Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The New 1Way Book Is Available Now!
Today is the day my friend! You can now buy the new 1Way book if you click here. You can also find it on Amazon.com.
Please leave some feedback. I would love to hear what you think.
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Friday, December 02, 2011
It's A Wrap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy to say that after years of starts and stops it the finished. The official release date is December 13th. Mark your calendars and save your money, we would love to have your support. You can see the preview page by clicking here. On behalf of my brothers we sincerely hope when you by it that the chapters inspire you in your relationship with the Lord and that you will want to walk with Him more intimately. This is not meant to replace your Bible but to drive you to it.Please spread the word. December 13th, 2011 the release of 1Way’s first book (Midnight Run: A 40 Day Souljourn Down The Narrow Road). Word of mouth is a powerful promo tool and we are depending on you and yours to share what God has done through us. It will be available on our create space e-store and amazon.com as well as our individual web sites (proverbnewsome.com, 2edgemusic.com, djmorph.com). It will also be available on our myspace and facebook pages. For our technophiles pursing Kindle as well. I will keep you posted.
I just wanna thank our fans who have stuck with us for some 20 years plus. We still get emails, and hear stories about what God has done, and is doing through our music collectively and individually. It is encouraging and quite frankly, humbling. Thank you (fans) for souljourning with us. Thank to our families as well. They have put up with a lot of pipe dreams, long nights, weekends away, rehearsals etc. Your sacrifices made this project and every project before it possible. Thank you! We love yall. We could not nor would we want to do this without you!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Life As I'm Livin' It!
I figured that since my last blog was me just venting about how I am not motivated enough to get some things that I really want to accomplish done that I would one, give an update on some of those things and two, tell you about my current existence.Since the last blog, I have been laser focused on the 1Way devotional book. Good news I have made some progress. I am working with a company for the cover art as well as going over each devo for editing and update purposes. We started writing this thing back in 2006. We did at one point have some interest from some ver interested parties but it never worked out. The good news is that having gone thru it devo by devo the material is still fresh, the messages are still relevant. This is very promising. My goals to have it published by end of this year. Since this is now my focus, the work on new music has come to a halt. I have accquired tracks and made some great relationships with writers but I am not currently recording right now until I know this book is finito! So unless someone hits me up to feature, no new music for a while.
So what exactly do I do when I am not doing music...... ministry! I work at Urban Youth Impact. It's a non-profit urban ministry here in Bomb Beach, Florida. Here I get to work with urban kids everyday showing them Christ. I guess I could if I wanted to call myself a musicianary/urban missionary. It is one of the greatest jobs I have ever had but probabaly the most challanging as well. Bad days seem to outweigh the good on most weeks but when the good weeks come, it is more than worth it! I also get to work with some really cool people from all different walks of life. Furthur stretching me as an individual. One of the cool things I get to do on a weekly basis is lead chapel. I am really enjoying that alot.
I have been told often by those that have heard me speak that God has gifted me and I can see and feel that when I allow myself to. Doing these weekly chapels is helping mehone my communication skills. I'm not sure what the future holds but I bet God has something in mind.
On the fam front, being a husband, and father has had it own rewards! It is so dope to watch my kids grow up knowing that we are doing the best we can to make Jesus a part of their childhood. Now before you get all weird, here is what I mean. We tend to share the things in life that are important to us with those we care about the most right? Well, Christ is a central part of our family and has been even before we had kids. It would only be right to share Him with our sons. Deuteronomy 4-9 says it like this: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This is what we are doing. Well, not tying anything on there heads but you get the point.
We are passing life down. Spiritual, generational information that is going to enrich them as they grow to appreciate whose they are, where they come from and where they are headed. I asked my son Micah recently how I was doing as a dad. He said " Your doing a great job dad. You love us and you work hard." in his simple statement I find comfort and success even if I don't think I'm as successful as I should be.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Summer Maddness Pt. 2
I finally had a chance to listen to "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It sounded better than ever. It was on a mixtape (CD) that was playing in the car so it hit me by surprise right after I posted the first blog! This summer has continued to be a good one.
