Our Christmas with Cambodian Refugees

Many years ago (1981) we shared a most unusual Christmas with a family of Buddhist Cambodian refugees. It began when a woman from our church, who had just returned from serving in a refugee camp in Laos, explained that the camps were too crowded and the government was going to begin shooting the Cambodian refugees. She plead with members of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (most of our small town) to sponsor some of the families so their lives could be saved. Though we had no idea how we were going to manage it, we volunteered. We, and two other families, simply felt prompted that it was what we should do and had faith that the Lord would help us to be able to do it.

Fall passed as we nervously expected the Cambodian family to arrive. Finally, shortly before Christmas, word came that they would be flying into Salt Lake in three days. That is when we began to realize that we were not alone. Our Stake president loaned us his large van so we would have room to transport the family of seven. He also gave us permission to use the showers at the stake center so lice wouldn’t be brought into our home.

 Clean clothes were provided from the small “store” of donated clothes that was set up in a members basement. Beds, blankets, and dishes were given to this family. On Christmas Eve each person was given a gift of a new coat. A doctor, dentist, and eye doctor all donated their services to give the family needed health care. Suggestions were given on possible jobs for the parents, and when they were unable to find an apartment they could afford, a generous man in our stake financed the purchase of a trailer for them to live in.