A printable (PDF) version of the Cambodia team’s itinerary is now available for those who wish to follow their schedule: Trip Itinerary (PDF)

Pictured here (left to right): Diane, Stefani, Julia, Susan Tapin, Anson, and Sharon Dowdy.
(click image to view larger size)

This year’s mission team to Cambodia started their journey early this morning at the main terminal in Nashville’s airport. Some did not get any sleep last night and some were up early wrapping up last minute details, but all arrived with time to say their good-bye’s to family and friends before heading to the departure gate.
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Well, we are getting ready to head out to Cambodia early Monday morning. We will first stop in Thailand to visit Chaing Mai which is one of Thailand most cultural villages. We will stay there two days and hike the water falls, visit the night bizzare, see a butterfly garden and possibly ride an elephant. We are so excited about this trip for many reasons. We will see old friends, do some hard work, learn about a new culture, withstand the heat and meet new friends.
One of the most exciting parts about this year is our village trip. We have connected with Kari Grady Grossman, author of “Bones That Float” (www.bonesthatfloat.com) which is one of our required readings for the trip. We will be visiting the village that she has been working with to provide some nutritional teaching, nutritional evaluations, provide a medical clinic for 500 children,and meet with village leaders to help plan for a long term goal of having a medical clinic. The village is about 120 KM from Phnom Penh but it takes 4-5 hours due to road conditions.
We will get a first hand experience of what it is like to live in a village. The village is a typical Cambodian village in the country where rice is the main staple. There is no electricity (lights can be run for short periods off a generator
or car battery)or running water. We will sleep on bamboo beds in the school and get a taste of what it is like for the majority of Cambodians. This trip occurs the last weekend before we head back, so be sure to read our blogs and send lots of prayers our way. The rest of our time will be spent at the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE (www.sihosp.org).
We will be ready to come home to our families and friends when this is over, but we are sure to leave a part of our
hearts in Cambodia.