Even CNN reported that she “radiates an unmistakeable poise and peace.” It’s the testimony of a young 9 year old who 43 years ago was photographed running away from an explosion – she is terrified, naked, burned and screaming as she runs. It was June 8th 1972. The picture tells a vivid story of the horrors of the Vietnam war….
Kim Phuc is the child in centre of the photo. She survived the attack, terribly scarred by napalm a vicious flammable liquid that causes horrific burns. The photographer was from Associated Press. His name was Nick Ut and he was 21 at the time. He saw the explosions and children running towards him. Instinctively, he raised his camera and snapped photographs. By the time Kim got to him, he could see her skin peeling off her. He poured water on her body, covered her and then put her in his car along with other children and took them to hospital. Kim spent more than a year in hospital, having one skin graft after another. She still has the scars. She still remembers the searing pain. While physically she began to heal, emotionally she struggled. When she was 19, she began to search for peace and full internal healing. She found it in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Quote from CNN
Now Kim spreads the love of Christ through a speaking ministry and her Kim Foundation to help other children affected by war. Her life has not been straightforward, but she now has a great deal of stability and opportunity to tell the world what happened to her.
Her story is gripping…and is worth listening to, even if it is only for the first 20 minutes.
God never wastes pain.
As I said on my blog on Friday, your life has significance no matter what you have been through or are going through. Keep going. God is with you and will never let you go!
Isaiah 30:18
“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion, for the Lord is a God of justice.”
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx