Page 13 - Spring Summer 2021 Newsletter Flip

Missing Our Mission Teams

Eagerly Awaiting...

We have heard from so many of our Mission Teams and know how eager
we all are to get back to Chimbote. Our teams have been greatly missed
and hard to believe that it has been over 15 months since our last
group left our brothers and sisters in Peru. Mission Teams are so much
more to FoC and ACAF than just volunteers on the ground. They are
friends and considered family to so many. They bring love, joy, hugs,
laughs, and hope to all in Chimbote and surrounding communities.
Our number one priority remains the health and safety of everyone
involved in the work we do, including our staff, our local volunteers, the
families in Chimbote and surrounding communities and visiting mission
teams.

With that in mind, the FoC staff and Board of Directors have made the difficult
decision to not re-open the mission visit program until 2022. This decision was not
made lightly and there were many variables that were considered. As of June 2021,
Peru has been experiencing the highest COVID 19 mortality rate in the world. It is
difficult to grasp that information at times as we in the States feel a cautious sense
of relief and are watching the State’s numbers decline. We understand the need
is great in Chimbote, but we first need to put safety guidelines in place to protect
the safety of our staff and incoming visitors. We are also considering our staff in
Chimbote who have been tirelessly in the fight saving lives for over a year and a half.
Giving them the support and guidance they are needing to heal is a top priority. They
have been our warriors on the front-lines and we want to make sure they have time to shift
their attention once Peru experiences some relief from this ongoing pandemic. With that said...these next few
months...the FoC staff and board will be developing a phase one safety plan to safely welcome back our mission
visitors. A team of FoC Staff and Board of Directors will be forming a team which will venture to Chimbote later
this fall to assess the conditions and give recommendations on how and when to move forward. By doing so...we
are helping to ensure that we will be able to continue our work for many more years to come.

WHAT CAN YOU DO??
As we are preparing for your arrivals in 2022, you can be preparing your
perspective team members also.

• Pick your date! Dates in 2022 will fill quickly!
• Contact Julie Dolbec for date availability!
• Watch for information on the website, Facebook and Powermails.
• FoC’s safety requirements will be posted within the next month.
• FoC will be posting regularly on the conditions in Chimbote
and any new developments regarding mission visits.

• Begin your fundraising efforts!
• FoC has support material to assist you in your efforts!

• Ask Questions!!
• We are all in uncharted waters so please contact Julie
Dolbec at FOC with any questions or concerns.

SEE YOU IN 2022!!!

friendsofchimbote.org PAGE 13