Last week me and wifey got treated to a 3 day stay at The Breakers.
Being a Soflo native I was always very aware of The Breakers but was never fortunate enough to stay there, that is until now. Thanks to our job, Pam and I spent 3 relaxing days doing whatever we wanted to do there. No job, no schedule, no kids, no worries! Plus, we had an ocean view room. We are very much looking to go back sometime soon. It was totally not what I expected. I must admit, I had some prejudices going into it. Those preconceived notions were quickly erased by superb customer service and five star hospitality. The amenities at this place were incredible. I would definitely recommend it as a short get-a-way staycation (I call it breakcation) for any Bomb Beach resident, and as a vacation spot for anyone around the world who wants to know why I call this area of the country Bomb Beach. It's just simply paradise.
Last week me and wifey got treated to a 3 day stay at The Breakers.
Being a Soflo native I was always very aware of The Breakers but was never fortunate enough to stay there, that is until now. Thanks to our job, Pam and I spent 3 relaxing days doing whatever we wanted to do there. No job, no schedule, no kids, no worries! Plus, we had an ocean view room. We are very much looking to go back sometime soon. It was totally not what I expected. I must admit, I had some prejudices going into it. Those preconceived notions were quickly erased by superb customer service and five star hospitality. The amenities at this place were incredible. I would definitely recommend it as a short get-a-way staycation (I call it breakcation) for any Bomb Beach resident, and as a vacation spot for anyone around the world who wants to know why I call this area of the country Bomb Beach. It's just simply paradise.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
There Are Still Good Musicians Out There
I was checking out a friend’s blog and over hearing another friend sing a couple weeks ago. Then those two random incidents collided when both those friends were across from my cubicle discussing an artist named Brooke Fraser. The song was Shadowfeet. I went on a quest to find Brooke’s music. I found two titles: What To Do with Daylight and Brooke Fraser Live at the Aoteo: Auckland New Zealand. What a breath of fresh air! I was just listening to the song C.S. Lewis. When I was hit in the face by the line:"If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was not made for here". Whoa!!!! This is music that will speak to your heart as well as your situation. Get some headphones, get alone and check out Brooke's stuff she is phenomenally dope!
C.S. Lewis Song lyrics
If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared
[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become
[CHORUS]
[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming
C.S. Lewis Song lyrics
If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared
[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become
[CHORUS]
[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming
Friday, April 09, 2010
Vote For My City!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris Sardinas graduated from The King’s Academy in 2007. He’s currently 20 years old and attending the University of Central Florida. When he’s not “being a college student,” Chris is putting West Palm Beach, FL on the map. Literally.
Google is holding the “Google Model Your Town Competition,” and thanks to Chris, West Palm Beach is one of five global finalists (along with cities in Peru, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom).
Sardinas spent months building 3D models of buildings and structures located in downtown West Palm Beach, resulting in a 1-minute video .
The voting began on Thursday and will run until May 1. If the TKA grad’s model of West Palm Beach wins the competition, the Palm Beach County school district will receive $10,000. In addition, Google is doing the following for the winning city:
•Visit from a Google team, along with an event in the winners’ honor
•Video profile of the winning team and their town, to be featured on YouTube
•Virtual tour of the winning town that will be added to the Google Earth website
•International publicity in the form of blog posts, tweets and other media
•Additional coverage on Google websites
If you would like to vote for West Palm Beach, support Chris and the city, please cut and paste this link and vote:
http://www.google.com/events/modelyourtown/vote.html
Bomb Beach forever baby!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy New Year My Friends
This year, this decade is a wrap! Wow, 09 went by sooo fast. I can't really remember a lot about it. The more I think about it though, more and more stuff comes to mind.
