My name is Chase Moore and I just got back from a travel abroad experience with Christian Business Leaders (CBL) in Peru!!!
On our trip, we were able to do and see a multitude of things stemming from sharing the gospel to learning about international business. First off, we spent a lot of our time assisting the Women’s and Children’s refugee camp in Ica, Peru. This organization provides housing, food, and care to women and children who have been abused, who have been forgotten, or who need other assistance for different reasons. They get some funding from the government but mainly through donations. Through donations we were able to provide, they were able to purchase food for around 3 months, a lawn mower for their massive lawn, other health supplies, and items needed for renovations (which we helped in! Ex: sanding and repainting walls, staining doors, cleaning floors). It can be difficult for a group like this to meet its needs when its funding is inconsistent and often not enough from the government (often the case in a less developed country).
The other main company we learned about was Velover Coffee in Lima, Peru. The company is owned and run by Jimmy and Anna Rose Carreno whose first location is in Camino De Vina church. They have an additional location closer to the center of Lima. Working with local suppliers and church elders in this location, they offer fair prices to customers and volunteer hours to those who want to learn how to become baristas. Licensing and taxes can take a toll on small businesses in Lima, so the church has helped them stay afloat in tough times… and now they are thriving and a critical piece of this church.
These people are wise and use their recourses efficiently as they don’t have many where they are. They both are very hard working and care immensely for others and those in their communities. It was a great opportunity to understand more how business operations can differ based on levels of funding, location, restrictions, goals, purpose, community types, and much more.
