The Highlight Reel

With a little less than a week left in Huánuco, I can’t help but think over my time here in Peru. About how much I have changed, how much I have learned, the challenges I faced, the challenges I have overcome, and the challenges I continue to work on. I think about the wonderful friendships I have made, all the new things I have tried, and all the blessings I have been given. In order to fully celebrate my time here, I thought I would make a list of all the highlights and wonderful experiences I’ve had:

-I improved my Spanish by a mile

-I attended a wedding, a funeral, and a college graduation

- I ate guinea pig and alligator

- I visited Machu Picchu with my family

-I completed the Inca Trail with Sean and Mary

-I did a bike tour through Lima

-I learned how to drive a motorcycle (Don’t tell mom!)

-I visited “The best beaches in Peru” (Mancora, Peru)

-I attended the biggest Holy Week celebration in all of Peru

-I climbed waterfalls

- I lived in “The best climate in the world”

- I visited one of the highest cities in the world (Cerro de Pasco, 14,000 feet above sea level)

- I boated across the highest navigable lake in the world (Lake Titicaca)

-I illegally crossed over into Ecuador…oops!

-I practiced physical therapy

-I saw the first smile a girl had in months

-I helped teach a girl how to read

-I had a baby named after me

-I fell in love with a culture and a country

And of course so much more! 

I carry your heart I carry it in my heart
 -E. E. Cummings

To Give Light

• To say give birth in Spanish, you say “Ella da luz,” which translates to she gave light

 The last two weeks in June have been especially busy for everyone in the Paz y Esperanza office. Just the other week we received a group from the River Community Church in San Jose, California. They come from all different professions and take a week out of their busy schedules to help out in Huánuco. My main job throughout the week was to translate for an art student, Michael, who provided drawing lessons for my kids therapy group as well as for the adolescent girls. Both groups really love to draw, so they enjoyed learning how to draw different animals, faces, and even sceneries. The rest of the week I spent translating in different areas or just running around to make sure the group had everything they need. While it ended up being a very tiring week, the group brought some wonderful ideas/work to the Huánuco community and Paz y Esperanza team.

                                                   Learning to draw

Now this past week I spent planning the final therapy group with the kids. We had decided that since Friday was a national holiday and everyone had off school and work, we would take the kids on a field trip to the shelter. Bright and early Friday morning we boarded 15 little ones into a small mini van and made our way to Tomaquichwa. All morning we played different types of tag, had potato sack races and balloon tosses. We then ate lunch as a group and spent about an hour in the afternoon drawing and doing crafts. It was a very busy, stressful, and tiring day for myself and Lisbeth, the psychology intern, but the kids had a wonderful time, and the children at the shelter really enjoyed having visitors and meeting new faces. All in all it was a perfect way to wrap up my therapy sessions with the kids that I have come to love over the past five months.

Last Wednesday at the shelter, I was able to see the four-day-old newborn of one of the girls there. While gushing over how adorable the small little one was, I asked her 14-year-old mother what her name was. She told me it was Hannah. Now up until that day she had not decided on a name, and I don’t know for sure if she will actually keep Hannah as the name. But it was a huge compliment that the mother was even considering naming the baby after me. It made me think about how I only spend one day a week there, and though we sometimes have deep conversations, I don’t spend ever minute with this young girl. But at the very least, I do always make sure to give her a hug and a kiss and ask her how the baby is doing. It made me think that maybe it isn’t always the quantity of time you spend with a person, but the quality. I thank God that I was given the opportunity to give this new 14 year old mom love each Wednesday, and I wish her nothing but the best with her new light of the world. 

Save The Children

June has been a busy month for me. We have been preparing for a group to come from the States, while also preparing for and putting on workshops each Friday. The workshops are about protecting the children in our communities, and my main job is to prepare all the materials. Even though, I sometimes find the 5-hour workshops to be long and a bit boring, I think they are incredibly important. They are presented to men and women of the community, from all different professions: teachers, nurses, and even stay at home mothers. The main topic covered is sexual abuse: what it is, what it can look like, how to prevent it, how to stop it.

