A new highway!

Throughout the 1970s as the Khmer Rouge ruled here in Cambodia, 1/3 of the population was wiped out.  The entire city of Phnom Penh was cleared out and destroyed. A once bustling capital city was left completely dead and vacant. The city would never be the same. 

But there is good news! God is restoring this nation! This is visible in the way that things are being rebuilt, finally….after 30 years of destruction. Our hosts here say that even 3 years ago, there was no rebuilding happening. But now there are new roads, new buildings in the cities, and new job opportunities. The first ever overpass that Cambodia has ever had is going up across town….these things are making history here. 

Earlier this week as we drove by the new highway and overpass being constructed, God immediately reminded me of Isaiah 35 to me.

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
Everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

What an incredible promise from the Lord! I believe what is happening in the physical, with the development of new infrastructure, is representative of what’s happening in the spiritual environment here in Cambodia! Where there has been death and destruction, there will be life! Where there has been bondage and oppression, there will be freedom! Where there has been despair, there will be JOY!