February brought the birth of our second son Miles. In June I flew to Cambodia and spent 13 days traveling the country, at times in some rather remote locations. In July I lost my Aunt Bea who was 99 years old. She was like my grandma and I miss her a lot. In August 1Way (past and present members) reunited for Edge's release party. September 18Th was my son Micah's 3rd birthday. He had a party and that was pretty cool. In October Pam and I celebrated 6 married years together. We are having a great life! November 30Th I turned another year older and in December Miles celebrated his first Christmas. I also took another step in toward the finish line on my next project. Although the year was kinda of a blur, it was still a good year!
I once remember reading the biography of Bobby Seals, one of the founding members of the Black Panther Party. In the book Monday always represented a new beginning for him. And so it is with this New Year.
Whether the year got away from us or we could not wait for it to be over. We get to write another chapter in our own personal history that will build upon our mistakes of last year. For some of us, it will allow us to build upon the successes we had.
The New Year is kinda like an adult "do over". How many of us need that? I stopped being a resolutionist (one who makes resolutions every New Year) a while ago. When it comes to the considering the year in front of me I wanna be a revolutionist, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, evolve & mature into the person that Christ wants me to become. For me, this year, 2010 is about the pursuit of holiness. I dare you to join me. C'mon it's Monday!!!!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Proverb's Musicianary Trip: Banteay Chhmar, Day 11
This footage was from day 11 of my trip. The footage does not do the road justice, it was incredible bumpy! It was a long hot dusty rewarding day. Hopefully this clip will capture the feel of our days on the trip. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Proverb's Musicianary Trip: The Story of Preah Net Preah
John Clark of Musicianaries International tells the story of the Town and the Church of Preah Net Preah. Enjoy.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Proverb's Musicianary Trip: Jim McCandliss Talks About The Work Of Musicianaries International Inc.
I got a chance at one of our rice distro to talk with Jim McCandliss (president of Musicianaries International Inc.). We talked a bit about the purpose behind the Rice For Cambodia Tour 2009. Enjoy.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Proverb's Musicianary Trip: In The Van Day 2 Pt. 2 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
It took a while for me to get this one up but here is the follow up to Pt.1
We had just got back from the orphanage. Enjoy!
We had just got back from the orphanage. Enjoy!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
From The Top Pt. 2
At the news of Bobby's graduation, I was stunned and confused. I knew God was calling me on this trip but what would happen to the trip now? Well, enter John Clark. My friend Aaron and I met with John to see what was goin’ on with the trip. Was it still happening? How would that look without Bobby? He assured us that although there was a lot of grief in and around the organization that the trip was going forward because they believed that is what Bobby and God would want. Whew! Cool, so we are still going to Cambodia! Then John told us what the trip would look like, what we would be doing. He talked about the feel and the vibe of the Kingdom of Cambodia. He talked of its people who seemed to be his friends. He spoke of them not as people he was going to help but as friends he was going to see again and hang out with. I was really intrigued by that. He spoke a lot of serving them and loving on them. He got me amped to go, not that I was not before but now I was all in! As with any mission trip I had to raise support to get me to Cambodia. Even in economically stable time this is a challenge, but in these present days even more so. People have so little to spare. When they give now a days, some of them are literally giving the widow's mite (Mark 12:41-43).
So with the support of my wife and family, I wrote this letter with God's guidance:
"I am writing to tell you about a unique mission’s opportunity I have in front of me. I have been invited by Musicianaries International, Inc. to go on a mission trip with them to Cambodia! This is unique because I will be using my Holy Hip-Hop music as a ministry tool as well as doing typical missionary field work. I went on a mission trip to the Middle East, which was life-changing, but to go and use my music…Wow! What an amazing thing!
I will be arriving in Cambodia on Wednesday, July 1st and departing on Monday, July 13th. The following is a description of what a “typical day” could look like according to Musicianaries International, Inc.
“Each day is quite unique but days are typically spent traveling, distributing rice at least once a day, sometimes up to 3 times a day and free medical care. The nights will have concerts with up to 30,000 in attendance, and a few evenings we will be doing television shows with live audiences and about a 1.5-3 million viewing audience.”
