Chalice: Notes from the field...

Hola querida familia y amigos!   First of all let me reassure you that we have all arrived safely and are doing very well here in Peru- demos gracias a Dios!  (Thanks be to God!)  Wow – is this ever an amazing adventure!  Our team of 23 members from all over Canada and our many hosts (from Peru and two from the US, doubling as translators), have been busy since the moment we said ‘yes’ to this mission – and life here is even busier!  Every day feels like two days! The people here gave us a phenomenal welcome Sunday night when we arrived in Cañete which really took many of us by surprise!  They must have spent more than the better part of a month preparing this celebration for us, which included singing both their national anthem and ours, as well as performing songs, skits and dances….and of course preparing a feast for us afterwards.  The celebration included many surprises for our team – some shocking, others leaving us very puzzled – and all o...

What happens when you go up to people you know and ask, “Can you give me $10?” “Ah, hang on a sec. Let me see,” they’ll say. Or they’ll stick their hand in their pocket, fumble for their wallet, or rummage through the contents of an oversize purse. They’ll scoop the coins from the bottom of the cup holder in their truck. They’ll do almost anything to help you out, and make sure you get at least $10. Meanwhile, you stand there, grinning slightly, looking everywhere but at them scrounging for coins. “Thanks,” you say, loading up your pockets. “I’m asking 100 people to do this. To give me $10.” Math wheels calculate, and you hear them thinking, “That’s a thousand bucks! I should try that,” then they look at you again, and you hear them thinking, “Man, is she that broke?” You let that idea sink in for 22 seconds. “I’m going on a humanitarian mission, to Peru. I’m trying to raise at least a thousand dollars. The money will go directly to helping these seriously impoverished people...

Chalice's next mission will bring our team to Peru from  October 15-23 !  The cost is approx. $2,150 (including flights, ground transportation, accommodations and meals).  There is an optional tour at the end (inquire if you are interested). We’ll be visiting our Cañete Sponsor Site, working alongside our partners, building relationships with the families we serve and other Canadians with a heart for service.  Our focus will be Works of Mercy . Cañete is a town located 150 km south of the capital, Lima.  50% of the population are living in families who struggle daily with poverty, working as agricultural laborers in the nearby valley.  Issues like poor housing conditions, overcrowding, malnutrition, and lack of drinking water aggravate the living situation.  Sponsorship helps children, seniors, and families cover their basic needs of nutrition, education, health, hygiene, and clothing.  The Site also offers lunch for children and sen...

Before I came on this mission trip I had many questions. I had read that 92% of the money goes to the children, but was that true? Were the letters we receive from the children really their words or do adults write them? Are the children made to do these letters out of obligation or do they want to write them? I am writing to tell you what I have seen and felt. The children truly receive what they need and more from the sponsorship money. This includes the basic needs of food, clothing, and school supplies (which they have already received for the next school year). Once a child is sponsored, the whole family is welcomed into the Chalice Family.  There are group activities for the children as well as adult education programs for guardians. The families work together to build community in their village and regional area. We saw how Chalice has provided new windows for homes and schools, playgrounds and music programs for children, and helped finance renovations in a children’s...

This week we travelled every day from Ternopil city to the village of Berezhany, where there is a sub site of the Ternopil Chalice Sponsor Site. We worked at the residential school for students who are physically or mentally challenged. Some children are orphans so will remain in care until age 18. Others just attend during the week. Although school was out for most students, those without families stay until July, so we were able to spend time with them. For July and most of August they are transferred to one of two other care facilities so that both they and the teachers have a break. During the tour from the principal, we saw the speech therapy room, the kitchen with new equipment, the carpentry room, 3 updated sewing machines and sports equipment – all donated by Chalice.  The renovation of buildings is impressive. The boys' dormitory is already renewed, one in pink and another in green to create variety and brightness. They have sewn their own coverlets to match ...

21 June, 2016 Today work begins in the boarding school in the small town of Berezhany, and the mission team is greeted with great enthusiasm, as has been the case in all towns and villages visited thus far.       Once again, the team quickly breaks up into three groups to deliver addiction support training, first aid training, and to perform renovations in the school, which include grounds keeping, window washing and the painting of radiators.   After a full day’s work, the team travels to the local cultural centre, where libraries and classrooms are visited.   A consistent theme encountered repeatedly throughout our mission has been the emphasis on quality education for sponsored children and their communities.   It is very clear that the Chalice staff here in the Ternopil site region as well as in the Pochaiv site region regard education as an essential and indispensable tool in helping children and families break the cycle of poverty.  ...

My expectation of a mission trip was that I give the course requested and would eat very little.   Not in Ukraine.   I have received more than I have given and the food.   Wow! Families in Ukraine may not have much but they share and give from their hearts. Their gifts are often food grown and made with their own hands. From the moment we touched down in Ukraine, we have been given food.   Incredibly ornately decorated breads are given as a welcome gift for everyone to share.   Each person takes a piece of bread and dips it in salt as a symbol of welcome and good health. Our team has had the pleasure of sharing several breads.   Some families have given homemade fruit jams of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.   These jams add to the beautiful taste of the breads. Most of our meals have been a minimum of two courses (that is breakfast).   Good wholesome fresh food that is simply and deliciously spiced would be the overall theme. ...