2006 Mission Trip
On Saturday, September 9th 11 individuals boarded planes for a missions trip to Lima, Peru. Working in partnership with Kids Alive International The Mitchell Swaback Foundation sent its’ second team of 11 skilled carpenters to work on the “Cuna” daycare center in Manchay, Peru.
Working tirelessly nine hours a day, Monday through Friday the team was able to install roofs including wood sheathing, gable ends, fascia and a metal roof membrane, 4,000 square feet of suspended ceilings with insulation above, and 3,200 square feet of ceramic tile on four separate buildings.
The visitors to Peru were also able to squeeze in a few other activities besides working on the daycare buildings. The team was fortunate enough to visit a Spanish speaking church, a nearby fishing village, a weekly devotional meeting with older kids from the orphanage, and some time playing soccer and basketball with the kids. However, the highlight of the entire trip was sitting and enjoying a program that the kids from the daycare center performed in our honor, during which each team member was presented a handmade card from a child saying thank you for the work we completed.
Six of the 11 men were returning veterans from the 2005 Peru trip. One returning team member expressed why he wanted to make the return trip, “Once you get a chance to see the conditions these kids live in daily your heart just pours out to them and you want to help.” The need to help is alive in Peru because most houses in Manchay are made up of ¼” particleboard for the exterior walls, dirt floors, and have no plumbing, electrical or heating.
The team also had a chance to help one family repair their home that recently caught on fire. Their home went up in flames after a babies crib caught fire when a candle, their only source of light, sitting next to the bed, fell over. It was a miracle that the family got out alive however, their baby who had been in the crib at the time, suffered third degree burns on his hands and foot. When the mother rushed her son to a nearby clinic for medical attention she was turned away because she could not pay for the treatment. Sadly, for over twenty-four hours this innocent baby had no treatment or medication until a staff member from Kids Alive gave the mother $35 to go back to the clinic and receive the help needed.
This story is just one of many showing the dedication and help that the Cuna daycare center provides to their community. The daycare center also provides a safe place for kids to hang out while their parents work during the day and a place to receive a hot meal that they may not get at home.
Before the team headed home, each team member signed a large board that the daycare center displays as a way to remember each team that comes to work. Last year the MSF team put a picture of Mitch on the board and signed it as Mitch’s Team #1, this year they signed it Mitch’s Team #2. MSF has committed to return each year until the daycare center is completed. In addition to the daycare center MSF has pledged $250,000 to build a new orphanage in Pacacmac, Peru. There are so many places around the world with these same unimaginable conditions, and because of this MSF will continue to serve those for as long as we exist! We cannot do it alone; our plea goes out for each one of you to get involved. Consider joining us on a future trip, it will be life changing. We also need funding, so please consider making a donation today to one of our Peru projects. Every penny we receive will go directly to this project.
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