Cambodia

DATE: 1/6/2024 - 1/19/2024

LOCATION: Kampong Cham, Cambodia

ESTIMATED COST: $1,000 per person trip fee (plus airfare to Phnom Penh, Cambodia - currently estimated at $1,650)

REGISTER: Click here to Volunteer with us!

FUNDRAISER: $8,000 

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

Time for construction!

We will be partnering with World Team Missionaries to help finish a new school facility renovation for Friendship Ministries located in Kampong Cham Cambodia.  

FRIENDSHIP MINISTRIES - CAMBODIA

Friendship Ministries is focused on developing a thriving network of house churches in and around Kampong Cham, Cambodia. The ministry’s vision is to have a network of house churches made up of reproducing disciples that impact the community around them for Christ in every district in Kampong Cham provinces. In 2022, the Friendship Ministries consisted of seven house churches led by five house church leaders with 41 people in attendance. They also have a Sunday church meeting that sees weekly attendance from 60 to 70 people. Friendship Ministries have set out to communicate the Gospel in both word and deed by serving the poor through free medical care and education. 

Poverty is a vicious trap for Cambodia’s poor. Education is one form of development that can help free them from the cycle of poverty; however, education is also hardest for them to attain. Most children in the provinces are unable to receive a sustained education, and many of them drop out of school by second grade. 

To meet this need, their team started a small school introducing first grade in the fall of 2009. The staff consists of Cambodian Christian teachers who have a unique opportunity to serve communities and influence students, their parents, and neighbors for Christ. As of 2023, Friendship School teaches grade 1 through 9 and also assists students in grades 10 through 12 with education through the government school. They also assist a few college students that graduated from Friendship School. They teach or assist over 250 students.

Itinerary

Below is a basic schedule for the week, which we approach with flexibility because our ultimate focus is on serving Christ and growing in our relationships with one another! 

Saturday, Jan 6th:

• 12:00 PM – Meet at the Medford airport for a 2:06pm departure
   

Monday, Jan 8th:

• 8:45 AM - Land in Phenom Penh
• 12:00 PM - Arrive at mission base and settle in
• 1:00 PM - Have lunch
• 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Tour the mission base and get to know your hosts
• 6:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Tuesday, Jan 9th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Building projects
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Building projects
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Wednesday, Jan 10th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Building projects
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Building projects
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Thursday, Jan 11th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Building projects
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Building projects
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Friday, Jan 12th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Building projects
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Building projects
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Saturday, Jan 13th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Building projects
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Building projects
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Sunday, Jan 14th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Church
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Outreach or Market shopping
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and relax

Monday, Jan 15th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast duties, devotions, and group meeting
• 8:30 AM - Final building project day
• 12:30 PM - Lunch
• 1:30 PM - Finish building project
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Tuesday, Jan 16th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Drive to Siem Reap
• 2:00 PM - Check into hotel
• 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Siem Reap Market
• 6:00 PM - Dinner

Wednesday, Jan 17th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:15 AM - Breakfast
• 8:30 AM - Sightseeing (Ta Prohm and Bayon Temples)
• 5:00 PM - Dinner, evening duties, debrief, and optional outreach opportunities

Thursday, Jan 18th:

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast
• 8:30 AM - Angkor Wat Tour
• 1:00 PM - Lunch
• 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Make it to the airport

LODGING & FOOD

Where We Stay & What We Eat

Lodging will be provided at a local hotel and will consist of a hotel room for each volunteer. The food is also prepared by hotel staff or restaurants and will reflect a variety of traditional Cambodian foods. 

SUPPLY LIST

 In January, the weather is dry, but the temperatures are slightly cooler - it's usually expected to be approximately 25°C - 30°C (77F - 86F) at this time of year.

• Bible
•  Alarm clock and/or ear plugs if a light sleeper etc.)
• Bath: bath towel, soap, and shampoo are provided by the hotel but a toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items, etc. will need to be packed
• Clothes: work clothes, one nice (not dressy) outfit for church, jacket and/or sweater 
• Shoes: tennis or work shoes are preferred sandals for casual wear
• Other: camera, flashlight, hand sanitizer, and cell phone charges etc.

DRESS CODE

• No undergarments showing at any time (guys and gals)
• Dresses/skirts for outreach should be mid-calf to ankle if your not wearing pants
• No tight fitting shirts, tank tops, low-cut or scoop neck 
• Men cannot take off their shirts

HEALTH & SAFETY

Helping Hands International recommends you follow the health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.  

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

Please be sure to read specific passport and visa requirements listed here, per the U.S. State Department.   "You will need a valid passport and a Cambodian visa to enter Cambodia. Tourist and business visas are valid for one month from the date of entry into Cambodia. Cambodia offers on-line visa processing. You may also apply in person at the Cambodian Embassy located at 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, tel. 202-726-7742, fax 202-726-8381.  Tourists and business travelers may also obtain a Cambodian visa at the airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings. Cambodian immigration officials at airports now collect fingerprints upon entry using an inkless, electronic process. You will need two passport-sized (4cm by 6cm) photographs and a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia."

