Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202416S
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00:05 [theme music]
00:07 ♪♪ 00:43 [jungle sounds] 00:49 >> Welcome to It Is Written 00:50 Canada. 00:51 Thank you for joining us. 00:52 The arrival of the Khmer Rouge 00:54 in April of 1975 00:56 marked the beginning 00:57 of a horrific era 00:58 in Cambodian history. 01:01 >> The Khmer Rouge 01:02 told the people of Cambodia 01:04 to leave their cities 01:06 to save themselves 01:08 from an American bombing 01:09 that was never planned, 01:11 with the promise that the 01:13 Cambodian people could return 01:16 within three days. 01:18 However, the people were 01:20 never allowed to return 01:22 to their homes. 01:24 Anyone who did not leave 01:26 the city was killed. 01:29 >> The prisoners in the camps 01:32 were subjected to 01:34 grueling conditions, 01:35 working up to 90 hours a week 01:38 in the boiling heat, 01:39 pouring rain, and little to 01:41 no food, only a bit of 01:43 watered down rice porridge. 01:46 The leader of the Khmer Rouge, 01:48 communist dictator Pol Pot, 01:49 communist dictator Pol Pot, 01:51 was the one who was held 01:53 responsible for perpetrating 01:54 the Cambodian genocide, 01:56 killing more than 01:58 two million people, targeting 01:59 intellectuals, Muslims, 02:01 Christians, Vietnamese, Thai, 02:02 Christians, Vietnamese, Thai, 02:03 Chinese and other religious, 02:06 ethnic and non-Khmer people 02:08 who lived in the country. 02:11 From 1975 to 1979, more than 02:14 a quarter of the Cambodian 02:16 population perished through 02:17 executions, overwork, starvation 02:20 and disease. 02:22 >> Today, our special guest 02:24 is Dr. Sereivudh Ly, 02:26 who miraculously survived the 02:28 Cambodian killing fields 02:30 and has agreed to share 02:32 his story with us 02:34 on It Is Written Canada. 02:37 >> Dr. Ly, thank you for joining 02:39 us on It Is Written Canada. 02:40 >> Thank you, Mike, for the 02:41 time, for the invitation 02:43 for me to be here, 02:44 it's an honour to share. 02:45 >> Dr. Ly, you were quite young, 02:48 you were in your early teens 02:49 when this happened, when the 02:50 Khmer Rouge came in. 02:53 Take us back to that time. 02:54 It was a very dark time. 02:56 What do you remember? 02:57 What happened? 02:58 [DR. LY] When the Khmer Rouge 02:59 came in, in 1975, the darkest... 03:03 ...part of my life. 03:04 I lose my both two sister and 03:06 two brother and my both parents 03:08 were killed by the Khmer Rouge 03:10 during that time. 03:12 And because he used to be 03:15 a captain in the army, 03:16 and so in the government 03:18 during that time, when they 03:20 found out he was an official... 03:23 ...from the government before. 03:24 So they kill him, 03:25 they slaughter him, yeah. 03:26 I believe that the leading of 03:28 God that we went to visit 03:29 my grandmas in the different 03:31 province, and then the airport 03:33 was bombed, we cannot fly back. 03:35 And from there we separate. 03:37 And I never heard from them 03:39 since that time until now. 03:41 >> Yeah, it's a miraculous thing 03:42 that you escaped. 03:44 Were you safe where you were? 03:45 >> Not really. 03:46 Because when in that city 03:47 they all forced us out, 03:49 to get out also. 03:51 So we had to walk out from 03:53 the city because they told us 03:55 that only three days, 03:56 you can take whatever you can 03:56 you can take whatever you can 03:57 take, but only three days. 03:59 So in the chaos, 04:01 you can see 04:03 everyone had to come out from 04:04 their house at the same time. 04:05 The road, it fill up 04:06 with people. 04:08 It's not just the one who can 04:09 walk, but the one in hospital, 04:11 they have to move out with 04:12 the hospital bed also 04:14 with the family. 04:15 And if no family to push 04:17 them out, they just killed them 04:18 along the road there. 