{"id":6843,"date":"2016-02-10T17:20:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-10T17:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=6843"},"modified":"2016-02-10T17:21:31","modified_gmt":"2016-02-10T17:21:31","slug":"epic-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/epic-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"Epic Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-attachment-id=\"6844\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/epic-adventure\/attachment\/epic-blog1000x582\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?fit=1000%2C582&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,582\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;flytoskyft11 - Fotolia&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"epic-blog1000x582\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?fit=300%2C175&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?fit=750%2C437&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6844\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?resize=750%2C437\" alt=\"epic-blog1000x582\" width=\"750\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?resize=300%2C175&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?resize=768%2C447&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?resize=500%2C291&amp;ssl=1 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In my mid 20s I went to Thailand on my first mission trip. It was a life-changing experience! I saw rich and poor living side by side, smelt the stench of poor sanitation, tasted some amazing food, heard the sounds of strange animals at night and felt sweat dripping off me almost all the time &#8211; it brought all my senses alive!<\/p>\n<p>I travelled on motorbike taxis, learned some of the language and even had a go at planting rice. I stayed with several missionaries who were enduring difficult conditions in order to live amongst the locals and tell them about Jesus. I returned to the UK with a huge appreciation for the sacrifices they had made, a fascination for different cultures &#8211; and a desire to see more of the world.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next couple of years I helped deliver Bibles in remote parts of Mongolia, visited children&#8217;s projects in South Africa and toured schools, prisons and churches in northeast Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>Missionary talks were no longer just boring slideshows, they really came alive and I could imagine the assault on their senses as they went about their lives amongst people of a very different culture.<\/p>\n<p>I am always keen to encourage others to visit somewhere very different to our comfortable homeland, and have supported those who have chosen to do so long-term. So when the opportunity came up to spend 2-weeks in Zambia, I jumped at the chance!<\/p>\n<p>Mission Direct have planned a \u2018dads and kids\u2019 trip with CVM and when I mentioned it to my 9 year old son, he was excited about it too! Why should he wait until he has a gap year to experience the sights and sounds of cross-cultural mission?<\/p>\n<p>We will be going to Lusaka in Zambia for the last two weeks of August, helping to build part of a school. This school is giving children their only chance at getting an education.<\/p>\n<p>The trip is open to any dad, grandad or uncle who would like to bring one or more children over the age of 7 &#8211; it will be the experience of a lifetime, something you will never forget. I\u2019m really looking forward to my son and I working together and having this shared experience &#8211; why don\u2019t you join us? Just be ready for an assault on your senses!<\/p>\n<p>More info at <a href=\"http:\/\/cvm.org.uk\/epic-adventure\" target=\"_blank\">cvm.org.uk\/epic-adventure<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This 1-minute video will give you some idea of what we&#8217;ll be up to!<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zGvf5jWrdqc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-attachment-id=\"6845\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/epic-adventure\/attachment\/epic-adventure600x200\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?fit=600%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"epic-adventure600x200\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?fit=300%2C100&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?fit=600%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6845\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?resize=600%2C200\" alt=\"epic-adventure600x200\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?resize=300%2C100&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-adventure600x200.jpg?resize=500%2C167&amp;ssl=1 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"linkwithin_hook\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/epic-adventure\/\"><\/div><script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png?w=750\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In my mid 20s I went to Thailand on my first mission trip. It was a life-changing experience! I saw rich and poor living side by side, smelt the stench of poor sanitation, tasted some amazing food, heard the sounds of strange animals at night and felt sweat dripping off me almost all the time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1204,48,1205,1203,1206,333,1207,1210,1208,1211,1209],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/epic-blog1000x582.jpg?fit=1000%2C582&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7PoLK-1Mn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7160,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/our-epic-adventure\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":0},"title":"Our Epic Adventure","date":"20 September 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days into our \u2018dad & son\u2019 trip to southern Africa this summer, I realised I\u2019d never been in this situation before. I\u2019ve been a dad for 10 years, but this was the first time that I\u2019ve had sole responsibility for any of my children for such an extended\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Team CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/dave-lodge-03.jpg?fit=560%2C399&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8398,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/in-the-city\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":1},"title":"In the City!","date":"1 March 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The health benefits of running to work for 20 minutes through Central London are probably mixed at best. Whilst on the positive side I'm getting exercise, but I'm pretty sure that the fumes from the traffic and air-conditioning outlets are not working wonders for my lungs. Still, it is much\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/ed-robertson-494488-unsplash.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":459,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/news\/introducing-graeme-dodds\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":2},"title":"Introducing Graeme Dodds","date":"10 March 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"CVM are pleased to announce that Graeme Dodds is now working with us as a Mission Specialist! Check out this excerpt from Graeme's bio: \"My previous life before becoming a christian was that of heavy involvement with drugs and alcohol, resulting in 3 sentences in Scottish prisons. Much of my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3069,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/we-all-need-an-adventure\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":3},"title":"We All Need An Adventure","date":"21 September 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Years of working with children, then youth, and now young (and not-so-young) adults has led me to a conclusion: We All Need An Adventure. An adventure of risk, an adventure of faith, an adventure of learning, an adventure of experience, and an adventure that will shape us for a lifetime.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Friends of CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/friends-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1940,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/what-do-men-need\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":4},"title":"What do men need?","date":"24 November 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Men need adventure, challenge and risk \u2013 but these things are often discouraged in church. Although our official mission is one of adventure, the actual mission of most churches is making people feel safe and secure.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8436,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/thoughts-from-the-cvm-team\/myths-and-legends\/","url_meta":{"origin":6843,"position":5},"title":"Myths and Legends","date":"9 April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A friend invited me to go with him to see one of the Hobbit films. Lots of us men love myths, legends, and stories of adventure. Especially epic stories of adventure, where there\u2019s a struggle going on between good and evil, darkness and light. They hold a strange fascination for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Team CVM&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/beyond-banter.jpg?fit=600%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6843"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6843"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6848,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6843\/revisions\/6848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}