Growing up
I was born and raised in a Buddhist home in Cambodia. I didn't hear about Christ until I was 17 years old. Before I share my salvation experience with you I would like to tell you about my life before I knew the Lord.

Prior to 1975 there was war around us but life was normal for my family and I. I went to school and participated in regular childhood activities. My Dad was a teacher and encouraged us children to study hard and to learn as much as we could so that we would have a better future.

My parents were no different than parents here in the United States, they dreamed of their children having better lives than theirs.

Then in 1975 the Cambodian communists took over the country. At that point all Cambodians thought that the war was over and that there would be peace. Joy soon turned to horror as the soldiers, without warning ordered us to evacuate our homes immediately and leave the city.

They told us to take just a few things because we were only going for 3 days. A few days became an eternity; the Khmer Rouge (who were the Cambodian communists) had tricked us. We were now their prisoners in the countryside of Cambodia. This is referred to as the Pol Pot regime; Pol Pot was an evil leader who led his Khmer Rouge soldiers in genocide of close to two million of their own people over a period of three years and eight months. This is known as the Killing Fields.

Life under the Pol Pot regime was difficult to bear. Regardless of where we lived we were all sent into the countryside, away from our homes. Then we were separated from our families and divided by age and gender. We were sent to labor camps with those our own age, away from our parents. The Khmer Rouge's goal was to break apart the family unit and to wipe out all the educated people thereby weakening the country so that they could more easily control us.

We were forced to work long hours and were given very little food to eat. I remember one incident that happened to me, I was so hungry that I snuck into the rice field and tried to catch some fish. I was caught by one of the village leaders. He carried a long machete and a pistol on his waist. He stood in front of me and said, "What are you doing?" "You know that fishing is an offense against Angka (meaning Pol Pot's organization), you are lucky that I didn't kill you!" "If you do this again I will cut your head off right here in the rice field!" I thought, "Oh, if he doesn't kill me now, will he kill me later or order the soldiers to kill me?" It was an overwhelming thought and I feared for my life for many weeks to come.

Every night they sent a couple of Khmer Rouge agents to hide beside our shelter, listening in on our private conversations trying to catch anything that might incriminate us. We were careful but it was hard to believe that not even the nighttime could provide a haven from the ever-present Khmer Rouge. One Cambodian slogan that was used during the Khmer Rouge regime was "plant the silent tree", it meant that we should be quiet and keep our thoughts to ourselves.

Although we abided by this slogan, each passing day and week saw more of my friends disappearing from the group. We were told that they were sent to the correctional facility because they had done this or that, but those taken to the "correctional facility" never returned. The disappearance of my peers created even more fear in my heart.

One day in 1978, I was allowed to work with my Dad, I can't remember the reason they allowed me to work with him, it was unusual. Right about midmorning two soldiers walked toward my Dad and I. They were dressed in their usual black clothing, carrying AK47s; they spoke to my Dad and said, "We want you to go to the village to cut bamboo."

My Dad and I looked at each other and we both knew that his time had come. He asked permission for us to have a few minutes to say good-bye to each other. The soldiers agreed to allow us privacy; my Dad slipped his watch off his wrist and told me to give it to my Mom the next time I saw her. Then one of the soldiers said, "Let's go, your time is up". So my Dad said his last word to me, telling me to take good care and to tell my Mom the same.

After that he started to walk away ahead of the two soldiers. The soldiers held their guns in such a way that I knew they were ready to shoot if my Dad would try to run away from them. I watched until I couldn't see them anymore.

Decisions
That night I went to my shelter, ate and went to sleep, crying and praying to God to help me to someday see my Dad again. I didn't yet have a personal relationship with God but in my distress I cried out to Him. I wanted to believe that my Dad really did go to cut bamboo and that he would come back.

