We visited these Killing Fields about a month after we got here. It was the dry season so these pictures are really dry looking. But it made me think of the cycles of life, being in this place, basically a cemetery. Dead. And this one is pretty dismal. You rent a headset and go from marker to marker, they are numbered. It is very quiet and everyone has the utmost respect for the grounds. It is quite a personal thing. You go at your own pace. At some stops you will just hear music while you read and contemplate. It is heart wrenching.
I can only think that when their suffering ended, they were then in a place of loveliness with their families, free from pain, hearing the glorious truths of the gospel. Now waiting for their baptisms, marriages, and sealings to take place. A lot of work to do. Family history here is hard because it was all destroyed by the evil of the Khmer Rouge. There is a government center that has whatever records were found stored there. I think they are going to let Dad and I in, and we want to see if they will let the Church officially come and copy the records. So members here have only a record given verbally of at the most their grandparents. Everyone we talk to has a story about a member of his or her family killed or never found during the Khmer Rouge time. We have a church interpreter who is about 40. He witnessed the torturing and death of his parents and sister when he was 7. He told us he just found his brother last year. So many, many families torn apart.
So grateful that we have the knowledge of the gospel, and the temples to seal us together as families.
This is a post I made months ago. Since then we have been back to these killing fields. The grass is now green, and represents a new season of hope to me. As we all know there is always hope because of our Savior Jesus Christ. I love Him.
We are privileged to attend many baptisms.
Doctrine and Covenants 20:37
"...all those who humble themselves before God and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve Him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into His church.
Our little branch has its own font. They have no cars or any way to get to the Stake Center. It is too far away. So this works out great!
Dad is so good to take their pictures. We get them printed up for the families and email the missionaries theirs. The man in white is the branch President. President Sinaet.
Notice the baby has pants on.
The baby pants are on the floor behind them now.
The Mom picked up the pants, ready to go.
It is typical for a baby not to have a diaper or pants on here in this branch.
Baptisms at the North Stake Center. This is our ward we go to in the afternoon.
Yikes !... am I losing my touch? I need my babies.... all of you
This is another cute little Mom. Her husband has not committed to baptism...yet...
I love the Sister Missionaries! No, their dresses are not exactly the same. I know it looks like it. Different fabric. They got them at one of the big markets for $5. I knew someone would think that
New members always like us in their pictures. This is her husband by her side.
More baptisms at our branch. Sen Sok Branch
We visited these Killing Fields about a month after we got here. It was the dry season so these pictures are really dry looking. But it made me think of the cycles of life, being in this place, basically a cemetery. Dead. And this one is pretty dismal. You rent a headset and go from marker to marker, they are numbered. It is very quiet and everyone has the utmost respect for the grounds. It is quite a personal thing. You go at your own pace. At some stops you will just hear music while you read and contemplate. It is heart wrenching.
