"Happy Summertime to you all, the sun is finally shining in Portland, which means it's that time of year to leave it for Perú and its "rainy season." Hmm?
I am reaching out to you all who have been past volunteers/participants of HBI Team Perú outreach trips, to mention that we are in the final planning phase for Team Perú 2011 trip. The dates are July 9th thru July 23rd.
We are headed to a brand new location each week this year. The first week we are headed two hours further south than our normal outreach locations, which makes for a long first day of travel if one is flying from the states leaving at 6am and not arriving in Ica until 6am the next day.
Unión Bíblica del Perú has asked us to move locations this year to one of their boy's homes that sees much less volunteer traffic. Also, Ica was greatly affected by a 7.9 earthquake in 2007 and has never fully recovered. The first week of our 2011 campaign will be unique. We will attend to displaced communities instead of schools. These communities are primarily single mothers and children with some of the least amount and access to resources we have seen.
The second week we will in fact continue our work with Father Alex and the Mission of Alto Cayma. What is different this year is that we will be helping the Mission much higher into the impoverished communities above the Church settlement. We will be working with the poorest of the poor.
Father Alex, as many of you remember, went to the end of the city and built his church because he knew that communities would continue to grow around him. That was nearly 15 years ago. Well, he was right - but no one could have foreseen the amount of growth. The services provided by the Mission reach nearly 35,000 people in some shape or form. There are now communities so far up the hill they are not within a reasonable distance of care delivery.
Father Alex has a vision to create a satellite Mission near the end of the squatter communities in an area called Sol de los Andes or Sun of the Andes. He already has a plot of land and a cross has been planted to signify property rights. In fact he mentioned the locals put a second cross on the land and have been holding mass on an open air, dirt floor Church. Really there has been no building whatsoever until now. We hope to help build a foundation for a daycare center and a small clinic.
The impetus for this update is dual purpose. First to thank you all for your continued support to HBI, the Peruvian People, and the service of those in need. Secondly, as you might remember, this is HBI's largest campaign of the year. This year our budget surpasses $40,000 and includes 28 North American volunteers, along with countless Peruvian volunteers.
We are trying to raise just over $13,000 to cover the budget for the clinic portion of the campaign. Our current volunteers have reached just over half with monetary donations and supplies. We still have a ways to go and so we extend this opportunity to any and all of you who would like to be involved in another campaign with a monetary donation.
You have seen first hand how every dollar is utilized to the fullest service of others. We would also appreciate if you would pass this along to family and friends who might be interested in helping.
The following is a link to donations: Make a Donation. Remember a $5 donation helps pay for one wellness exam for a child, including a months supply of vitamins, dental care, a full medical exam, toothbrush and any medications needed.
Please stay tuned to this Blogsite for updates and our Volunteer Blogsite as well for updates on our new adventures.
All my best,
Benjamin"
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