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neighboring countries could no long–
er cope. Their welfare agencies
became strained to breaking point.
Desperate officials ordered that the
overloaded boats be towed back out
to sea, to try their luck on anothér
island, another country or another
continent. Thailand, deluged with
people fleeing from famine-wracked
Kampuchea, resorted to repatriation
even if it meant certain death.
Fortunately, as the world becomes
aware of the magnitude of the lndo–
Chinese tragedy, sorne relief is on its
way. The Southeast Asían nations,
no longer face"d with the impossible
prospect of f inding homes for
hundreds of thousands of penniless
neighboring people, are once again
willing to play temporary host. Thai–
land, assured now of international
support , has opened its border to the
pathetic exodus from Kampuchea
(Cambodia).
Many thousands have alrea<;iy
been resettled- nol only in South–
east Asia but in the United States,
Canada, Australia, France and many
other countries. Moved by compas–
sion, the world's nations, internation–
a l organizations, religions and even
sorne enterprising individuals are
doing what they can to help.
Maybe, even yet, diplomatic iner–
tia can be overcome, so that what is
left of Kampuchea can be saved. But
that is not much comfort to those in
squalid camps or perhaps even now
adrift in puny boats in the South
China Sea. Can their agony be
eased?
We all want to help. No decent
person
wants
to see another sutfer.
Malaysian friends have told me they
have seen soldiers under orders with
tears in their eyes, as they prepare to
tow the hapless boat people back out
to sea. Other Asians, not rich them–
selves, have made available their
limited resources to try to alleviate
the awful sutfering. Whether from
east or west, Buddhist, Hindu, Chris–
tian or Moslem-we cannot turn our
back on these people who have lost
everything.
From the Western countries come
many heart-warming stories of fami–
lies who have opened up their homes
to 1ndo-Chi nese refugees- good
neighbors who have tried to make
them feel wanted and welcome.
There have been misunderstandings,
February 1980
it
is true. But overall, Vietnamese
and Cambodians are showing them–
selves to be hard-working, law-abid–
ing residents in their new countries.
When you are confronted with the
reality of someone who has lost
everything, it makes you think about
the things you have, and so easily
táke for granted. And if you claim to
be a Christian, it should make you
want to share it. "But whoso hath
this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up
his bowels of compassion from him,
how dwelleth the !ove of Ood in
him?"
(1
John 3:17). We can give the
refugees somewhere to live, furni–
ture, a job, a school for their chil–
dren . But what we
cannot
give them
ba.ck are the things they miss most–
their bornes, their countries and the
loved ones who have been killed or
left behind.
As my Vietnamese friend told me
sorrowfully: " I don't know how my
wife is. Who knows- perhaps my
sons have been sent to fight in Kam–
puchea. Sometimes 1 lose all hope of
ever getting them back."
There
is
good news for the boat
people. It is the same good news that
this magazine has been telling for
more than 45 years. Regular readers
will know that the prophecies of the
Bible show that we are in the end of
an age- living in a world that is
teetering on the brink of a great
tribulation, to be followed by the
return of Jesus Christ and the usher–
ing in of the wonderful world tomor–
row. But there is no need to tell
refugees about tribulation. Most of
them could already tell
us
something
about that. But if only we could tell
them the
good news
of the times that
a re around the cerner.
If
only they could understand that
the great Creator God,
their
Cre–
ator-a God most do not even
know- has plans for them.
If
they
could know that over the horizon
there is hope, and that there is com–
ing a time when their problems will
be over.
If
they could only know that soon
to appear on the world scef!e is a
Ruler who has pledged "not [to] fail
or be discouraged" (Isaiah 42:4)
until He has made this earth a decent
place for every man, woman and
child to live in, to grow and to reach
full human potential. He plans to
reestablish the national boundaries
and see to it that people rebuild their
ravaged homes and farms. He will
· order the destruction of the machines
of war and never again allow nations
to get away with acts of blatant
aggression (Isaiah 2:4) ._
If
the boat people could only know
that even now this Great Being is
concerned for them, and identifies
with their sutfering. He says that he
notices it (Matthew 25:40). This
soon-coming Ruler has always been
moved with compassion for the poor
and the downtrodden. They will be
His special concern (lsaiah 11 :4).
In many ways He would like to
intervene right now and put a stop to
it all today. But He knows that
human events must take their course,
al/
mankind must learn what a refu–
gee has found out-that human gov–
ernments fail, and that man cannot
rule himself.
But before mankind destroys itself,
God
wi/1
intervene-to finally take
charge of the reins ofgovernment.
If
the refugees now pouring into
Thailand could only know that one
day their country will be restored and
people will live there without fear.
That generations of Cambodian chil–
dren are even yet destined to grow up
strong and healthy, never knowing
famine.
If
tbey could only know that their
country is not dying, as sorne have
said, but that its greatest days are
abead. Kampuchea will once again
become the fertile and gentle land
that it once was, living in peace and
harmony, making its contribution to
the world community of nations.
And best of all, if only those who
have lost loved ones could know that
the Creator God who gave them life
in the first place has the power, the
desire
and the plan
to restore that
life. There is a time coming when
even the most shattered families will
be reunited.
No
man
can do all these things for
the lndo-Chinese refugees. Even the
best intentioned ofuscan only help in
a small way. But God has a plan that
includes the "boat people" and the
Cambodians and Laotians. And
when it happens-and it will hap–
pen-all this will be justa memory.
H
only they could know this.
If
only they could believe it. It would
make the waiting easier.
o
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