A Refined Call
Twenty-six years ago I was introduced to Cambodia, a country of wonderful beauty but also profound torment. At that time the genocide was over, but civil war raged on as this abandoned society struggled to survive. The threat of the Khmer Rouge taking over the country again and re-instituting the Killing Fields was very real. Fear and hopelessness ruled in a context where no western embassies existed, no international trade or diplomatic agreements were in place, the borders were sealed (except to Vietnam, which was also embargoed), and Cambodia wasn’t even allowed a seat in the UN.
Only a tiny handful of organizations were ‘foolish’ enough to cross over those forbidden borders and assist Cambodia in whatever way they could. Ratanak is proud to be numbered among those few.
Everywhere we turned there was a combination of terror and hopelessness. Cambodians capable of rebuilding the country were long dead and no one was coming to help. The needs were overwhelming. Ratanak set about assisting in any way it could through projects of medical and emergency relief. These developed into diverse programs of medical, agricultural, educational and social services development. There were days we felt like we were involved in everything… and we needed to be!
The Cambodia of today is a much different place. Since the signing of the Paris Peace Accords and the coming of the UN in the 90s, Cambodia has thrown open its borders and many charities and non-government organizations (NGOs) have rushed to assist. Throughout this period Ratanak has maintained a very diverse range of programs to minister to those desperate and poverty stricken. While many organizations are now in Cambodia and great strides have been made in rebuilding, there remains a dark legacy of abuse. Its roots trace back to the dismantling of all moral and humane principles during the genocide. It is into these areas of profound abuse that God continues to call Ratanak. Other organizations are now available to specialize in areas of medical development, educational training and the building of infrastructure. Ratanak’s call remains to serve those most vulnerable in Cambodia.
Through the years God has been preparing and refining us to work in the darkest of areas. This has been evident in how he’s equipped us to serve those sold into sexual slavery and those trafficked – people who have had every dignity stripped from them, who have been reduced to a “product” to be consumed and thrown away.
Ratanak has developed a unique skill set in being able to both cope with and minister to those abused, exploited, trafficked and enslaved. This is not work for the faint of heart but it is what we feel strongly we are both called and equipped to do.
You will notice the emphasis of Ratanak programs shifting more and more towards ministry to those horribly exploited. This is an active and prayerful decision. We have developed expertise in confronting human trafficking and exploitation, and have chosen to follow the Lord’s leading deeper into these areas. We are confident, as in the past and despite feeling somewhat overwhelmed, that we will continue to see both light and hope born in the darkest of places. Please continue to join us on this journey as Ratanak seeks to refine our call and travel deeper into some of the darkest issues confronting Cambodians.