Just to give an example of why these workshops are so important, one of the girls I work with is 9 years old. Her stepfather began abusing her when she was just 5 years old. When she told her mother, she was told to stop being ridiculous. For 3 years she suffered in silence, until her teacher started to notice that her behavior was off. When she asked the young girl what was wrong, the girl confessed for the first time to someone outside of her family. Luckily her teacher not only believed her, but also took the appropriate measures to make sure that this girl was given the treatment and care she needed.

She, and other children I work with are the reason I feel so strongly about these workshops. With the percentages as high as they are, it is possible that each one of the people coming to the workshops know at least one child who has been or is being sexually abused. Though we would like to believe that their parents would immediately get them help, it unfortunately isn’t always the case. Therefore, it is important for these people to understand exactly what sexual abuse is, what it looks like, and the appropriate steps to take if encountered. I thank God that this teacher decided to think twice about the young girl’s behavior, and that she followed through. I pray that through this workshop we can help other young children who are suffering. I pray that if these participants encounter an abusive situation, that they have enough strength to follow through. And until then we shall continue to pray for the little ones that suffer in silence.

                     Beky, one of the psychologists, explaining sexual abuse

‎"Every person I work with knows something better than me. My job is to listen long enough to find it and use it."

Jack Nichols

May You Always Laugh, And Laugh Often

As some of you know, I spend all of my Wednesday’s at the shelter run by Paz y Esperanza. The shelter is called Casa de Buen Trato (The house of good treatment) Hovde, and it does a number of wonderful things. Two of its main focuses are providing a place for victims of sexual abuse, whose abusers are usually in their own family, and a refugee house for women that are victims of domestic violence. The shelter is about 30 minutes out of town, so I don’t get to go out there as much as I would like, but I always cherish my time there.

                                                          The Shelter

Each Wednesday, I wake up early in order to catch a 7:30 am bus that takes me out to Tomayquichua. There I meet the people who work at the shelter in another bus that takes us to the shelter. Every time I walk through the doors, at least one of the little ones runs up and greets me with a hug and a kiss. It’s literally the best part of my entire week. One of my favorite things about the shelter is that if I ever sit down, one of the little ones always climbs up in my lap, and if that one leaves another one will usually crawl right in.

In the mornings I usually spend time with the adolescent girls that don’t have classes till the afternoon. We work on homework, talk, listen to music, and they love to play with my hair. I also watch the babies or little ones that are too young for kindergarden. It’s always an adventure with them, but I am constantly amazed with their imagination. I can usually just say these sticks are a motorcycle, let'sgo for a trip, and the next thing I know it's three hours later and they are still riding their imaginary bikes.

The afternoons tend to be a bit crazier. My job is to help Esther watch all the little ones while their moms are taking classes. We have to help them with their homework, and then we usually try to take them to the farm, but only if they behave well. At the farm there is a pond with fishes, a giant turtle, cows, guinea pigs, rabbits, and the coolest playground ever. Needless to say, the kids love going there. 

                                                     Some of the cows!

Whenever I’m about to leave, I have to sit near the office so that they can let me know when the bus is going to head out. At least two of the girls always come and sit by me, and of course my lap is always full with one of the little ones. Last week I was sitting there with two of the newer girls. Both were on the brink of tears, telling me about how much they miss their families and how they want to go home. I sat and listened to them express their fears and concerns, and then I told them that I too wanted to go home. I told them that I hadn’t seen my mother in almost 6 months, and I knew how hard it was to be away from your friends and family. But I also told them that like me, they have wonderful people around them who are supporting them and trying to help them through every step of this hard process.

To change to a lighter subject I started practicing the little Quechua I know because both of these girls speak Quechua as their first language. The girls started laughing at my terrible attempts, but when I finally said Tupananchis Caman correctly, they yelled and hugged me tight. It was then that I realized that was the first time I had seen one of the girls laugh.

Some days at the shelter are just plain crazy. Some days I feel like all I do is chase around little kids saying, “No don’t throw that,” “No don’t hit her,” “You need to share the leggos.” Some days I go home covered in dirt, orange juice, and snot. But I usually end up leaving with a heart full of love for each and everyone of them.

In just two short months, I will leave the girls and little ones, but every day I pray for them. I pray that they grow up to be beautiful, strong, independent women/men. I pray that they are happy, but most of all I pray that they continue to laugh, and laugh often. 