04:20 Yeah. 04:20 [RENÉ] So, Dr. Ly, you had to 04:22 leave once again. 04:23 What did you take with you 04:25 when you left? 04:26 >> They told us just to take 04:27 what we can take. 04:28 Don't take too much because 04:30 only three days you will 04:31 come back to your place. 04:32 So I took some of my uniform, 04:35 student uniform with me. 04:36 Those clothes that able to 04:38 for me to exchange to get 04:40 some rice, some food to eat 04:41 along the way. 04:42 And I, one thing I remember 04:44 so well with the small ax, 04:45 so well with the small ax, 04:46 because I have two sister and 04:47 my grandma, and I was 04:48 a young boy, and want to 04:50 take them so I take. 04:51 I need to take this with me. 04:52 [MIKE] You took an ax? 04:53 >> Yeah, take an ax with me 04:54 just in case it's something 04:55 I can protect them, right? 04:57 But never knowing that ax, 04:59 it helped me when we get to 05:00 the place in the jungle... 05:03 ...where they set us, 05:04 ...where they set us, 05:05 a lot of land in the bush 05:08 and they step ten step for 05:10 and they step ten step for 05:11 each family, take this, 05:13 your plant. 05:14 And then whatever you have, 05:15 you had to cut the tree, 05:16 cut the bush, everything. 05:18 So you can make a hut to stay. 05:20 The small ax that I have, that 05:22 what I able to for me to cut. 05:24 So the first two week of one, 05:26 I think almost two week, 05:27 we don't have anything 05:28 to sleep under. 05:29 So we sleep open field 05:31 because I cannot cut anything 05:33 too much. 05:34 >> So you were leaving the city 05:36 and people were getting on 05:37 the back of a truck. 05:39 >> I lift up my grandmas and 05:41 my sister go up on the truck, 05:43 and then suddenly the 05:44 Khmer Rouge came around. 05:46 The driver came around with 05:48 a rifle and pointed to me, 05:50 "You get you got down." 05:52 Because I'm trying to hang, 05:53 to go up with them already. 05:55 And they said, "No. 05:56 Get down and walk." 05:58 I said, "Why? 05:59 It's not fair. 06:00 Why the people can ride on the 06:01 truck, I cannot ride?" 06:03 "I said I told you to get down 06:05 and walk. 06:06 Do you want to die now?" 06:08 I said no. 06:09 Okay, I bring my grandma and 06:12 my sister back down and─ 06:14 but in my heart, I'm not happy 06:17 because it's not fair. 06:19 It's not right. 06:21 But─ and then he look at me 06:22 as he know that I'm angry. 06:24 But he said to me, "When you go 06:26 to where you want to go, 06:28 the village that where you stay, 06:30 you plant two trees, the front 06:32 tree and the back tree." 06:34 I don't understand, 06:35 what does it mean? 06:36 Why I need to plant and cut 06:37 a tree, when I plant this... 06:39 I don't understand that until 06:41 a couple maybe a year later, 06:43 I begin to understand what 06:44 the meaning, what he's 06:45 trying to say. 06:46 But why I'm share this story? 06:48 Because I feel like God have 06:50 sent that guy to 06:52 save my life. 06:53 And we walk away, just only 06:55 my family and then I later on 06:57 see one family come along. 06:59 And then after we move out 07:01 about a kilometre, we begin 07:02 to see dead people 07:03 along the highway 07:05 and I begin to realize. 07:06 I put the picture together, 07:08 that's the reason why the truck 07:09 had come back so quickly 07:11 because they told us about 07:13 50 kilometres, how can it 07:14 come back in less than 07:15 half an hour? 07:17 Now I put the picture together, 07:18 begin to realize that 07:20 I'd been saved. 07:22 [MIKE] So all those people 07:22 on that truck... 07:24 [DR. LY] They were killed 07:24 along the way there. 07:25 [MIKE] Right. 07:26 >> That's why when they 07:27 bring the people out, 07:29 the truck coming back 07:30 in less than half an hour, 07:31 the same truck, because 07:32 remember watching 07:34 the license plate. 