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Project Managers, Cristina, Michael
and Grace Poe. |
Santiago, Chile
Overseas Missions
Michael and Cristina Poe, and their daughter
Grace, of Overseas Missions have been active in missionary work
in different countries of South America for over 20 years. Their
work in Chile focused on assistance to:
- Mistreated children, providing material assistance, and one-on-one
attention and counseling. Hospital patients, via Play-Therapy
workshops to help children and families cope with serious
illnesses.
- Orphanages and Children's Homes,
providing food, clothing, tools, books, school supplies, basic
needs, etc.
- Students of the Bible, teaching Bible basics, and application
of Bible principals. Youth camps & Workshops, providing
young people with dynamic opportunities, as well as classes
on conflict resolution, fighting negative peer pressure, etc.
- Juvenile Detention Centers, through programs and workshops
for men and juvenile offenders, plus individual counseling
- Other social programs such as organizing activities
for the blind, visiting senior citizens in nursing homes
and assistance in disaster-relief
efforts.
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Natalia (12) who has never known any biological relative. Natalia
is a very charming and an outgoing girl, always asking questions
and giving us hugs. |
Here we are with some of the young wards of the Girls Home, where
we have been helping for the last 7 years. |
Members of the Blind Association sending their greetings. |
Train of Happiness
- A Balm for Burn and Cancer Victims
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner
of traveling…
The primary purpose of nationally renowned El Tren de la
Alegria is to help patients with sever burns, cancer or other degenerative
diseases and their families to cope with the different stages of the healing
process during their stay in the hospital. Through the Therapy of Happiness
workshops we bring encouragement through joy, which changes the chemical
function of the physical body and as a result it increases oxygen in the
blood and augments cell growth, it activates de immune system and stimulates
the appetite. It also has been proven to alleviate stress and encourage
positive thinking, complementing the medical treatment. Read
more
Three times a week, volunteers show up at Roberto Del Rio
Children’s hospital, and El Tren de la Alegria (Train of Happiness)
becomes part of the healing process for those children interned in hospital.
More and more the medical community is appreciating the need to attend
to the human spirit, in addition to the body. Our purpose is to provide
a respite for children with burns, as well as to their families who are
facing the emotional toll. We attempt to connect with the individual.
It is human connection, one patient at a time and one heart at a time.
We had wanted to do something special for the children at
Laura Vicuna, a children's home about 4 hours north of Santiago. We happened
to meet a man who recalled seeing us on a national TV broadcast last year,
a story related to the work we do at the hospital. (See above) This man
said that he would like to help us with a substantial amount of toys for
the children, both at the hospital, and also for the orphans at Laura
Vicuna. We were thrilled about this development.
Mother Verenna (right), a very kind 82-year-old nun who runs the
Foundation Laura Vicuña Home for Girls, here with some
of the 60 girls who live there full time. (Another 20 boys come
during the day, part time.)
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Here we are with some of the young wards of the Girls Home, where
we have been helping for the last 7 years.
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About this same time, we spoke with relatives in the States,
and five days later, without any prompting on our parts we found out that
they had gathered a substantial sum in donations toward helping the children's
home. Another wonderful surprise for us.
Project Managers Michael and Cristina Poe presenting each child
with their personal toy, which was so very special for them.
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Here's Michael presenting Joanna (10 years old) with her gift.
Joanna comes from a very poor mountain village in the mountains.
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Michael with Pablito (5), who was abandoned with two sisters three
years ago.
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Pablito's sister, Denis (6) expressing happiness for the gifts
she received.
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Carolina (10) was found abandoned and starving to death as a small
child, and has suffered bad burns on her face and body when she
was a baby.
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Natalia (12) who has never known any biological relative. Natalia
is a very charming and an outgoing girl, always asking questions
and giving us hugs.
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We then decided to call the children's home to ask them
what they were lacking; the director mentioned that they were in need
of a TV & video recorder. The next day we were out checking prices
for these items & we stopped by to speak with the man we met a week
earlier and somehow he ended up connecting us with a friend of his who
helped with a very good discounted price.
Well, to make a long story short, traveling to Laura Vicuna a few days
later, we brought along a newly-purchased 29" color TV & a stereo
video recorder & toys for all the children at Laura Vicuna children's
home.
Unloading the 29-inch flat screen color TV to the cheers of the
kids.
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And here's Michael presenting the accompanying VCR to the children.
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Click below for more photos on our work in orphanages
Page1, Page2,
Page3, Page4,
Page5, Page6
Outings
Organized for the Blind
Working with the management of the largest outdoor swimming
pools here in Santiago, each year we organize an annual summer picnic
for the residents of the Blind Institute. These dear blind folks, along
with their relatives & family members, enjoy organized activities
and swimming in the pool.
Grace greeting blind attendees from the Blind Association of Chile.
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Members of the Blind Association sending their greetings.
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Click below for more photos on our work for the Blind
Page1, Page2
Click here for Letters of Recommendation
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