I want to invite you to be a part of the trip by helping me take the gospel to the nations. Here is how you can help:
Give: You can give to send me. The trip will cost around $3,200, with the first half due by April 4th and the remainder due by May 29th. I know that we are in tough economic times, but just pray about it. If the answer is yes, give! Give and know that God will supply for your needs beyond what you are sacrificially giving for this trip.
If you would like to give, please make the check out to:
Musicianaries International, Inc.
Place a sticky note or attach a note by paper clip to the check stating that the check is for Proverb Newsome’s Cambodia mission trip fund.
Send your check to:
Musicianaries International, Inc.
P.O. Box 31868
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420-1868
Your donation will be tax-deductible in the USA (Fed tax ID# 65-0885954). You will get a tax receipt at the end of the calendar quarter and at the end of the year.
Pray: You can pray for me and the entire team that is going. Pray for our safety, our effectiveness, our travels within the country, and good health for the entire trip.
Tell: Let your friends who may be willing and able to give know about the trip.
Whether you decide to help in one or all of the above ways, you have my deepest appreciation!
Pray, Listen, Obey.
Proverb Newsome"
I penned this and sent it to all my friends. I even sent it to my fans thru my website www.proverbnewsome.com. I put it out there with full faith that God would provide even in these times. Before we knew it my internal trip cost were covered. This was a testimony to my wife who was in but had serious doubts about actually raising the money, but was now seeing God's hand at work. The rest of the fund raising was a exercise in faith. As I went to trip trainings to get me acclimated for my time in a foreign country, we waited for the rest of the money to come. This wait was an extended period of time that pressed right up to the time I was to leave to go. We were beginning to doubt then 1 week before we got a call saying that my trip cost were covered! God came thru. What an awesome time of trusting and obeying. Oswald Chambers was right there is not accounting for the afterwards of obedience. Now it was just a matter of getting the stuff I needed to take. Some clothes, kicks, and personal items. I was going to Cambodia.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
From The Top Pt. 1
Now that I have begun to process my trip, I thought that I would start at the very beginning. I have been asked "how did you come to go on a mission trip to Cambodia anyways?” Well, the trip found me actually. My friend Aaron Mondok was about to sign on as Musicianaries’ videographer and was told by the organizations founder, Bobby Michaels, to keep an eye out for musicians. So Aaron being a good friend, asked if he was looking for any Hip-Hop musicians too? Bobby laughed and said why do you know any? That was the beginning of a very long journey. Aaron then asked me if I was interested in going to Cambodia. Then he told me about his convo with Bobby. I gave Aaron a CD (A Common Man’s Opus) to give to Bobby. This led to some phone tag and eventually a 30 minute plus phone convo with Bobby. He was very excited at the prospect of having me on the trip. He told me he loved the CD and that the Cambodians would love the music as well. He also stated that I would probably be the first Hip-Hop artist to visit the country. Of course I was a little skeptical at that statement but ok I’ll roll with it for now. So I told I would love to go but need to talk with my wife and pray (in my heart though, I was in 100%, it’s not like the devil is going to invite me to go preach the Gospel in another country right?). So I did just that and let them know later that I was in. This was the first and last time I would ever talk to Bobby.
After our convo, Bobby was leaving for Asia and Australia for a month, but had been very sick with the flu. He was traveling in Cambodia when he suffered some very serious heart issues. A web update on Bobby's condition said: "This morning he woke up and said that he was 'feeling the best he had in 2 weeks.” Around noon (Cambodia time) Bobby passed out. They took him to the local health clinic as there is no hospital in the small town they were in. "After running a few IV's through him, it was evident that he needed to get to a hospital," said a family spokesperson. An ambulance brought Lee (Bobby’s wife), Bobby and a Doctor and his wife (who's a nurse) that were attending the conference to the main hospital in Phnom Penh which was a few hours’ drive. Jim and Cheryl McCandliss met up with my parents at the hospital in Phnom Penh. They soon found that Bobby's heart is only working at 30 percent, there is fluid around his heart and there is not much blood flow to his heart. He had an infection in his cardiac artery. But, he had the best cardiologists in Cambodia looking after him! Jim McCandliss, who was traveling with Bobby, was asked what he thought of the hospital and he said, "The conditions are very basic, but that he was confident in the Doctors' and nurses' abilities."