DATE: 11/04/2022-11/17/2022 

LOCATION: Siem Reap, Cambodia

ESTIMATED COST: $800 per person per trip from San Francisco (plus airfare to Siem Reap, Cambodia - currently estimated at $1,650)

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

We plan to encourage approximately 55 missionaries and their children over a 4-5 day Annual Field Conference in Cambodia.  We expect to serve about 30-35 adults attending the conference, and about 20 or so children, ranging from infants to high school students.  The plan is to serve at the conference through a half day program, generally from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., build relationships with the missionaries serving there, and explore the area in the afternoons/evenings.

• Music – Each morning we plan to have some time singing and worshipping together. 
• Child Care/Teaching — Each day, between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., we plan to provide Child Care to missionary children ranging in age from infant/toddlers through high school.
• Attend Local Church
• Fellowship – While the activities involved in this project include serving missionaries at their annual missionaries conference, there will be afternoons off, times of fellowship, opportunities to visit local events or activities (such as the Cambodian Water Festival), enjoy food/culture, shop, and explore the area prior to departing.
• Purpose –Our purpose is to share the love of God by bringing help and hope to hurting people through practical hands-on care.  This care will largely take the form of providing child care while we are in Cambodia but we also hope our presence will encourage and strengthen the body of believers!

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

Below is a basic schedule for the week, which we approach with flexibility because our ultimate focus is on serving Christ and growing in our relationships with one another! 

Saturday

  10 A.M.  –   Meet at San Francisco airport and board plane to Cambodia

Sunday
  10 A.M.  –   Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Monday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  8:30 A.M.  –  Serve at conference (worship and child care)

  12:30 P.M. –  Finish conference

  1:30 P.M. –  Explore Siem Reap 

  5:00 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Tuesday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  8:30 A.M.  –  Serve at conference (worship and child care)

  12:30 P.M. –  Finish conference

  1:30 P.M. –  Explore Siem Reap 

  5:00 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Wednesday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  8:30 A.M.  –  Serve at conference (worship and child care)

  12:30 P.M. –  Finish conference

  1:30 P.M. –  Explore Siem Reap 

  5:00 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Thursday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  8:30 A.M.  –  Serve at conference (worship and child care)

  12:30 P.M. –  Finish conference

  1:30 P.M. –  Explore Siem Reap 

  5:00 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Friday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  8:30 A.M.  –  Serve at conference (worship and child care)

  12:30 P.M. –  Finish conference

  1:30 P.M. –  Explore Siem Reap 

  5:00 P.M.  –  Special dinner feast, debrief, free time and pack up

Saturday

  7:30 A.M.  –  Head home

LODGING & FOOD

Where We Stay & What We Eat

Lodging will be provided at a local hotel (talk to Tim for details) and will consist of a hotel room for each volunteer. The food is also prepared by hotel staff and will reflect a variety of traditional Cambodian foods. 

SUPPLY LIST

After the heavy rains of September and October, November is refreshingly dry and comparatively cool. It's the start of the cooler, dry season, but as Cambodia is a tropical country, the weather continues to be warm. The average November temperature in the capital, Phnom Penh, is 81°F (27°C).

• Bible
• Bedding: NA (but alarm clock and/or ear plugs if a light sleeper etc.)
• Bath: bath towel, soap, shampoo are provided by the hotel but a toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items, etc.
• Clothes: work clothes, one nice (not dressy) outfit for church, jacket and/or sweater (cold at night)
• Shoes: tennis or work shoes are preferred (e.g. no bare feet at any time) etc.
• Other: camera, flashlight, hand sanitizer, and cell phone charges etc.

DRESS CODE

• No undergarments showing at any time (guys and gals)
• Dresses/skirts for outreach should be mid-calf to ankle if your not wearing pants
• No tight fitting shirts, tank tops, low-cut or scoop neck 
• Men cannot take off their shirts

HEALTH & SAFETY

Helping Hands International recommends you follow those health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician.   COVID-19 testing varies by Country and may be necessary before this trip departure and before returning to the USA. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  We also suggest you check with your personal health clinic or physician regarding what vaccines or medicines you may require while participating on this service project.  Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.  Finally, please be sure to read HHI's COVID-19 policy, and Consent to Leave the Country (for minors) form, requirements below.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

Please be sure to read specific passport and visa requirements listed here, per the U.S. State Department.   "You will need a valid passport and a Cambodian visa to enter Cambodia. Tourist and business visas are valid for one month from the date of entry into Cambodia. Cambodia offers on-line visa processing. You may also apply in person at the Cambodian Embassy located at 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, tel. 202-726-7742, fax 202-726-8381.  Tourists and business travelers may also obtain a Cambodian visa at the airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings. Cambodian immigration officials at airports now collect fingerprints upon entry using an inkless, electronic process. You will need two passport-sized (4cm by 6cm) photographs and a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia."