Logistics

  • We departed from Chiang Mai, rode through Siem Reap, and arrived to Battambang, Cambodia on January 12th around lunch time. 
  • Travel time was roughly 24 hours with border crossing from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap.
  • From Siem Reap to Battambang was roughly 3 hours.
  • For the first half of our time in Cambodia, our squad will be residing in the same location in Battambang. We will be split into our teams doing ministry in different places in the city. Our squad consists of 39 people, excluding our leaders, and my team consists of 7. 
  • The type of location that Battambang is is a smaller city. 
  • Our team is doing ministry at the site that we are staying whereas other teams will need to take a bus/bike for transport to ministry. 
  • We will be staying in a building that is similar to a house but connected to other buildings. The girls will be staying across the street from us in a similar building.
  • Regarding food, all of our meals during weekdays will be prepared by our ministry hosts but on Saturdays and Sundays, we will have free days to feed ourselves whereas we will receive money from our budget to get food. Our budget is $4 a day here for food.

Ministry

  • Our Ministry vision is teaching English at our ministry site as a means to build relationships in the hope that one day our students will come to a saving faith in Christ.
  • A Summary of what our ministry might and most likely will encompass is that we will first of all teach English at the ministry site and then use any extra resources and manpower to work alongside other ministries in Battambang. These include private schools, hospital, cafe and work with those in our community who live in poverty. This will serve as a form of outreach and service. 
  • More details are that while we are here, we will be teaching English classes from beginners to Upper Intermediate. Others would be involved in physical clean up, painting and renovations on our village centers. We will also help lead bible studies and Sunday School. Like I said, we will be doing other work around town which will be depending on our hearts and gifts. We will need to discuss with them to better assess their involvement outside the center.
  • We will be doing ministry in Battambang.

Community/Culture/About the Location

  • There are many cultural norms that are similar of that to Thailand.
  • One of the culture norms is greetings. If we greet anyone older than us, it is very disrespectful not to give a small bow, if not more, and perform an action with your hands similar to praying.
  • Another cultural not-so-norm is girls and guys going out together. It is not appropriate for a girl and a guy to go into public unless they are married as it is seen as a moral respect to the person and culture. Even some married couples do not go into public.
  • Shoes shall not be worn inside
  • When you hand something to someone (for example paying), it is disrespectful if you do not both bow and hand the item or money to them with both hands.
  • It is disrespectful when going out for a person’s thighs to be showing, by both guys or girls.
  • It is seen as very culturally inappropriate to touch another person’s head.
  • Do not walk in front of anyone older than you; walk behind them.
  • The location we are staying in is very safe. We will be able to go out and adventure if we want to. The neighborhood is also safe to run in the mornings at night.
  • Tap water at our ministry site is not clean to drink. We have jugs of water to drink from.
  • Shower water is cold!! Which is semi-good with the heat we have here.

 

 

Thanks so much for reading. Please continue to pray for me and stay updated on our journey as we go! 

 

If you have any questions or anything, feel free to contact me

Brenton Bicknell

[email protected]

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