The spokesperson said the rest of the tour was on hold right now and it looks like they will be in Cambodia for a few more days than scheduled. In the morning the Doctors took Bobby out of the room to go run some tests. On their way down to the exam room, Bobby's heart stopped beating and they resuscitated him and took him immediately into surgery. They put 2 stents in his heart and removed a blood clot. After recovering from this surgery, he was then transferred back to his room where his wife was waiting for him. While they were setting him back up in his room, his heart failed again and once again they resuscitated him. The reason for this was that the muscles were too weak to do their job. His heart was accepting the stents though, and Bobby did really well for the next 6-8 hours. He had tubes down his throat and needed to rest and stillness. He had been quite restless though during all of this. Bobby was resting in Thailand, trying to regain enough strength so that he could undergo surgery. But because Bobby's organs were beginning to shut down, the doctors had no choice but to try to repair his heart. Shortly after going into the operating room, before the surgeons could start the operation, Bobby's heart stopped with an instant 'flat-line.' The medical team tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate him but his heart did not respond.
Then I got this email: "Our hearts are aching as we tell you that Bobby passed away this evening.”We are deeply saddened by our loss...but rejoice that Bobby did get totally healed...with a new heart, kidneys, and any other part that might have needed fixing. The Lord knew the plans He had for Bobby...and today was his graduation day as he went to the One he loved the most and served so faithfully. We know he was carried away in the arms of Jesus.
Wow, I didn’t know what to expect next. I knew I was called to go but what was going to happen to the trip now? The rest was a test of faith. How it turned out was amazing! Stay tuned for part 2.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Cambodian Reflections #1: Beginning To Process
After being home for only 2 days now, the most often asked question is how was your trip? Well, before I even left Cambodia I had already determined not to answer it. There is no summary statement, one main theme or lesson learned. So my answer to the question will be spread out over a series on blogs here on this site. As I began in the next few days and weeks to process my trip, experiences, journal entries and video footage, I will post it all right here for you to read and chime in on. Hopefully you will.
I remember near the middle of the trip asking the Lord what it was He wanted to teach me by leading me half way across the globe. His answer was “Poverty looks the same the world over, only the language it speaks is different.” As I tried to process what that meant it was really clear that most of what I was seeing was not life changing or shocking it was just poverty in another country.
I have seen houses like theirs on my trips to rural Georgia as a kid. In a strange way I guess I could relate to their poorness. It was just interesting to see how they handled it, with gratefulness and joy. Thankfulness for the help lent to them.
Would Americans respond the same or would we respond with entitlement on our lips?
In addition to be a Hip-Hop musician, I work with urban kids who wear entitlement like a badge of honor. As we handed out toothbrushes at the clinics we did, the Cambodians would say thanks (AKun) and walk away happy someone cared enough to bring them a toothbrush and show them how to use it. The kids I work with would say: “I don't like the green toothbrush, I want a red one. Or I don't like Colgate toothpaste, I want Crest. No gratitude, no joy, nada! Just gimme on my terms or take it back. Or even worse, they take it, complain and toss it on the ground a few steps later.That is not a need getting met, that is I'm taking because I can get it.
Even in these rough economic times, instead of being grateful for what we have, we are making demands on how to get what we don't need. We could learn a lot from the Cambodians.
photo by Ryan Gunn
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Goodbye Kampuchea!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing time I have had here in Cambodia! It is now day 12 of my trip. Hopefully you have been keeping up with me on Twitter(www.twitter.com/proverbialman) and facebook.
I have posted a few blogs while I have been here but once I get home and process the whole trip with the help of my journal ( thanks Sabrina & Cyndi) an many photos I will post more. You will probably here about my trip for some time to come!
I have had some amazing concerts, carried many bags of rice and just been amazed at how little the Cami people have yet how happy and content they seem with it. I want to personally thank you for your prayers while I am away. I have felt them. Keep them coming because I fly out tomorrow night to come back home to Bomb Beach, USA. thanks also if you gave to send me!