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." -Mother Teresa

Tupananchis Caman

Thing we learned about Inca/Quechua culture:

-They believe in three worlds: The world above- Hanan Pacha, the world now- Kay Pacha, and the world below- Uka Pacha

-There is a ceremonial way to chew coca leaves that includes making a wish in them

- It would have taken the Incas about a week and a half to run (yes, run) a message from Cusco to Lima
-Tupanachis Caman is Quechua for I will see you in another life

This past week was honestly one of the best weeks of my life. Mary, Sean, and I made the most of our week vacation by completing the 4-day Inca trail! We headed to Cusco on Saturday and spent two days eating pizza and bagels and enjoying the beautiful city.

                                  The girls getting excited over bagels and fresh juice! 

Monday morning bright and early, we were picked up by our trekking company Peru Treks. It actually started a bit stressful because I was picked up alone, meaning that I was in a different group than the girls. While sitting on the bus alone for those first two hours, I simply prayed that God would allow us to all be together, or that I would be given a really fun group that I could bond with on my own. I was lucky enough to have both of them come true. Not only were the girls put in my group, but we also had wonderful guides, and an amazing group as well!

                                 Our amazing group and our amazing porters! 

So we finally began the trek, together, and had a wonderful first day! We had decided long before that we were gong to be strong, independent women that carried their own bags. This sounds all well and good until about 6 hours later when the only thing you can think of is taking off your pack. Throughout the first day, a lot of the scenery was very similar to what Mary and I see daily, but even though I see it daily, it still takes my breath away. While looking at those mountains, I had to ask myself how I am going to leave them. It is strange how after 8-9 months they become a comfort, something you rely on to always be there. 

After spending the night at the campsite and two delicious meals later (the food was super super good!) We woke up early to coca tea being delivered to our tent. I whispered Mary a happy birthday because I knew she didn’t want too many people to know, and we set off! Now let’s go back a few weeks when a friend of mine, Juan, was giving me tips on the trek and told me that on the second day you will, in his words, “Go just a little bit up.” Now what Juan actually meant by a “little” bit up was 6 hours straight UP hill. Sure we took our breaks every couple of hours, but getting up Dead Woman’s Pass was not easy, especially with all of our stuff. BUT we did it, we rocked it, and we had so much fun talking, laughing, and helping each other along the way. 

                                             The Inca trail drawn out

                        We had started that down allll the way at the bottom! 

Now day three is the longest day, which sounds fine until you wake up and realize that your muscles are so sore that just getting down to the bathroom sounds hard. But after a little bit of breakfast and a spike in adrenaline, we were off once again! The third day was honestly one of the most beautiful because you pass into jungle territory, so it’s very lush and green. We spent the majority of the day just trying to take it slow and enjoy everything around us.

                                          Just one of our amazing views 

So I mentioned before that Mary didn’t want anyone to know about her birthday, but during one of the breaks on day three, the guides asked her when her birthday was. She seemed a little concerned that they now knew that her birthday was the day before, so I tried to reassure her by saying, “Mary it’s okay, it’s not like they are going to bake you a cake, we are in the middle of the Inca trail.” Oh but was I ever so wrong. That night, after dinner, they served us a beautiful birthday cake for Mary, which also became a celebration of our last dinner together. We still have no idea how the cake turned out so amazing. The guides say it was magic… I say there was a bakery around the street they didn’t tell us about, we shall never know!

The fourth day started early so that our wonderful porters could make their train home, and so that we could get to Machu Picchu before the sun rose over it. So we hiked a short hour to the sun gate, spent about half an hour admiring the view, and then spent the rest of the day walking around Machu Picchu. We were then able to all eat lunch together in Aguas Calientes, and then take the train back to Cusco.

                                        Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate

One of the things that I really loved about this trip was that our guides were shocked that Mary, Sean and I had only known each other for 9 months. The also told us that we were the “craziest” girls they had ever met. And while that sounds a little bad, it really just means that they had never seen three girls continuously laughing, singing, and enjoying each others company. We may have only known each other for less than a year, but we are already like sisters, something I’m so proud of. I was also proud that our group was known as the “noisy” group because we always clapped for each other, our porters, and our porters always clapped for us. It may have been annoying to other groups, but we had an unforgettable time because of it.

                                                      We made it!!

Now, I’m back in Huánuco and looking forward to spending my last couple months with my family and friends here. As always, sending so much love to everyone!

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

― Audrey Hepburn

Aprovechar

It seems like daily I am learning something new, or trying a new activity. Not all of them are super exciting such as learning how to bind books, but if it’s there to learn, why not learn it? That is why I try to say Sí (yes) to almost every opportunity presented. So when my boss asked me if I wanted to help a victim of domestic abuse, from a physical therapy standpoint, I said yes, even though I was a bit nervous. Technically I’m not a physical therapist, but I have spent many hours watching physical therapists work and discussing ideas or treatment plans for patients. Why not give it a shot, right? I began by making my own evaluation form because technically everything I do has to be reported back to Paz y Esperanza. The evaluation form included a body in which she got to circle where her pain was, and asked all sorts of questions from what time of day is the pain the worst to does it hurt when people touch you. I then got to meet with her and talk about how she was feeling and what my plan was. I expected it to be a short 30 minute session, but I ended up sitting with her for awhile because she told me all about herself and her life after her husband. I didn’t understand absolutely everything, but it didn’t really matter because she didn’t need me to respond, she just needed me to listen.

After my initial evaluation, you could call it, with her. I set to work, finding exercises and stretches that would give her some relief. Then I met with her again this past week to go over all the exercises and talk about how she was feeling. When I handed her the papers, saying she could keep them, she began to cry and kept thanking me for taking the time to help her. It is amazing to me that at first I found it to be not a big deal, just a bit scary, yet she thinks it is the biggest gift in the world. They are right when they say it’s the little things that matter, and little does she know that I really do enjoy playing physical therapist, so really she is helping me also.

This past weekend I also said “Yes” when Esther asked me if I wanted to plan a day trip to Huánuco Pampa, also known as the Old Huánuco. This old Huánuco was built by the Incas and was one of their many cities from Ecuador to Chile. The thing about Huánuco Pampa is that it is hard to get to. It’s about a 4-5 hour drive from Huánuco (the new Huánuco), which consists mainly of twists and turns through mountains and mud streets. It also sits about 3,600 km above sea level, which basically means that it is really high, high enough that you can feel the lack of air when breathing. Esther and I went with some friends of the family that own a tour agency, so we were able to get a full tour, and also learn a bit about the history. It was a fun way to aprovechar (take advantage of) the weekend, as the Peruvians would say.

                      Esther and I with our tour guide Juan at Huánuco Pampa

            Esther and I in front of the Inca crown (a huge rock in the shape of a crown)

Now this next week I will be staying at La Granja (the farm) to help translate for a group coming from the states that will be helping at the shelter. And then I’m off to Lima, and then off to Cuzco to walk the Inca trail with Mary and Sean! Hope all is well at home, so much love

“Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean. It’s not a museum for the good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.” –Jefferson Bethke

Perspective

Books I have been reading:

-The Hunger Games trilogy - Suzanne Collins

-A Stolen Innocence –Elisa Wall

-Love Wins: A book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived –Rob Bell

-Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith –Anne Lamott

While sitting on the beach in Mancora about a month or so ago, I had a conversation with Mary, a fellow YAV. We were talking about perspective, about looking at every troubling or difficult situation in a different light. Mary gave me the example of how we don’t necessarily enjoy riding in crowded buses for long periods of time in order to get around. She then continued to say that maybe instead of being frustrated or annoyed we should think of the hypothetical woman that rides the bus two hours to work each morning and then two hours home. She does this because she found a better job in a nicer district, however, she can’t move because she can’t afford to live in that district. So she can’t move, yet she has to work in order to provide for her son. We get annoyed because the bus is hot and crowded, yet this woman is losing four hours each day that she could be spending with her son, all because she needs to provide for him. Maybe our bus rides aren’t so bad after all.

Since that conversation, I have tried to give myself some perspective whenever I am frustrated or slightly annoyed. For example I tend to be cranky when I wake up at 5:30 am to run before work (who wouldn’t right?) But as soon as I leave my house to meet Bani Diego (my awesome running partner) I see the many women and men that clean the streets each morning before sunrise. I have no idea what time they actually start working, but I would guess it to be around 3 or 4 am. As you can imagine, this job isn’t glamorous and isn’t a choice for these people, but rather a necessity in order to provide for their families. So yes, I want to secretly crawl back in to bed and tell Bani we will run another day, but I continually remind myself that if these women and men can wake up super early to clean the streets with a smile on their faces, I can get up and run (a choice) with a good attitude. Another example is when I don’t think I could possible eat another plate of chicken and rice. It’s then that I try to think of the families that can’t afford rice, let alone chicken, and will once again be eating potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is in these moments that I thank God for how incredibly blessed I am, and pray for strength and support for all those who are not as fortunate. 

