Description
Why have I waited over forty years to tell my story? At the end of the Pol Pot regime in 1979, many survivors were revealing their tragic narratives; movies were made. In 1982, my friend, Todd Elefson, strongly encouraged me to tell my survival story. I made some notes and started a draft, but just didn’t have the heart to continue. I was so filled with shame that I couldn’t bear to relive the horrors so fresh in my heart and mind; to put into words that dreadful part of my life I was trying desperately to forget. Time has now healed many of my soul wounds; I live in America where I enjoy safety and the American way of life; my wife, children, and grandchildren bring me joy, and I am a true follower of Jesus Christ, my Savior.
One might think this book is a story of despair, misery, and tragedy. It is! But it also contains short stories and folk tales I learned while growing up that I was able to share with my fellow prisoners to lift our spirits and bring a little hope into our dismal lives. Our country was ruled by kings or dictators for centuries so the authors of the stories were fearful of having their names published. Thus they were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth or, if published, “anonymous” got the credit. Hopefully some of us would survive this regime to pass them on to future generations—I felt a responsibility to help preserve them.
