Mission Trips to Cambodia and Sri Lanka

Brother Michael Wanigasekera, from Knights of Columbus Council 17304 in Prosper, TX recently returned home from mission trips to Cambodia and Sri Lanka earlier this year. Since his service ended in the Peace Corps years ago, he has regularly gone back to Cambodia several times on his own – and at his own expense - to complete service projects and to share the Catholic Faith.

March – April 2023: A Small Village near Hatton, Sri Lanka

This particular trip, Brother Michael was able to help develop a school library at a small rural village school, as well as bring rice and clothes to a children’s Kitchen on a small village tea plantation. The highlight of the trip, however was to help developing a small Catholic Church in the village – which will be finished in November 2023. The church will allow villagers to attend mass regularly without having to trek large distances to other cities. As a side benefit, the small church can also be used by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) to help distribute food and medicine to area villagers.

Additionally, while in Sri Lanka, Michael was able to help develop many water wells in a small Village. Water is essential to these families, and one water well will help multiple families and save them from having to hand carry water from distant locations. Michael also donated funds for the school which will aid in construction of a new school bathroom as well as helping to purchase sports equipment and other supplies for the school. “Every time I go on these mission trips I am always taken back by the level of poverty, just when I think I have seen everything when it comes to poverty, I aways see something new.”

September – October 2023:Back to Cambodia

Later, in Cambodia, Michael was able to develop another school library, which marks his fifth library development project. Libraries are so important to developing parts of the world as books provide many technical advances necessary for modern life. In total, Michael has developed four libraries in Cambodia and one in Sri Lanka.

The hallmark of his trips, however, are his conversations with the locals about the Catholic faith. Michael notes, “The most important thing on these trips is to be able to share our faith, and when people see your actions together with faith it’s a very powerful message…Being able to develop a Church in Sri Lanka is amazing, I am so grateful to be able to help.”

Michael received some monetary support for both trips from his local Knights of Columbus Council #17304 as well as from individual brothers. According to Michael, “I want to say thank you so much to the council and to the brothers for all the support and prayers.”