07:35 You can say that it's a 07:37 accident or miracle. 07:40 To me, now I know the Lord. 07:42 God have send people to help. 07:46 >> So, Dr. Ly, what kind of 07:48 lessons did you learn 07:50 while you were surviving? 07:52 >> Authorities, responsibility 07:54 and accountability. 07:56 You know, during that time, 07:58 during those three year, 08:00 eight months, 20 days, 08:02 I have authority to disobey 08:04 or to obey what they 08:06 tell me to do. 08:07 And usually they tell you 08:10 to do this, a certain thing. 08:11 When you're done, you're free 08:13 to find food, find something 08:15 to eat. 08:16 But if you're not done, 08:17 you don't have food. 08:18 We all have authority to choose 08:19 to disobey or to obey. 08:22 And when I obey, that's what 08:23 make me survive. 08:25 Even though my friend 08:28 complaining, I keep, 08:29 calm him down. 08:30 Don't complain. 08:31 Let's just do it 08:31 Let's just do it 08:32 and if we survive from 08:33 the morning to the evening, 08:35 we have one day. 08:36 Because that time I tell 08:37 my friend and said, you know, 08:39 "Look at the sunrise and sunset. 08:40 That tell─ that helped me. 08:42 That gave me hope. 08:43 Because the sunset and sunrise 08:45 never stop, regardless what 08:46 never stop, regardless what 08:47 people die around me. 08:49 So I tell myself, if I 08:52 just don't complain, just obey, 08:55 do my job, responsibility they 08:57 give to me. 08:58 Cut the ten tree, or clear these 08:59 ten trunk, all those things, 09:01 just keep doing. 09:02 When we obey and responsible, 09:05 we give authority properly and 09:06 responsible properly, 09:08 we will survive. 09:10 And that's what I call 09:11 accountability. 09:12 Because at the end, 09:14 if I don't finish, 09:15 I don't have food. 09:16 Many time I don't have food. 09:18 Because I was child, 09:21 but I was tall. 09:22 So they not put me in 09:23 the children group, they put me 09:25 to that, the youth group, 09:27 the older group. 09:28 So the old group 09:29 make longer thing. 09:31 The child, it can stay in 09:32 village, but now I'm in a mobile 09:34 in the field working with adults 09:36 One time we wake up 09:39 in the middle of the night. 09:40 in the middle of the night. 09:40 We just came back from the field 09:42 and we have only 09:43 two set of clothes. 09:44 One dry and one wet, right? 09:46 So we came into the, 09:48 where we're supposed to sleep 09:50 from the raining. 09:51 You know, raining there, 09:52 You know, raining there, 09:52 it like monsoon. 09:53 It never stop. 09:55 So we change the clothes and 09:57 we go to sleep in the hammock. 09:59 Just about ten minute, 10:00 they whistle to get out again. 10:03 So many people do not get out 10:05 because we are so tired. 10:07 And everyone said, 10:09 "I'm not well, I'm sick." 10:10 This one sick, this one sick. 10:11 My friend with me, we sleep 10:14 almost side by side. 10:15 He said, "I'm not going either. 10:17 I'm sick." 10:18 And I almost say I'm sick, too. 10:20 Because we're so tired, right? 10:22 But that night, I don't know why 10:25 I said no, I'm gonna go 10:27 even though it gonna be 10:28 wet again, cold again, 10:30 because we just dry up and 10:31 able to sleep a little bit. 10:33 So I get out. 10:34 And that night, that day 10:35 when I came back, all my─ 10:37 all the people were killed. 10:38 All my─ one of my friends 10:39 were killed on that, too. 10:41 >> A lot of things were 10:42 happening to you. 10:43 You were─ it wasn't─ 10:45 We get this idea that there 10:46 were labour camps. 10:47 The whole country 10:49 was a labour camp. 10:51 >> Yeah. 10:52 >> So they were working 10:52 out in the jungle, 10:53 and you were working out 10:54 in the jungle, and there was 10:55 pouring rain and then 10:58 boiling heat. 10:59 And you don't get much to eat. 11:01 So you got sick. 11:03 You got sick twice. 