SRI LANKA MISSIONS TRIP
On August 11th 2008, after 1 1/2 years' preparation, a group of ten people from Morrilton First Assembly of
God embarked on a missions trip to Sri Lanka. And just as they expected, it was the experience of a lifetime. After a lengthy flight which took the team from Little Rock to Denver, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Singapore (with a nine hour lay over), they arrived safely in Sri Lanka.
Hot and humid air greeted them as they left the airport. Palm trees swayed in the breeze. There was a noticeable military presence evidenced by several guards armed with machine guns and machetes. Things are definately different from Arkansas or anywhere else in the United States.
The team was greeted at the airport by Thiran Perrera from the People's Church. Thiran would serve as the team interpreter and tour guide during their stay. The team quickly came torely upon him in all things. After a "brief journey" of around 45 minutes to 1 hour in traffic that is difficult to describe (the word "terrifying" comes to mind), the team arrived safely at the Goldi Sands Hotel where they would spend their first night in Sri Lanka.
Af
ter a good nights rest, the team embarked on another journey, thi time via van to the village of Pinnawela. There the team was treated to an amazingly up close view 
of elephants bathing in the river. The elephants even came right up to the viewing stand and several team membersgot to pet their trunks. Even more amazing was Matt's up close and personal experience with a large king cobra.
The team's journey continued to the city of Kandy where they stopped for hot tea. There is a strong Buddhist influence throught Sri Lanka. This is especially noticeable in Kandy, the location of the Temple of the Tooth. The trip happened to coincide with the festival celebrating this relic whic
h is alleged to be the Buddha's tooth. The town was beautifully lit for the celebration. After a brief rest the team's journey continued up treacherous mountain paths to the village of Mahiyangana and the A/G home church there. Pastor Justin holds services in a covered pavilion next to his home. There they were served a lovely meal of chicken stew which was prepared by Pastor Justin's wife,Sharmaine. This was the beginning of the team's expreience with the tremendous hospitality and generosity offered by the Sri Lankan believers. This also marked the beginning of the team's educatin reguarding the persecution of Sri Lankan Christians as Pastor Justin and Sister Sharmaine related their experiences with stoning of their home and many death threats. 
The team spend the night at the Soroborawewa Guest House. The next morning they awakend to a spectacular view of the mountain they had travelled on the previous night. After a lovely open air breakfast the team was ready for work. They picked up Pastor Justin and Thiran and made their way to the Siripura orphanage where they spent several hours cleaning, painting,laying new linoleum and installing showers.
The next day the team was treated to a boat ride on an ancient lake dating to 300 B.C. Afterword, the team participated in church services at Pastor Justin's church. Brandon led a short worship service and soon after Brandon, Jessi and Queshon entertained the children with a puppet skit and later joined with Pas
tor Brad, Matt, and Valerie performain a skit about Christ's love. Pastors Trent and Brad delivered sermons and the entire team ministered during the altar service. Following another wonderful meal provided by Sister Sharmaine the team boarded the vans for the trip back to Colombo.
On Sunday the team was privileged to participate in services at the People's Church in Colombo. The worship service was tremendous. Pastor Trent delivered an outstanding sermon with Pastor Euna Mae and Dave providing pers
onal testimonies. The entire team ministered during the altar service. After the service the team had the priviledge to spend some time with Pastor Dishon and his father Pastor Colton in his office where each team member was given Pastor Colton's book as a gift.
After church the team met up with Pastor Solomon Wang and traveled to a Muslim community called Beruwela to visit Pastor Thushara and his family. Pastor Thushara has a home church of around 100 in a highly Muslim neighborhood and has faced severe persecution including being beaten and having his home stoned. The team was touched by the faith o this Pastor and his family in view of the threat the are constantly under. Pastor Thushara has a dream of building a church on top of his current home and of being able to worship freely in his community. Many team members were in tears as they listened to this man of faith share his dreams. Tears again flowed as the team was treated to a wonderful meal prepared by Mrs. Thushara and some members of their church. The generosity of these people was truly over
whelming. Following lunch, the team traveled aross town to dedicte the home of one of Pastor Thushara's church members. This lady is a widow with a mentally challenged son who requires her care. Her home had been severely damaged in the tsunami over four years ago and construction of the new home had just been completed with funds provided by missions giving. The team was privileged to take part in the dedication service.
On Monday, the team traveled to Mattakkuliya where the People's Church operates a childcare center. The center is just reopening after a period of inactivity, thanks in part to 
missions giving from a chu
rch in Oklahoma. The team participate in the children's feeding program, assisting with the preparing and serving food. Some team members fed younger children upon request. On this particular day approximately 50 children were fed but it is expected that hundreds more will attend in the upcoming months as the word spreads about the center's program. Several team memb
ers participated in playing games with the children following lunch. The team also distributed candy, cars and barrettes to the chil
dren. After another lovely meal prepared in the home of a People's Church member the team left Mattakuliya and were treated to a few hours of shopping before returning to the hotel to prepare for their departure the following day.
It is probably evident that the team was treated almost like royalty everywhere they went. The Sri Lankan people were generous beyond belief giving their very best to this humbled team. This group of ten traveled half way around the world to help the Sri Lankan people. I
n the end, they were blessed much more than what they gave. Upon returning home the team had a day long lay over in Singapore where they took in the sights of the city and the beach while waiting for their flight.
THANK YOU to everyone who gave their money and prayed for us on our trip. We are excited about what God is going to do in Sri Lanka and in our lives because of this trip!