I knew that I had to be careful of showing my emotions or telling my peers what had happened because the Khmer Rouge agents were with us everywhere we went, day and night; I was no longer able to trust anyone. I felt lonely and withdrew, I cried until I had no more tears each night. Many thoughts came to my mind; I hoped that someday I could get revenge for what those soldiers did to my Dad. I was full of anger and bitterness towards those who had hurt my family and friends.

Escape
At the end of 1978 Cambodia was invaded by Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge were forced into the jungle. Everyone scattered into the countryside looking for their family members, hoping to be reunited. I was looking for my family as well. Some Cambodians were forced into the jungle with the Khmer Rouge and forced to serve them. I was finally able to find all of my siblings and my Mom in the rice field.

We then were able to stay in the village but the war between Pol Pot and the Vietnamese soldiers continued. There were many times that we were in the middle of the crossfire. Although we were together as a family life continued to be dangerous and a struggle. One of my younger sisters died of starvation during this time.

During the same month my family and I searched for my dad but he has not been seen or heard from since that day in 1978. We stayed in the country for a few months and then made the decision to flee to Thailand. We escaped through the jungle where there were no paths to the refugee camp across the border in Thailand; many people lost their lives because of land mines. We reached Khao-I-Dang refugee camp safely in 1979.

Finally free
While I was in Khao-I-Dang refugee camp I came to know Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and savior. I learned about the love of God, His forgiveness and salvation through His Son. Since that time I've learned and grew, I was baptized six months after I got saved. I also learned that God wants me to forgive those who killed my dad as He has forgiven me.

Then in 1981 my family and I moved from Khao-I-Dang Camp to Galang Camp, Indonesia. This was in preparation for travel to the United States as refugees. During my stay in Galang the Lord worked in my heart and gave me a desire to serve Him.

I was involved with World Relief; my job was to greet Christian newcomers as they got off the boats from other camps in Thailand and to let them know where the World Relief office was located and where the church was. At that time I was young in my faith, but eager to learn and to serve. I was also involved with the choir and fellowshipped with this group. We met almost every evening to practice singing, study the Bible and pray together.

Serving Christ
Through this experience the Lord gave me joy, hope and happiness in my heart. At the end of 1981 I came to the United States, first to Texas and then to Oregon. While adapting to the new culture the Lord continued to show me that He is faithful and allowed me to serve Him in many areas, including youth ministry. In September of 1984 I met Suzanne and the Lord brought us together in marriage, we served the Lord together in Oregon until 1988.

After that we moved to San Jose. While living in San Jose, I attended San Jose Christian College. I continued to serve in the Cambodian Church as an elder and in the youth ministry. In 1999 we moved to Hollister and we were looking for a church. One day our brother Charlie and his son knocked on our door and invited us to church. We have been fellowshipping at Calvary since that time. In 2001, I visited Cambodia for the first time since I left in 1979.

The purpose of my trip was to visit my sister. I also wanted to do some sight-seeing, perhaps see Angkor Wat. But the Lord had other plans for me and used me to reach the lost. Many people were eager to hear, looking for answers.

Seven people made salvation decisions while I was in my village. As I walked through the village people would call out to me and ask me to come to their houses and share the good news with them. In Luke 10:1-4, Jesus gave instructions to the seventy and sent them out to the harvest field. Jesus sees that the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.

The harvest in Cambodia truly is plentiful and the doors are open everywhere. The workers are few, I used to say, "Lord, I know my people need you but please send someone else" even though I knew there was tremendous need. I came up with all kinds of excuses because I didn't want to go and because I have seen enough suffering or thought that I would not be suitable, that I am inadequate, not capable, can't speak, not spiritually mature or what if they don't believe me?

But the Lord said, Go and I'll be with you. Since the trip in 2001 God has placed a burden in my heart and caused me to realize that He can use me even though I am just an ordinary person. He wants me to be obedient to His call. I know now that God wants me to go and declare His Kingdom. My family and I are committed to seeking God's leading in serving Him in Cambodia.