11:05 >> Yeah. 11:06 >> Why didn't they just 11:07 leave you to die? 11:08 Why didn't they get─ 11:08 Why did they send you 11:09 to the hospital? 11:10 >> Usually they kill you 11:12 because, the slogan of 11:14 what they said, you know, 11:16 if you cannot work, kill you, 11:19 it's not loss. 11:21 Keep you, it's not beneficial 11:23 for the government, 11:24 for the country. 11:25 So just kill. 11:27 Most of my friend die 11:28 because of that. 11:29 But many time I work 11:32 until I fell, fainted, 11:34 and fall down. 11:36 Even you sick, even I'm sick, 11:38 I won't tell them I'm sick 11:39 because sick people, no use. 11:41 They will kill you. 11:43 So you pretend that you're okay, 11:44 but you still working. 11:45 So two time that I've just faint 11:48 and unconscious 11:51 and wake up, I in hospital. 11:55 >> So they sent you 11:56 to the hospital? 11:56 >> They send me to hospital. 11:57 And my, even my sister all, 11:59 every one of them, they thinking 12:01 that I'm already killed. 12:03 And nobody know because 12:04 at that time, no communication. 12:06 You cannot traveling from one 12:07 village to the other. 12:09 You don't know what's going on. 12:11 And so both of my sisters 12:13 thinking that I would die. 12:14 So they put me in hospital 12:16 for three month. 12:18 That's the time I see how the 12:19 people take out at night. 12:21 One night, I see people would 12:23 take out from hospital. 12:24 When you get well and 12:26 you not go back, they take you 12:28 to kill also. 12:30 So that night, 12:32 I see how people, 12:33 how they brought people 12:34 to get killed, hand tied 12:36 at night time. 12:37 They always kill people 12:38 at night, they always 12:39 bring people at night, 12:40 not in daytime. 12:42 >> So you saw 12:43 a lot of attrocities? 12:44 >> I saw that, yeah. 12:45 And then the other time I, so 12:47 when I get well a little bit, 12:48 I said, "Oh I'm okay, 12:50 I'm go back to work now," 12:51 because I see how they 12:52 kill people. 12:53 When you get well, 12:54 you stay longer, they kill you. 12:56 So I got back just only I think 12:59 a few day, I faint again, 13:01 I fell down again. 13:02 So this time they test me. 13:04 One of the lady, of the 13:05 Khmer Rouge lady, they bring, 13:07 you know, the condensed meal. 13:09 They test people before. 13:11 I didn't know that until 13:12 I went to the hospital. 13:13 If you drink that, 13:14 it mean you pretend to be sick. 13:16 So they just take you 13:17 to be killed. 13:18 >> Dr. Ly, this is so awful. 13:21 You are 13:22 in and out of hospital. 13:24 You're obeying and told 13:25 what you─ doing what you were 13:27 told to do. 13:29 You're just living from sunset 13:31 to sunrise. 13:34 And where were your sisters and 13:36 your grandmother at this time? 13:37 Because it sounds like 13:39 you were separated. 13:40 Were they together? 13:42 >> No, they were not together 13:43 either, because after we 13:45 evacuated, go to the place 13:47 where we stayed, they start to 13:48 separate us. 13:49 The men to a men group and 13:51 women to a woman group. 13:52 The younger to a younger 13:54 and the older, like my grandma, 13:56 they allowed to stay 13:57 in the village. 13:58 [MIKE] And there was no way 13:59 of communicating. 13:59 You probably thought they 14:01 were dead, they probably thought 14:01 you were dead, you know... 14:02 >> So, Dr. Ly, 14:04 what do you think 14:06 motivated the Khmer Rouge to... 14:09 ...to be so evil? 14:12 >> Now, when I come to this side 14:14 of the world and when I met 14:15 Jesus and learn the scripture, 14:17 I believe it one of the thing 14:19 that make us to do 14:20 those kind of thing, it 14:22 identity confusion 14:24 or identity crisis. 14:27 You know, that the three words. 14:29 If you want, if I can share with 14:30 the three word that learned, 14:31 when you have identity crisis, 14:33 when you have identity crisis, 14:34 three things will happen 14:35 in your life. 14:36 One is fear. 14:37 The other one you can be 14:39 prideful, pride. 14:41 And the third one, you can be 14:42 so selfish. 14:44 You see, they evacuate us out 14:47 because they are afraid that 14:48 the people like me, 14:49 like my group, my people 14:51 will fight back with them. 14:52 So that's why they kill 14:55 the intellect, they kill 14:56 the student, even myself, 14:58 I had to pretend that 14:59 I could not read. 15:01 My cousin who wear glasses, 15:02 he was killed on the spot. 15:04 [MIKE] Because he wore glasses. 15:05 They thought he was intelligent. 15:06 >> Yeah. 15:07 So I think because 15:09 identity crisis, they think that 15:11 they don't need anybody. 15:12 They can make right─ the slogan, 15:14 they said if they have rights, 15:16 they have everything. 15:17 So if I say the evil, 15:19 it come from 15:20 confused identity. 15:22 So you fear and then you become 15:24 so prideful if you able to do 15:26 what succeed that you have. 15:28 >> So when you're living 15:29 that way, you're in total fear 15:31 all the time. 15:32 You're just like anything 15:34 could end your life 15:36 at any time. 15:37 [DR. LY] Any time. 15:38 If somebody mentioned your name, 15:40 call your name, it just stuck 15:42 you right where you─ 15:43 You're gonna be killed now. 15:44 We're gonna catch you, they─ 15:45 because you have seen that. 15:47 Sometime you're working around 15:49 and you call, they call 15:50 this name come up to see them. 15:53 They kill. 15:54 When we come back to eat at 15:55 lunch time, they are all killed. 15:57 One time my friend work with me, 15:59 we─ he... 16:01 ...he the one who dig 16:02 the ground and I take the, 16:03 I carry the ground to 16:05 fill the river. 16:07 And we take turns, right? 16:08 So while we doing that, 16:10 he's talking, he not dig 16:12 the ground to put the dirt 16:15 on my basket. 16:16 He's talking, you know, "I don't 16:18 want to live anymore, 16:19 we're so tired," you know, 16:20 this kind of thing. 16:22 But the Khmer Rouge saw him, 16:24 they came around and said, 16:25 "Why are you not working?" 16:27 And I keep telling my friend, 16:28 "Just keep doing that. 16:29 Even you talking, 16:30 just keep doing that." 16:31 He said, "I don't care anymore. 16:32 I can die today and who care?" 16:35 And then the Khmer Rouge 16:36 came in, they said, "Why are you 16:37 not doing the work? 16:39 Why you stop? 16:40 why are you talking?" 16:41 And he look at the 16:42 Khmer Rouge, he said, 16:43 "Why are you not working? 16:44 You just standing." 16:47 It's the wrong word to answer, 16:49 right, so he put, pull out 16:50 my stick that I carried 16:52 the bucket and 16:54 banged with him, 16:55 beat him right there, 16:56 tied him up. 16:58 And imagine I was standing there 17:00 with him and shaking like this. 17:03 I thought he gonna come back 17:04 to take me, too, because 17:07 I work together with my friend, 17:08 right? 17:09 But they didn't come back 17:11 because it's not my 17:12 responsibility. 17:13 I'm just waiting to be ready 17:14 to carry. 17:15 But he the one who had to 17:17 put the dirt on my... 17:19 ...basket, right? 17:21 So when I came back 17:22 at lunchtime, they tell us that 17:25 anyone want clothes? 17:27 And they take the clothes 17:28 that my friend's clothes. 17:30 They all─ before they kill, 17:31 they take the clothes out, 17:32 right, they give the clothes 17:33 to the people. 17:35 >> So, Dr. Ly, 17:37 anyone who 17:38 did not identify with 17:40 their worldview was an enemy 17:42 and they had to 17:43 exterminate them. 17:44 >> Yeah. 17:46 Because they thinking they are 17:47 the victim of the persecution 17:49 of the previous government. 