Another thing I am always trying to find perspective for is the kids therapy group, and I’m starting to realize that it’s worth getting a bit stressed out in order to see the kids laugh and just be kids. Last week during the therapy group we talked about family. We read the story of The Prodigal Son and talked about some of the emotions we can have within our own families including happy, sad, jealous, and mad. We explained that we aren’t always incredibly happy with our families, but we need to communicate and forgive because we love each other. We then had the kids draw their families and explain who was in the drawing. The last project was to have all the kids write down one thing that they do really well at home such as: help out my mother, wash the dishes, take care of my little siblings etc. on a piece of paper. On another paper we had them write one thing that they needed and wanted to work on such as: listening, eating more, or sharing toys. Both of the pieces of paper were then put into balloons, blown up and taken home to help them remember what they wrote. And even though I felt like a crazy person that needed a nap, all the kids left with a smile, that’s enough perspective for me.

Now it’s off to plan more therapy groups for the kids. Hoping all is well at home. Much love to all!

                                      The group in front of the lookout in Ayacucho

Semana Santa

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I LOVE that we get to travel around to different parts of Peru while we are here. Especially because in Peru each district, each town has its own traditions and specialties. So as I mentioned in my last blog, I left last Friday for Lima where I got to spend the weekend with a few of the other YAV volunteers. I was able to see The Hunger Games, spend an afternoon by the pool, take a bike tour along the coast, window shop, and eat really good food including sushi, salads, and kebobs! I even found out how to maneuver some of the Lima buses, which as a small town girl, is a big deal…. and yes I was scared out of my mind.

                                               My first salad in 7 months!

Then, Tuesday night the Lima YAVs and I took the overnight bus to Ayacucho for Semana Santa (Holy Week). Now Ayacucho is an incredible place for many reasons, but here is two; 1) the district of Ayacucho is where the 20 years of violence started (1980-200), and it was also hit the hardest. I believe the stats say that 4 out of 10 people killed during the years of violence came from the Ayacucho district. These years of violence are a primary reason we are all in Peru, so it always tugs a bit at our heartstrings to hear the history and stories. 2) Ayacucho, the city, has around 33 Catholic Churches, which means that Holy Week in Ayacucho looks a lot like Spring Break on Florida beaches.

                                         The main square in Ayacucho

*This photo is of Mother Angelica. Her son was taken in the middle of the night during the years of violence. She began to fight back by looking for answers, starting a soup kitchen for orphans, and finding donations for a museum and a memorial for the victims and families. 

While we did have devotionals and vocational discernments, we spend most of our time wandering around Ayacucho or sitting in the main square, watching the events of the week unfold. I’m going to break down the processions by days because it’s just easier to follow:

Wednesday: By late morning groups were forming in the main plaza to make flower carpets for the parade that night. These carpets are INCREDIBLE! They have so much detail and color. It was a lot of fun to just sit and watch the process of how they are made. Most of the carpets have a chalk outline, but the majority of the detail is just done free hand. That night around 9, the procession started in which a float of Jesus carrying the cross was met by Saint John and La Victoria (we aren’t quite sure who she is considering we aren’t Catholic.) Each of them are on their own handmade float carried by men on their shoulders. Jesus was then carried to meet the float of Mary. The whole process took around 3 hours, and the place was packed!

Thursday: There wasn’t a procession Thursday night, so no carpets were made, but there was a church parade in which people walked from church to church. We didn’t participate in the entire walk, but we did get to see that each church has one alter streamed in white gauze. The significance of this is unknown to me, but if was beautiful to see!

Friday: There was another procession, carpets included, in which Jesus came through the square in a coffin full of flowers and Mary met him. It was quite beautiful and felt like Christmas because almost everyone in the crowd had a candle.

