Our 1st family mission trip 18-22 Nov 2016

We have been planning for a family mission trip for some time but couldn't find a good time and plus my dad hasn't been well lately so weren't sure if we could make it for a 3 generation mission trip. Glad Elena had us in the plan to Takhmao, Cambodia and we were there to teach English lesson and was good exposure for our kids coz the kids were about their age and teaching them simple English might be more fun teaching their peers. So the kids were teaching the Cambodian kids while we were there to supervise their planning and teaching. Upper room ministry is interesting and its to the rural kids and it was eye opener for our kids to see how village is like coz we took a bumpy ride into the village coz of the poor laying of road. We were into this hotel just opposite the upper room and was convenient to just cross the street to be there. It was newly built so was kindof nice for us to stay in and could go the local mkt to soak in the village living. Though we couldn't speak v much of their Khmer language, guess our kids attracted them a lot and the kids were hanging out at the church pretty much of the time and just running ard and drawing with them just made the few days seem passed so fast.

We had 2 sessions of English lessons and some workshops and even computer lessons. The last day, we did a little skit at the Sunday school and to drive home the message to spend time with God is more important than anything. Their kind of fervour to sing  and worship God kindof rub of us, remembering that God is the God of the whole earth and are we city dwellers losing our fervour more than these pple living in village. Guess too much technology made us losing our closeness to God. This is the takeaway from the mission trip for us. So rule was no iPhone or ipad for the kids throughout the trip. Its just down to us and with the Cambodians for the few days there. They will be in our minds etched with the prayer needs for them and the church, I hope the trip did change our kids somewhat.

The next stop we went was Phnom Penh city to tour the city and we stayed at Harvest House Inn which was run by the missionaries there and we had van to ferry us ard and it is horrendous traffic there as its always jam and bikes are everywhere so kindof a challenge to drive there so glad we went ard the Central Mkt, had the coconut ice cream. We visited the sch run by the missionaries and pretty awed by the kind of standard they are upholding in the city and how it has expanded for the past 20 yrs. It was kindof nice to see how Phnom Penh has changed and will be changing in the near future for the younger generations and now Cambodia places a special place in our hearts and our prayers go out for them.