17:51 So it kind of revenge 17:53 to kill the new people 17:55 or to persecute them, 17:57 to make them more hard living. 17:59 Right? 18:01 So when you do not have a clear, 18:03 do not know your identity, 18:05 you tend to fall into those 18:07 fear and pride and selfishness, 18:09 right? 18:10 So they tend to do the same. 18:12 Like for me, too, at that time, 18:14 I'm just fearful all the time 18:16 because I'm confused. 18:17 Who I am? 18:18 Why I'm second class 18:20 and this one is first class? 18:21 They have more right? 18:22 I have only porridge, 18:24 water, porridge. 18:25 So identity confusion 18:28 can create chaos, 18:30 that why we have... 18:31 And, you know, that's why 18:33 revenge and when you're 18:35 thinking that you are a victim, 18:36 you will fight back. 18:38 >> And that doesn't have to 18:38 just happen in Cambodia, 18:40 it can happen... 18:40 [DR. LY] Anywhere. 18:41 >> Here in Canada, anywhere 18:42 in the world where you see 18:43 that you're a victim, 18:44 where you see, and you wannna 18:45 get revenge, or you're in a 18:47 position of pride and you have 18:49 control over someone else 18:50 or whatever it is, 18:52 your differences 18:54 cause you to see other people 18:56 as an enemy. 18:57 [DR. LY] Yeah. 18:58 Because you're afraid the people 18:59 will take your, what you have. 19:01 [MIKE] Got ya. 19:02 >> Because, you know, 19:03 in the Bible talk about that, 19:04 those three things so clearly 19:05 with fear and pride 19:07 and selfishness when you're 19:09 not knowing that who you are, 19:11 why you exist here for, 19:13 you are thinking that I 19:14 have actually to gather power. 19:17 I gather thing. 19:17 That what they do. 19:19 So anyone feel, if they feel 19:21 threatened by someone, 19:22 they just kill them. 19:23 [MIKE] Yes. 19:23 So your true identity is what? 19:25 >> True identity is you are 19:26 >> True identity is you are 19:27 the creature that God create. 19:29 You are not God. 19:30 Because a lot of time people 19:32 during that time, they think 19:33 they are God like Pol Pot 19:34 and other leader. 19:35 They think everyone should 19:37 worship them, right? 19:39 So that problem, it exists 19:41 today in real world that 19:43 we live today here, 19:44 anywhere in the world. 19:46 Because when we confuse 19:47 our identity, 19:48 we're trying to be God. 19:50 That's why we're upset, 19:50 we're angry. 19:51 I do not want to be angry 19:53 with anybody because everyone 19:55 is a victim from the sin, 19:57 from the devil. 19:58 Yeah. 19:59 So that's why if we know God, 20:00 we can forgive each other, 20:02 we can love each other, 20:03 and we can sympathize to each 20:05 other because each one of us 20:07 are victim from the sin. 20:10 >> So, Dr. Ly, on top of 20:12 all this hard work that you're 20:13 experiencing, starvation... 20:17 ...being very, very sick, 20:19 there was a time when you 20:20 lost your eyesight. 20:22 Can you tell us about that? 20:23 >> I remember that it, one day 20:26 I wake up and 20:28 go out to work, 20:29 I could not see because when 20:31 we go out to work, 20:32 it's before sunrise, the dawn. 20:34 Like, you can see the light up, 20:36 up on the tree, 20:38 the top on the tree. 20:39 But at the bottom, from the tree 20:40 down to the ground I cannot see. 20:42 It's dark. 20:44 So I walk in and I fall into 20:46 the, from the night, 20:48 fall into the water because 20:50 water cover all the ground. 20:53 And people are thinking, 20:53 laughing at me and said, 20:54 "Oh, what, you walk sleeping 20:57 or something? 