DAY 9

Greetings from Iquitos and Cuzco


Tonight we are divided into two different part of the country. Joan, Charles, Lucie and Denis are in the mountain area of Cuzco and Yvonne, Maria, Gloria and I are in the jungle area of Iquitos.

You will probably not hear from us until Saturday when we come together again in Lima.

Pauline

DAY 8

This was our last day in Chincha. I will not miss the intense heat of this city but I will miss the people who are here. The Sisters and their Associates and all those who have passed through this Convent, and there have been many,  are some of the most kind and hardworking people that I have ever met.

Our group had a few scheduled stops today before we left Chincha. Our first stop was a tour of Manchitas School. This school was built with funds raised by Sister Pauline’s niece Jessica and her friend Lana from Opeongo High School in 2008.  It will house 12 – 15 youngsters who are aged 2-3 years old. Maria Martinez, the teacher, proudly showed us many of the new supplies that her students will use next week when school starts. Many items were still stored in her home or in a locked closet as she was afraid things would be stolen. There were cracks in the wall where someone had tried to break the thin walls and see what could be removed from the school.

The second stop was at a family home that had recently received financial help to build a bathroom.  Yvonne had raised funds for this project in her home community of Renfrew.  The estimated cost of installing all the septic, plumbing and bathroom fixtures would be about $1,200.00 dollars. On our way home we made a quick stop at the “poor man’s” hospital or the state run public hospital. We went there to make a rather strange request. We wanted to get a copy of the list that a surgery patient is given before they go in for their operation. We were all amazed to learn that before an operation can be scheduled, the patient is given a list of medicines, bandages and even syringes that must be bought and shown to the hospital before a scheduled surgery can be performed. This was a bazaar list and would be unheard of in many countries.

Juana and Columbina  made us a  very delicious traditional Peruvian lunch of chicken soup, rice and a beef dish that is rich with tomatoes and onions. We packed up the van, said our goodbyes and began our tip back to Lima. The drive back to Lima was very calm as traffic was not the nightmare that we had experienced on Friday’s journey to Chincha. We even saw large tracts of land that had been planted with seedling trees in hopes of improving the landscape and providing root systems to help stop erosion.

I take away many thoughts and impressions from Chincha.  From Padre’s visit yesterday and the schedule that I have seen the Sisters follow during the week; it is quite clear that their work is deeply valued in this Valley. The obvious respect that the people show the Convent Community could only be the result of years of service and love.  The doorbell rang constantly here as people came and went seeking advice and help. They are welcomed and respected and always assisted in one way or another. There is a limited amount of funds to go around and people cannot always be given what they are asking but help is always offered in one form or another. As Sister Pauline is only here for a month or two each year, there is much to be done with the scholarship program, the funding for senior’s homes, home improvement and all the many projects that the Sisters of St. Joseph maintain here in Peru.

Sister Maria went about her duties very quietly but thoroughly. She is responsible for the Convent and all that running a 16 bedroom house entails. Her work in the Parish is focused on outreach programs for the families who are trying to improve their homes and are working with a State that is quite unsympathetic to their needs.

Sister Gloria appears and disappears at all hours of the day and night for meetings next door at the Church.  She is responsible for many groups and Ministries and has people young and old to attend to. The enthusiasm and joy that she puts into her work is awe inspiring. Her life story is a mixture of tragedy and profound Faith that is so common in Peru. As I mentioned last night, her Mother was widowed and left with a young family to care for. It was a daily challenge just to put food on the table. Sister Gloria told us that in order to make money she and her brother would climb on to city buses and sing and entertain them as they traveled around the city. Her brother played the spoons or whatever he could find to use as an instrument and the young Gloria sang traditional songs.  They asked the passengers to give one sole, a Peruvian dollar, and said that amount of money would not make the children rich and it would not make the people poor. Sister Gloria was 6 years old at the time.  When she was 8 years old she left her family home and went to live and work in a home to help care for a baby.  Education was a priority for her even at that early age. When the family did not give her the opportunity to go to school she found work with a family that would allow her time to go to school and work. She is certainly not ashamed of her early beginnings. The night we traveled to El Carmen we were finding the trip rather long and she stood on the step of the van and gave us as sample of her “routine” including the sales pitch with the promise of “passing the hat” later on.  Her singing was simply beautiful and the traditional songs told of a longing for her beautiful Chincha. In typical Sister Gloria style, when I took her picture after the song, she told me that the photo would cost two soles extra!

