Mission to Cambodia 2014
from Mary Lynn Ware, Nursing student
“We started off this hot and sweaty Cambodian Sunday morning with our friends at the Church of Christ. We took communion together and sang worship songs in both Khmer and English (see video below), such a beautiful and powerful worship experience. After church we had a quick lunch at the hotel of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, Pringles, local fruit, and Oreos.
Then, those of us who had not been before, went to the killing fields at Choeung Ek, just 30 minutes outside Phnom Penh. This was where most of the tortured prisoners from Tuol Slang were taken to be executed. 
Here, via headset, we heard accounts of survivors and horrifying facts of what occurred in the very place we stood. We saw piles of human skulls, bones, teeth, and clothing, some even still just now making it to the surface of the mass graves that cover the field. Pictured is a tree which was used to beat children to death, and one of the largest mass graves at this site, which held the bodies of 450 victims, both decorated with bracelets left by past visitors paying their respects. 
There really are no words to explain the feeling of being in this place. It is hard to believe the things that occurred here, and it is beautiful to see the resilience of the Cambodian people today, knowing the atrocities that took place not too long ago.
We returned home and cooled off. I didn’t mention how incredibly hot it was walking around outside for a couple hours at the killing field- I feel the need to mention that even the locals are talking about how hot it is. We had some free time before dinner and a few people went to play soccer with some Cambodian friends. We ended the night with a lovely dinner at an air conditioned restaurant at the end of our street!