20:58 That why you fell down?" 20:59 I said, "No, I cannot see." 21:00 They don't believe me. 21:01 "No, we can see you. 21:02 Why you cannot see?" 21:04 So I walk and fall down 21:05 walk, fell down 21:06 and get wet. 21:08 You know, who want to pretend 21:09 to be, cannot see, fall down 21:11 in the water at─ before sunrise 21:14 and it cold, wind, 21:16 get wet, right away. 21:17 Nobody want to do that. 21:19 Later on, some of my friend 21:21 believe that and so they 21:23 hold my hand, said jump 21:25 from the dike. 21:26 Sometimes they break the dike 21:27 to let the water flow 21:29 so we had the jump from 21:30 the other side to the other. 21:32 So we kept─ 21:33 And one time I was suffer for 21:35 I think a couple months 21:38 at least. 21:39 I don't remember, but 21:40 a couple months like that. 21:41 So I sometime when we eat 21:43 on the table and 21:45 because we come back, 21:46 it almost night already 21:49 and they play with me, 21:51 they take the food away, 21:52 you know, this kind of thing. 21:54 Anyway, but... 21:55 But one day, one of the 21:57 Khmer Rouge who cooking, 21:58 who cooked the food 21:59 because my people, people 22:01 like me, cannot allow to be 22:02 in the kitchen. 22:03 Only their people, 22:04 only the Khmer Rouge people, 22:05 right, cooking. 22:07 Lot of time they eat it first 22:08 and whatever left over, 22:09 the water that left, 22:11 that for us. 22:12 So that day, one of 22:14 Khmer Rouge, 22:15 he see my suffering. 22:16 So he pulled me to a side 22:18 from the group, "Come here, 22:20 come here," and then I go 22:21 with him. 22:22 He just give me a piece of 22:24 chicken liver. 22:26 Just small piece. 22:28 I would say this piece, 22:29 this much and said, "Take, 22:31 eat this." 22:32 "Oh, thank you," because never 22:34 have that for many, many, 22:37 almost 2 or 3 years already. 22:38 So I eat that. 22:40 The next day I wake up, 22:42 I can see again. 22:44 >> Wow. Did you ever feel like 22:46 giving up? 22:47 >> Many time. 22:48 Especially when one time 22:49 my friend was 22:51 hanging himself. 22:53 One of my friend hang himself. 22:55 We, because we talk 22:56 all the time. 22:58 Because they all complaining, 22:59 everyone complaining and said, 23:01 "Why we still try to live? 23:03 Because this suffering 23:04 never end." 23:05 But I keep telling them, I said, 23:07 "You don't know, tomorrow can be 23:09 different because you look 23:10 at the sunrise." 23:11 I always expect the sunrise 23:12 tomorrow gonna be 23:13 beautiful colour, 23:14 different from yesterday. 23:15 It never be the same." 23:17 So I tried to assure him. 23:19 But one night he, one day 23:20 he was hang and he died. 23:23 And a few days after that, 23:26 we were assigned to clear 23:27 the trunk of the tree. 23:29 So they just count one, two, 23:30 three, four, five, ten, 23:32 it yours. 23:33 They don't care big or small, 23:34 right? 23:35 Like what I'm saying, because 23:36 I'm choose obey and responsible 23:38 even nobody there, I'm still 23:40 doing the work. 23:41 So that day I remember 23:44 still grieving that my friend 23:45 was just die a few days ago, 23:47 I said, "I'm gonna, you know... 23:51 ...it's no use to 23:52 fight with this." 23:54 So I look at─ I look up 23:56 to the star and the moon that 23:58 shining already, said, 23:59 "You know, if there's a god, 24:01 you have to do something." 24:03 The Khmer Rouge in the bush, 24:04 he stand up from the bush. 24:07 He said, "Go to eat." 24:10 He watching me, I don't know 24:11 how long he watching me 24:12 in the bush, but he see 24:15 how I did. 24:16 That's why that Khmer Rouge, 24:17 that's the leader, the one that 24:18 sent me to hospital. 24:20 Yeah, because he have seen 24:21 how I work already. 24:23 So that night, from that night, 24:25 I was start thinking, 24:27 is there a god? 24:29 >> So, Dr. Ly, you are 24:31 filled with so much bitterness 24:34 and anger and you don't want to 24:36 live anymore. 24:38 How did you... 24:40 ...how did you change? 24:41 Like, how did you even possibly 24:43 begin to heal from that? 24:46 >> It's a long story, but 24:47 I can give you a short one. 24:49 When I arrived in refugee camp, 24:51 that's when I met Jesus. 