Look out for video footage on my youtube page too!
Souljournin'With God,
Proverb
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Boom TV & Ensuing Madness
On Saturday the music team and myself got to be on TV. The channel was TV 3 and it has show called Boom TV. It is the most watched show in all of Cambodia. An estimated 4.5 million people watch this show. It's a very big deal. So we went for sound check it went well. We were the only Christian group on the show. All the other acts were native and secular at that. Prior to coming here our team leaders told us that the culture was modest and all that stuff but once we came back at show time I was not able to tell that at the station. It was like America. Dudes with saggin pants and chicks in tight fitting gear. It would appear that Hip-Hop has touched Cambodia at least in a fashion sense. In any event when it got to our time to perform we had a great time! We sang I Am A Friend of God, then I did a song from my CD (Get At It), then we did Lord I Give You My heart. After a short commercial break my new friends Melanie & Daud both did their solos and we ended with One Way. It was a great night of worship!
So today we got to walk around what is know as the Russian Market. We were done shopping and heading toward our vans and 10 yards away I saw a dude waving at me or at least I thought it was me. The vendors here are kind of aggressive here and then I thought maybe it's not me he is waving at. As I got closer he said to me, "Hey did I you on TV 3 last night! I politely said yea shook his hand and found my team (who spread the story around all day of how I had a fan).It was very surreal. I am blessed to be on a very talented team of musicians & singers and happy to be doing God's work here in Cambodia.
Stay tuned for video!
Horrific Story of Tuol Sleng & The Killing Fields
Thursday the team and I got to visit the genocide museum in Cambodia called Tuol Sleng. At one time it was the high school the best and brightest that Cambodia had to offer. Think of a really elite high school in your town that everyone wants to go to and then you'll have a good idea of what Tuol sleng was. Pol Pot who was the evil guy that brought Cambodia to it's knees in the mid to late seventies, once applied here but was rejected. This is a fact I found out while on the tour. When he came back to Cambodia in 1975 he turned this elite learning environment into a torture chamber.Here Cambodian were forcefully interrogated to give up anyone in their family on any of their friend who were educated. They had the eyes gauged out, their finger nail pulled from the cuticle and tortured with water. As we walked through the room where this happened, I could still see the blood spatter on the ceiling. It was old and faded but very distinct. Dr. Setan Lee, who is a killing field survivor said that when he first visited Tuol Sleng after the reign of Pol Pot, that there was still the stench of human bodies, and when as the blood was even more visible. This was reminiscent of when I visited Dachau, which was a Nazi concentration camp in Germany.
It was a very heavy day. A lot of pain still lives there.
When we left Tuol Sleng, we then went to the Killing Fields. Here an estimated 20,000 people were slaughtered by the ruthless Khmer Rouge. The most unsettling thing for me was not seeing the mass burial sites, although that was hard. It was not seeing all the exposed human bones (and in some cases the pieces of clothing that were attached to them) everywhere. The unsettling part for me was seeing the tree were the Khmer Rouge used to kill infants. They would hold them by the ankles a swing & smash them against a tree that is still there. I saw it! Our guide that was taking us through the Killing fields ( not Dr. Lee at this point) was very descriptive. I could since the disdain in his voice as he said the names of Pol Pot and the other Khmer Rouge leaders. He was bitter and upset. He has every right to be because 30 years later the Tribunal is still going on. One of the leaders Duch has been back to visit the Killing fields. The guide is not a believer so his anger is eating him up and you can her it when he speaks. We were told by our team leaders that he drinks to forget his pain. This is what he told to them. We prayed with him after, he was visibly touch by it. This was a very heavy day.
I am glad I came to Cambodia because now I know why there are kids with bloated stomachs and no clean water. Khmer Rouge ruined this culture. They are trying to rebuild and move on but have such a long way to go. we are here to show them God cares about their struggle and that he want to show them, through Musicianaries how deep His love is for them.
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