The Khmer Exodus

On the heel of the fall of the Khmer Rouge, tens of thousands of Cambodians fled the country and were placed in camps in Thailand near the Cambodian-Thai border. In a way, it resembled the exodus of the Israeli people out of Egypt into the wilderness. Thankfully, the “wandering” in the camps didn’t last 40 years like the people in Moses’ time.

When the truth about the extent of Khmer Rouge’s bloodbath became clear and daily TV images displayed the hardships and agony of survivors in the camps, an avalanche of relief efforts poured in from many nations around the world, especially from the Christian churches. The latter came in great numbers to minister to the refugees and show the love of Christ to them. As a result, several thousand Cambodians came to know Jesus, to receive His grace, and to find the true and almighty God. For many, this was the God of Heaven and earth they have called upon for help when they were in the hands of the merciless Khmer Rouge soldiers, during their treacherous border-crossing journey toward Thailand, or when they were cruelly dumped at the mine-filled Phnom Dang Rek border region of Cambodia after having successfully crossed the border.