24:53 And then one pastor give me 24:55 the Bible, that's when I start 24:56 reading the Bible, begin to 24:58 understand all the suffering, 25:00 the answer to my suffering, 25:02 you know? 25:03 >> Dr. Ly, I wonder if you can 25:04 come back next week and share 25:06 your conversion story. 25:08 Because that is obviously 25:11 very intriguing. 25:12 And we look forward to that. 25:14 >> Dr. Ly, before we go, 25:16 I wonder if you could pray 25:17 for our viewers? 25:19 >> Sure, yeah. 25:20 I can do that. 25:21 Let's do that. 25:22 Oh, heavenly Father, Lord, 25:23 we thank You so much for 25:24 the privilege that we're able to 25:26 talk and sharing together 25:28 in this moment. 25:29 Lord, You have kept me alive 25:31 until now because You have 25:33 a purpose for those who 25:35 listening, who are watching 25:36 at this moment, Lord. 25:38 I just want to lift each one 25:39 of them up to You. 25:42 Some of them maybe go through 25:43 the same what I have 25:44 gone through in my life. 25:46 With the parent who drunk, 25:48 who abuse, or 25:51 sometimes they go through 25:52 some story like what 25:53 I have gone through, the abuse 25:54 of the leadership of the people. 25:57 Lord, I pray that You bless them 25:58 specially. 25:59 Do miracle in them. 26:00 Those who go through the dramas 26:03 and have the symptom a different 26:05 sickness, Lord, I pray that 26:07 You do the same 26:08 that You have done with me. 26:10 You have healed me. 26:11 So I pray that You bless 26:12 and heal them also. 26:14 And those who go through 26:15 difficulty and be their life, 26:16 Lord, grant them hope to know 26:18 that it's nothing impossible 26:19 for You to do because 26:20 for You to do because 26:21 You always hear. 26:23 So I pray that You open, reveal 26:25 to them, and as they open 26:26 their heart to You. 26:28 And we thank You for 26:29 Your love and Your grace 26:30 upon them. 26:30 We pray it in Jesus' name, 26:32 amen. 26:33 [calm music] 26:36 ♪♪ 26:40 >> Friends, as Dr. Ly confessed, 26:42 it was the message of the Bible, 26:44 God's Holy Word that changed 26:47 his life. 26:48 >> So we want to help you 26:50 to experience the 26:51 life transforming messages 26:53 of the Bible, help you 26:55 understand it and become wise 26:57 in your walk with God. 26:59 >> Our free offer is our 27:01 Bible study guides. 27:03 >> Our free Bible study guides 27:05 will help you to learn 27:07 what the Bible teaches 27:08 and how the Bible has verifiable 27:11 answers to life's existential 27:13 questions, including God's will 27:15 for your life. 27:17 [RENÉ] Practical answers that 27:18 make sense and will give you 27:20 assurance for the present 27:22 and the future. 27:24 >> Before you go, we would like 27:25 to thank all of you who have 27:27 supported the ministry of 27:28 It Is Written Canada 27:29 with your prayers and 27:30 financial contributions. 27:33 Without your support, this 27:34 television ministry could not 27:36 have reached so many people 27:38 for so many decades. 27:40 >> Yes. 27:41 Thank you. 27:43 And we would also like to invite 27:45 you to follow us on Instagram 27:47 and Facebook and subscribe 27:49 to our YouTube channel, 27:51 and also listen to our podcasts. 27:55 And if you go to our website, 27:57 you can see our latest programs. 28:00 >> Friends, to be honest, 28:02 Jesus is offering you a life 28:04 that is beyond our ongoing 28:07 struggles with pain, suffering, 28:09 and sorrows of this life. 28:12 We would like to recommend 28:15 that you open this book, 28:16 the Bible, where it is recorded 28:18 that Jesus Himself found 28:20 His assurance to defeat 28:22 the devil through the Word of 28:23 His Father when He declared... 28:34 [uplifting music] 28:37 [birds chirping] 28:40 [uplifting music continues] 28:42 ♪♪ |
Revised 2025-01-23