.
A French protectorate until 1953, Cambodia was caught up in war from 1970. In 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime took power and led a reign of terror until Vietnam invaded. War and oppression didn't stop until after the signing of a peace accord in Paris in 1991. During the dark years, between 1.5 and 3 million Cambodians lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands of others fled to refugee camps in neighboring countries. In order for free elections to take place in 1993, the UNHCR repatriated displaced people to a country that was still mined. Much remains to be rebuilt. and today Cambodians still face a fragile economic situation, the result of recent history. Hardship touches almost everyone in the country, especially children.
Buddhism has been the national religion since the 15th Century. The Khmer Rouge sought to eradicate all religion. 90% of the Buddhist monks and most Christians perished. Since 1978 there have been periods of tolerance, but only since 1990 have Christians been allowed to worship openly. However, they are treated as second class citizens. For centuries Cambodia has been in spiritual darkness. Ever-present spirit shrines, strong opposition of Buddhism to any ideological rival, and hatred generated by 20 years of war, all reveal the nature of the conflict. Please pray that the spirit powers which control the land may be forced to yield to the Lord Jesus!
In 1998 Rebecca felt God place a burden for missions on her heart, specifically for orphans and people suffering from HIV. She decided to begin with a short assignment to find exactly where she should be, to gain experience and learn from established missionaries. Rebecca subsequently spent a year working in Cambodia as a Mission's Assistant. While overseas she ran a Kid's Club and taught music and worship classes at the Khmer and Vietnamese churches. She also wrote several plays about Christian issues that are being performed in Khmer and Vietnamese as community outreach tools. On the 17th of June 2002, Rebecca commenced service in Cambodia as a Specialist Missionary and has been involved in developing community education programs and community theatres for gospel presentations.
Rebecca sends us a newsletter 3 or 4 times per year. Click here to find out what she has been up to and how you can partner with her in prayer.
If you are interested in emailing Rebecca and encouraging her with your thoughts, she would love to hear from you. becwilliams@online.com.kh
