The Sri Lanka Mission came about at the invitation by the Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka; the Rt. Reverend Kenneth Fernando, to bring a work mission team of volunteers to Sri Lanka to undertake the following projects in partnership with the Diocese of Colombo:
(a) The Paynter Children's Home in Nuwara Eliya:
This children's home has been in operation for 76 years and is in need of some much needed renovations and improvements which will be performed by our team in conjunction with the local community. At this time, the Home is residence for thirty five children.
(b) The Diocese of Colombo War Orphan's Home in Amparai:
The Diocese of Colombo is in the midst of establishing a home in Amparai for children who have been orphaned as a result of the civil war in Sri Lanka. This home will be established in the Anglican rectory in Amparai. Our team will be working under the supervision of Archdeacon Dhilo Canagasabey.
(c) Dental Care Team
A volunteer dentist and a team of volunteers (trained and prepared) will offer free dental care to tea plantation workers in conjunction with the local communities.
(d) Educational Supplies
Educational supplies and library books have been collected in Canada and will be distributed to local schools and the children of the orphanages.
Aside from the the projects, there are many opportunities to experience the Sri Lanka culture and communities.
Fortunately, with the timing of the mission trip, we will visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and experience the night time festival of Perahera culminating with the Parade of the Elephants.
Our Sri Lankan journey will also take in the 11th century Buddhist kingdom at Polonnaruwa and the Buddhist carvings and cave paintings (100 B.C.) at Dumbula Caves. The Sri Lankan portion of the trip will culminate with a visit to Sigriya's Royal Palace (477 A.D.) where we will climb into the mountains and explore the ruins.
With the completion of the projects, there is an optional extension trip to Cambodia and Thailand. Once again, this portion of the trip will not only be a cultural experience, but also a fact finding mission.
Our Cambodian trip will start with a stay in Siem Reap where we will visit the ancient temples at Angkor Wat. We will also visit a United Nation's Land Mine Removal project, and the "Killing Fields" memorial.
We hope to send update reports on the Sri Lankan portion of the trip starting the week of August 6th. We hope you return frequently and follow our mission.
Please sign our Guest book. We look forward to your comments.Please click here to view our photo album.
Update August 7, 2001
Well, here we are with our first update. It has taken some time to get access to a computer with internet access. I have been trying for 2 days from the Paynter Home, however the line has always been disconnected. At this time I am now in the Commercial Banks Computer training centre.
Everything and everyone arrived safely. We all met in Hong Kong last Wednesday and departed for Colombo on Thursday. There was only one "glitch", we were not flying direct to Colombo. We were all diverted to Bangkok where we had to transfer to Sri Lankan Airlines. Cathay Pacific were not going to land in Sri Lanka (increased insurance charges) due to the recent incident at the Sri Lankan airport. However it was a nice "trade-off". Almost everyone flew Business Class. Now that's the way to go !!!
We arrived in Kandy on Friday and took in a tour of the Temple of the Tooth and the Perahera. Perahera is the "parading" of one of Buddha's teeth throughout the city, which is enshrined in a capsule on the back of a huge elephant. The whole parade was spectacular with about one hundred elephants fully decorated with lights and robes.
Saturday we daparted and arrived in Nuwara Eliya in preparation for the projects. On Sunday, the Amparai team departed for the 2 day journey to their site. Everything is going great here. The dental clinic had their first clinic yesterday (Monday) at the orphanage for the children and the local community. Our painting team is painting of course (girls dorm yesterday, boys' today). The roof of the chicken house had already been raised from a 4 ft. high wall to 8 ft., so yesterday we put on the roof (galvinized sheets), today the faceboards and eavestroughing. This building (16 ft. x 80 ft)will soon be the home of 3 school rooms.
The weather here in Nuwara Eliya has been pretty cool. We have all been bundled up in our sweaters. The daytime temperatures have been in the 50 F's. I was surprised our elevation is 6800 ft. Yesterday was sunny, today overcast with sprinkling of showers across the valley. The setting of the Home is very picturesque, overlooking the town. Quite often we see the clouds passing below.
Well, I guess it's time for me to sign off now, and get back to work.
Bye for now !!
Update Thursday August 9, 2001
Here's the latest:
The Sri Lankan Post Office is on a rotating strike, we think. At some locations, the clerks are not allowed to sell us stamps. So post cards may be delayed.
The dental team has seen about 240 patients after Wednesday's clinic. There are many multiple extractions which is really keeping the team busy.
As for the painting team, everything is progressing smoothly. The "chicken house" has the roof on, and the hangers for the eavestroughs attached. The first coat of white wash was applied today.
We had a report from the Ampara team. Everything is "ok". However the weather is really HOT (like Reno Nevada,)
It's time to go, since the computer centre is getting ready to close. Until next time,...