Jen Glenwright

My Personal Journey to “Cycle to the World Cup”: Jen Glenwright

My link to Stansberry Orphanage began several  years ago when I was in grade 9 at College Pierre Elliot Trudeau. I was very privileged to have Mr. Larry Paetkau as my English teacher.  It wasn’t long before all of us learned about his brother, Chuck, who was raising his family in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, while serving as the director of Stansberry.  At that time, Larry was dreaming of bringing his students down to experience life outside of Winnipeg, and I was more than keen to partake. Unfortunately, I graduated before that dream was realized.
Fast forward more than a decade later. I was fortunate enough to run into Larry and discover that he, for the eighth time, was bringing a group of students down for Spring Break.  Thinking -Hey! I am a teacher- I have the same break- I quickly blurted “Let me go with you!  I speak Spanish! I’ve travelled a fair amount! I can chaperone!” And, before I knew it, I was buying my ticket to Santa Cruz.
I’ve spent 8 months travelling and working on projects in Central America; however, upon arrival to Bolivia, I realized that this country was unlike any other I had experienced.  I was blown away at the effective and progressive methods that Stansberry implemented.  It was amazing to see the beginning, developing and completed success of their programs.  This is a place where time and money spent actually develop in results that you can see.  I was, and am, amazed.
It was on that trip in March of last year, that Larry mentioned to me Chuck’s ‘crazy’ idea. This included getting a group of people together for a fundraising bike tour from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to arrive during the World Cup! Upon learning that they intended to have a support vehicle, and, that we would be travelling on paved roads, I knew in my heart that I was in.
So, if you are able, please contribute to this cause.  Either by sponsoring this Prairie Girl, or donating to the cause, I can assure you; your dollar will go towards an amazing organization that makes the world a better place for orphans and under privileged children.

Chuck and Mario

My Personal Journey to "Cycle to the World Cup": Chuck and Mario

Stansberry Children’s Home and Daycare is in need of immediate funds to relieve the demands of a changing society. This is a project that is very dear to our hearts, as we have been involved with Stansberry since 1995, when we first went to Santa Cruz to work there.  During these many years I found that one way to get the children active and do something well worth the while was to go cycling with them.  One of my before work activities over the last 6 years there was to wake Mario, one of the oldest boys, each day at 6 and ride to the next town, ‘La Guardia’, for breakfast and then ride back, a round trip of about 40 km.  We have done a couple of small cycle fund raisers and when we heard the world cup was to be in Brazil in 2014 we began to scheme over our breakfasts and now we are almost there and it looks like our dream will come true! We are cycling to the world cup!!! Mario has recently received his commercial pilot’s licence and has been a tremendous help to the Orphanage.

If you would like to sponsor Mario or myself, Charles(Chuck) Paetkau here is your opportunity. We encourage you to follow our progress on the blog mentioned below and to remember us in your prayers.

The fundraising bike trip is set for June 10-23, 2014.  So far there are 8 cyclists and we will cycle from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Sao Paulo, Brazil (across the Brazilian Pantanal) - a distance of approx. 2100 km. 

(You can follow us on the blog – cycletotheworldcup.blogspot.com) OUR GOAL IS 130,000.00

Irai A. Rodrigues Filho

My Personal Journey to “Cycle to the World Cup”: Irai A. Rodrigues Filho

I am Irai Rodrigues, Brazilian born with a Bolivian heart. I had the opportunity to be the youth pastor of the Church right beside Stansberry Home. This opportunity opened me the door to know the amazing kids that lived right next door and joined us for the church services and activities.

I cannot deny, those kids captivated my heart and permanently live in my memories and prayers. But like the Latin American singer Ali Primera sang “No, no, it is not enough with just praying, we are lacking more things to achieve peace.”  There are incongruences in the world cup in Brazil, who hosts the foreigners with the best seats in the stadiums and let its own people die in the public hospitals. Also Bolivia is crossing through many social economic changes which affect directly the kids from Stansberry Home. How could I protest about the incongruences and contribute to the financial needs of Stansberry?

Charles Paetkau and I were used to riding our bikes in Bolivia, and we kept doing it in summer time when we moved to Canada. He thought, Why not a Bike Trip! This is a good way to protest, make international problems known and transform our prayers action. And here we go. Unhappily we cannot do it alone. We need partners and you may be the partner we have being looking for. Check out the information below, please. Stand up and let’s do it together!   OUR GOAL IS $130,000.00

For any choice of donation, make a note that the donation is for the “Fundraising Bike Trip” and my name for the cyclist.

Deneen Ropp

My Personal Journey to “Cycle to the World Cup”: Deneen Ropp

Stansberry Children’s Home and Daycare is in need of immediate funds to relieve the demands of a changing society.  This is what prompted a need for a fundraiser that could involve the Canadian, U.S., and Bolivian Constituencies.  Charles Paetkau (Chuck) is the ‘adventurous’ past director and is heading up a team to “cycle for the children”.  This has been in the planning for quite some time – I personally was in favour and supportive but had no desire to participate, until…

Friday, Feb. 28/14 – I awoke with such a deep seeded passion to be on this bike trip!  And…not just to drive along in the support van but to actually ride a bike!!  I prayed that this would pass – truly I did!  I had a list of reasons why it was crazy – but at the same time could not shake the desire to go.  One by one, God’s finger crossed out my entire list.  I strongly believe there is a purpose for me to be involved on this trip.

I am asking all of my friends and family to please journey with me, whether you feel a need to support in a financial way or be a prayer partner or BOTH!!

When our family served at Stansberry (2004-2006), we saw firsthand the children and families that are being impacted.  Since we have returned, it has been a desire of ours to keep supporting our brothers and sisters in Bolivia with prayers of encouragement and making known to others the financial need that they are faced with on an ongoing basis.

The fundraising bike trip is set for June 10-24, 2014.  So far there are 8 cyclists and we will cycle from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Sao Paulo, Brazil (across the Brazilian Pantanal) - a distance of approx. 2100 km. 

I was reading a devotion book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young and came across this quote:

 “When I gave you my Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength.  The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless.”

I am scared –and as I train I am reminded of how frail this ‘ole’ body is!  But I am called – I can’t explain – but I must go.  If God can use this 47 year old woman/wife/mother to ride a bike across ‘The Pantanal,’ He certainly can raise the money desperately needed for Stansberry! 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this letter and for your prayers.

Love…Deneen

(You can follow us on the blog – cycletotheworldcup.blogspot.com) OUR GOAL IS $130,000.00

For any choice of donation, make a note that the donation is for the “Fundraising Bike Trip” and my name for the cyclist.