Jan 3, 2024 All They Want is Peace

“During my visitations in Cambodia, I would end by asking if I could pray for them,” said QHM team member Damon. “When I asked what to pray for, they all pretty much asked for me to pray for the same thing: for the health of others, for their loved ones to have peace, and their families… I was just so moved by these unselfish prayers!”

“I only had one lady ask for prayer for her own health,” he said, “but other than that, they never asked for anything for themselves. And I remember thinking, ‘How unselfish, you have nothing; you could ask for anything.’”

As the QHM team walked along the narrow muddy paths going door to door, curious faces would peer out from the small shacks made from reclaimed wood and corrugated metal. Everyone smiled as they greeted the team, happy to meet their visitors. The team would talk and visit with each person they could, getting to know them, and inviting them to the clinics and evening meetings. But with each individual, Damon always wanted to leave them with a blessing and offer them prayer. When they shared their requests for the needs of their loved ones, Damon would ask a little more, to really know their personal heartfelt needs.

“Peace was always the first thing they asked for,” said Damon. “I remember thinking, ‘How unselfish, you have nothing; you could ask for anything, pay for this, give me this.’ But no, the main prayer requests were for peace and health.

“I think they ask for peace so much because their lives are in total turmoil,” Damon continued, thinking out loud about their situations. “Everything in their life is a challenge: getting water is a challenge, going to the bathroom is a challenge, sleeping, getting medical aid, getting food, the list goes on.

“Most of these people didn’t have regular jobs. They had to scavenge for things to live off of,” he continued weighing the factors. “These people don’t get to experience security. They have food insecurity, they have job insecurity, they have home insecurity, and that’s not very peaceful.”

Damon and the QHM team got to talk and debrief after the visitations. For some team members, it was their first time in Cambodia, and for many, their first time encountering such staggering poverty. The Cambodian team members shared some thoughts on how to truly help and encourage those living with such difficult conditions.

“How about their neighbors?” asked Damon, referring to their neighbors on the main road in big, fancy houses. The Cambodian team member paused for a moment before replying.

“They ignore them,” he said sadly. “They act like they’re not even there. I think they do that because some of them have climbed out of that bad situation. They may be afraid they’d fall back into that condition.”

“What?” Damon said in surprise. “I’d think they’d have so much more compassion, if they were once there. I don’t think I could stand to see children the way I did today, living in such conditions by filthy rotten water. It’s hard to imagine that there is no help from neighbors and the world.”

But praise the Lord, He does not ignore any of us, in our dark, troubled world! Jesus, Lord of all creation, condescended to live among us, to heal, encourage and save. And He’s given us a mission, to be His hands and voice of hope. As the QHM team closed their discussion, they offered up prayers for all the individuals they met.

Will you join us in praying for God’s work in Cambodia and around the world?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

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