Mission Direct - Volunteers helping the world's poor

It was a fantastic reception - it really was. We all bonded with our hosts so quickly - they were so welcoming and loving. You were greeted with smiles and hugs. They just couldn't do enough for you.

We were working at the local prison, building interview rooms so that prisoners could be interviewed by their solicitors. It had been arranged by the Prison Fellowship (a Christian organisation). They were trying to make an impact in the prisons, and from what I could see, they were succeeding.

It was pretty hard work, and in pretty hot weather: we were working with the inmates who were really friendly and not threatening at all.

In the afternoon we went and helped paint the houses previous teams built. They were pretty tiny in our terms, but to them it was amazing. It was great to see the families that had moved in taking care of what they had.

We would begin each day with a prayer and a clap (Traditional Khmer was to finish with applause). Over the week more and more of the inmates joined us. They were really open to talking about faith even after the Khmer Rouge tried to destroy religion. You had a translator on hand so that you could answer lots of questions - they were all so receptive.

We did some painting at one of the orphanages. They loved us - they didn't really get much adult attention so the fact that we could spend time playing with them was really special for them. The kids wanted lots of hugs and were all very affectionate.

The interesting thing was the way the young people were often taking over a lot of the running of the family. Their parents had been in the re-education camps and hadn't mastered all sorts of life skills. And the next generation was beginning to take over. It was a sort of fresh start, but there was still so much damage done.

On the morning after getting back home I went to town and sat outside a coffee shop and people watched and it made realise how unappreciative people are in this country with what we have. A work college had to go into hospital for an operation and it had to be delayed for a day and all he could do was moan so without thinking I just said to him do you not realise how lucky you are having a hospital on your doorstep that can do the operation not to mention the fact you don't have to pay for it - he didn't moan to me again.

I would recommend it to anyone that wants a life-changing experience with some of the poorest people in the world with the biggest smiles. Cambodia is amazing and I'm going back as soon as possible.