Saturday: There was no procession Saturday, but there was a bull run. Three of my fellow YAVs decided to participate. It wasn’t quite as exciting as the bull runs you see on TV, but they all had fun. We ended up heading back to Lima Saturday night because we all had to work Monday, but Sunday morning around 4 am is the last procession in which a HUGE float around 25 meters high parades around the square signifying the resurrection. I obviously didn’t get to see it, but the pictures alone were incredible.

After returning to Lima, I spent the majority of Easter on the coach or pacing while watching the Masters before taking the overnight bus to head back to Huánuco.

This week I have the kids therapy group (remember how I said I had two more left…. well my boss has decided to extend them until July. Just have to love God’s sense of humor!) I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! So much love from Peru! 

“People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.” 
― Mother Teresa

Tag and Colorful Yoga

March has flown by on me! I can’t believe that this weekend I will be traveling to Lima for yet another YAV retreat. This time we are going to Ayacucho to celebrate Semana Santa (Holy Week). It’s amazing how much faster life seems to go when you are happy. Last week was filled with planning for the kids therapy group and visiting the shelter, which basically means my week was full of chasing around little kids! But a lot of hugs and kisses also. 

This past week’s therapy group theme was exercise. So we learned how to stretch and then headed to the park outside the office to run around. I planned a few races, but the Thursday group of kids quickly got tired of that and asked if they could play tag. So for a good hour or so, we all played tag, running around and laughing. I had forgotten how much fun (and how much exercise) a good game of tag can be!  My Friday group was a bit more difficult because only two of the kids showed up, plus it ended up being pretty hot outside, so I quickly reworked the plan to move inside and play twister. I’m pretty sure twister should be called “Colorful yoga” because I was working muscles I haven’t worked in awhile just to stay balanced! But both of the boys were in fits of laughter the entire time, and begged to play over and over. All in all both therapy sessions went well, and the kids that tend to be the most trouble actually did well, so I was relieved and incredibly happy with how everything went. Two more to go!

This past weekend was also a lot of fun; I rested a lot (due to my sore muscles from the therapy groups), but also ended up going to a birthday party for a friend, the talent show at the church, and the Pre-Inca Ruins with Esther (my new friend from Switzerland!)

                                           Esther on the energy rock at the ruins

                                       The main temple at the ruins

This week has been a bit more relaxed, since I don’t have the kids, but it has be busy helping the adolescent girls with their art project, while also preparing for my trip to Lima and finding some fun activities to do there. So far on the list is a bike tour through a section of Lima, visiting the zoo, going to see the Hunger Games movie, and searching out food that doesn’t contain rice and potatoes!

 The butterfly project with the girls! Now you can see where all the little hearts I cut out went

Hope this blog finds everyone well! So much love to all!

Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.

Mother Teresa

1,000 Little Hearts

You know you have lived in Peru for 6 months when:

-       Breakfast isn’t breakfast without pancitos (little rolls of bread)

-       Lunch is not complete without a serving of rice and potatoes

-       When someone begins talking to you in English you begin to speak Spanglish which is of course a mix between Spanish and English

-       You argue when the mototaxi driver asks for 2 soles when it usually costs s/. 1.50, even though those .50 centimos is only about 15 cents at home.

Since being back in the office, I have been pretty busy, which is of course a blessing. I jumped right into my next therapy group with the kids. Only this time I was alone, which also meant that I was scared out of my mind! My week was filled with trying to get things prepared and obsessing over every little thing. It actually ended up going quite well. This session was all about nutrition, so we played games in which the kids learned about the food pyramid and which foods are good for you and which aren’t. The kids then got to prepare their own fruit salads. I was scared out of my mind to give each of the kids a knife to cut their own fruit, but my bosses kept telling me is was totally fine, and most of these kids already know how to cook. I understood where they were coming from, but I was also thinking “You are going to leave me alone in a room with 8 kids and all of them have knifes, someone is going to die!” So I ended up only letting 4 cut at a time so I could watch them, and continually repeat, “Con mucho cuidado,” which simply means be very careful! Luckily nobody got hurt, and everything went quite well, but I was completely exhausted after those two sessions.

                                         Coloring in the food pyramid! 

This opportunity has taught me so much about myself. First of all, that my Spanish is so much better than it use to be, and even though I still get scared that I won’t be able to understand the kids, I really haven’t had any problems so far. In fact those kids say the funniest things sometimes, and I’m thrilled that I can understand them. In the last session, one of the boys asked me if we had flying cars and robots in the United States. When I told him that the United States was a lot like Peru, he looked at me and said, “How boring.” I probably laughed for a good five minutes about that one. Second, I have learned that even though I love kids, I do not love teaching them. It stresses me out WAY too much. The constant demanding of attention and stopping of arguments is not my favorite thing is the world. So as much as I love the kids, I do not see Elementary school teacher in my future!

Another project I have been working on is helping with the teenage girls on Saturdays again. Right now the girls are working on an art project, and I get to help prepare materials or just sit there and talk to them while they work. So far the project has been pretty interesting for me, mainly because I tend to prepare ALL the material for the girls, and by all the materials I mean when the girls need 1,000 little hearts cut out, yep, that’s all me. The reason I cut out all of the hearts, and the girls don’t, is because one of the problems that victims of sexual abuse tend to have is lose of hand stability and function. So, yes the girls can cut, but it tends to be uneven and a difficult task. SO, while I have spent the entire weekend and week cutting out little hearts, I thank God daily that I am still able to cut out little hearts.

Now this week, I have been alone in my office because everyone is in Lima for a conference. But I still have been busy putting things together, visiting the shelter, and of course cutting out hearts! Hope everyone is doing well! So much love from Peru!

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman

Livin' On A Prayer

I couldn’t have stumbled into March in a better way. Due to it being our halfway of the year point and it being summer vacation, the other YAV’s and I made the 20 hour bus ride from Lima all the way up the coast to Mancora, which is said to be some of the prettiest beaches in Peru (I won’t argue that point). We were completely spoiled with a house 100 yards from a private ocean and a pool in our front yard. Each morning we woke up for a devotional, and then quickly hit the beach or pool, in which we only returned for meals. We all pitched in cooking and cleaning, and were able to prepare some of our favorite American meals that we miss. Some of the highlights were fajitas, spaghetti with grilled chicken, and swordfish with mango salsa. Needless to say it was perfect. The group also got into a few competitive games of Dutch Blitz, our new favorite card game. All in all we had a wonderful, restful week in which we all did a lot of thinking as to how our last 6 months have gone, and how we want our next 5 months to go. 

                                                 Dutch Blitz time!

                                 The pool we had in Mancora, horrible right?

                                                 A view from the house!

When we returned to Lima, I had about half a day to get things settled, organized, and then get on the night bus back to Huánuco. I was luckily able to spend some more time with Laura and her boyfriend Oscar before they left for Colombia. We decided to head out to Callao and take a boat ride around the ocean, and really just explore a new part of Lima. I really enjoyed getting to see them again and spend some time with them. They will be truly missed and forever close to my heart.

Now I’m back in Huánuco: rested, preparing for a busy month, and just excited to see what the future brings. Hope all is well, much love from Peru!

"We're half way there, Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer" -Bon Jovi

Dios me ama y por eso yo me amo

Laura and I recently started our group therapy for kids. We have been so busy planning and preparing materials that the last few weeks have flown by. Our first session with the kids was about hygiene. In order to teach the kids how to properly brush their teeth we made a small skit with puppets to show how cavities will come to live in your mouth if you don’t brush everyday. We then taught the kids how to properly wash their hands by putting paint on their hands and telling them it was bacteria. Then, we told them that they had to wash off all the paint while singing the song Happy Birthday, in order to wash for the proper amount of time. Besides the kids getting us completely soaked, and locking us out of the room once, I would say that everything went well and everyone had fun!

After a pretty stressful and full week, Laura and I decided to take advantage of the four-day weekend due to Valentine’s Day (yep in Peru you get vacation days for Valentines day so that people can travel with their significant other). We headed out early Saturday morning for Tingo Maria, which is about 3 hours away and the start of the jungle. We were able to get a full city tour in which we saw a huge bat cave, a waterfall, and the hot springs. We also spent a full day at La Laguna de Milagros (The Lake of Miracles). Apparently the lake doesn’t provide you with miracles (yes I asked), but if you are infertile and bathe in the lake you will bear children. Our nights were full of traditional food from the jungle, ice cream at a small heladería (ice cream shop), and many episodes of Friends and The Big Bang Theory. One of my favorite dishes from the jungle is tacacho y cecina. Cecina is pork that has been grilled and the tacacho is banana that is smashed and salted. Very delicious!

                                                The Lake of Miracles

                                                Tacacho y Cecina

                                                   The Bat Cave

                                     Santa Carmen Waterfall with Laura

When returning to Huánuco, I went directly to the shelter to spend my usual Wednesday with the girls there. Because we had a retreat at the shelter the next day, I spent the night there. It was a fun experience for me to be able to see what the nights and mornings are like at the shelter, and to spend some extra time with the girls. Bright and early Thursday morning we began our retreat. The theme was Dios me ama y por eso yo me amo (God loves me, therefore, I love myself). After singing songs and getting to know each other, we shared the story of the Samaritan woman at the well with the girls. This story was chosen to explain to the girls that even the women you are shunned by society, who have done everything wrong, who believe themselves to be dirty, unloved, and not valued are still loved by and important to God. After lunch, we had an aerobics class and games in which the girls had to work together. When it got dark we had a bonfire, roasted hot dogs, played games, and had a small reflection. The whole retreat went really well. I really enjoy all my time that I spend at the shelter, and I am starting to love all the girls there. Half the time, I’m not sure if I’m actually helping them, or if they are the ones who are helping me.

When we came back to Huánuco on Friday, Laura and I moved into our new home. The who, what, where, when and whys of my decision to change host families is not appropriate blog-talk. However, I can say that I truly believe that Laura was sent here to be my guardian angel. She never influenced my decision, but helped me to remember what I like to do, who I am, and most importantly, what I need. This is my last full week with Laura, which will be sad, but this month has been a wonderful learning experience for me. I thank God for her everyday.

“Self-care is never a selfish act -- it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” – Parker J. Palmer

You Can Run, You Can Hide, But You Can't Escape My Love -Enrique Iglesias

You know you have been in Perú for 6 months when:

-       You always grab extra napkins or keep a roll of toilet paper in your purse just in case you need to use and public restroom

-       You begin to forget words in English, but you know them in Spanish

-       If it doesn’t have rice, you don’t consider it a complete meal

February so far has been an extremely busy month. We are planning group therapies for children, a retreat for adolescents, and refining a program for women. On top of everything that I am working with Laura on, I also asked to be able to go to the Albergue (shelter) once a week. The Albergue is where all the children, adolescents, and women stay when their abusive situations prevent them from staying in their own homes. It is about 30 minutes away from Huánuco, and I have to catch a bus early in the morning in order to go. This past Wednesday, I went for the first time alone in order to spend time with the girls there. I will admit I was intimidated at first to go, but as soon as I walked in I was greeted by kisses on the cheek and hugs. I was home. I agreed to teach a basic English class in the mornings, so I spent two hours going over introductions, days of the week, months of the year, and numbers. I give all teachers out there so much credit, your job is hard!

For the rest of the day I simply sat and talked to the girls. They asked me what different words were in English, we sang Enrique Iglesias songs (their favorite singer), drew pictures together, and played lots of volleyball. It wasn’t much, but it caused lots of laughter, smiles, and hugs, and that’s all that is important to me. I came home completely exhausted, but wishing I could go back again the next day. I think my visits will be a very important part of my time here in Peru. While talking to the girls I learned that most of the girls like it at the shelter, but most wish that they could go home and be with their families. Not only have they been abused, but taken away from their family and friends. It’s something that I can’t possibly fathom. 

                                                         The Albergue 

On Sunday, after church Laura and I decided to make it a full day of football/ fútbol. First we went to the fútbol (soccer) game in which the Huánuco team, Leon (the lions) played against a team from Uruguay. Towards the end of the game, a fight started between the players, and they had to end the game early. I was so incredibly shocked, but Laura tells me that it happens occasionally, especially with big rivals. Huánuco did win though! After leaving the stadium, Laura accompanied me to the gringo Superbowl party that Kurtis planned. The party was at a wonderful restaurant called Alua. The manager put the game up on the big screen, and also made us American types of food like wings, chilly fries, and hamburgers. I think Laura was in culture shock the entire time, but it was fun for me to relax and explain part of our culture to her.

                                                      Fútbol Stadium

                                             Our Superbowl Stadium 

Now it’s off to another busy week! Hope everyone had a wonderful Superbowl Sunday! Much love to all!

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

Mother Teresa