Good night and God Bless.   Joan 

New school items

Foundation for bathroom

Building materials

Juana & Columbina

CSJ Convent

Growth in the desert

Sr. Gloria singing in the van

DAY 7

Monday Pilgrim Journal

Breakfast was a blending of two worlds. Charles and I made French toast, Sister Gloria fried Peruvian bacon and Sister Maria fried good old Peruvian eggs. We are still unsure which came first, but we have seen a lot of chicken and eggs here in Peru!

Our first trip of the day was to Pesco, a small fishing village just south of Chinha. The drive to Pesco was an interesting study in local agriculture and irrigation. We saw cotton fields, tangerine orchards and huge fields of asparagus. Sadly the area between the fields and the highway was covered with tons of garbage and debris. Apparently after the 2007 earthquake, much of the rubble was simply taken out of the city and dumped along the highway.

The Sisters and Yvonne did not accompany us on our boat as they had been on the tour before. The rest of us boarded a large tour boat that held about 40 passengers. We went to Ballestas Island to see several types of birds and a colony of sea lions. Sister Pauline told us that several times each year, men come to the rock cliffs and rappel down collect the bird droppings. These droppings are bagged and sold as fertilizer.  The highlight of the trip for many on the boat was a stop at the Candelabra.  This is a geoglyph, or a design engraved in the stone, on the side of a sand/rock cliff. This particular design is about 120 meters high and is a very good example of the carvings that are found in the Nasca area of Peru. These are ancient and rather mysterious designs that are important archaeological features, and therefore tourist attractions, in this area of Peru.

The boat tour was followed by an excellent lunch a local, beachside restaurant. Some of the group dined on Cerviche, a Peruvian dish that is marinated raw fish.  As it is Lent, I won’t mention the Peruvian beer or the Pisco Sour drink that is made from Pisco liquor, lime juice and whipped egg white.  There were a few minutes after lunch that were set aside for souvenir shopping and Lucie and I made the most of it. Pisco had many small market stalls with shell jewelry, purses and other hand crafted items.

An interesting thing happened soon after we got home from the trip to Pisco. I head drums, loud music, and horns blowing and assumed there was a parade going by. I looked out to see the festivities and discovered that the large group of people passing by were carrying a bright red casket in the procession. Now, I have seen some very unusual things during the past week but this was a surprise. I asked Sister Gloria if this was a parade and she said no, a person is dead. Indeed, this is how Peruvians send off their loved ones. There is no Mass as there are about 12 deaths each day in this Valley so the family places the dead relative in the casket, has a procession that is a celebration of their life and walks to the cemetery. There is a small chapel there where the burial prayers are said and the casket is placed in above ground niche. As you might imagine, I had a few questions about this process so Sister gathered up our group and we drove quite a distance to the cemetery. There were stalls with dogs, people selling flowers and food and a large crowd was still gathered there from the evening burials. Apparently there is a half hour time slot set aside for each family and then the next family brings in their loved one. It was quite a learning experience.

We finally had the opportunity to meet Padre Santiago who is the Parish Priest for Fatama Parish and recently was asked by the Bishop to be responsible for Santa Diamingo Parish as well.  That leaves him caring for over 75,000 people and 3 parochial schools. He looked very tired and said that he finds much of his time is now devoted to administration rather than working with and visiting his people. He gave us a brief history of the current funding situation at the senior’s home that we visited last night. He thanked the Sisters for their hard work in the Parish and particularly the work done within the senior’s home. Padre expressed his appreciation for the people of Canada and all the donations that they have given to the people of Peru.

Sister Gloria’s Mother invited us to her home for dinner tonight. Many of Sister Gloria’s family gathered to greet us and welcome us.  In spite of a language barrier, it was quite clear that she was delighted to have us visit. The matriarch of Sister Gloria’s family is a strong woman who raised a large family on her own in a country where no assistance is given to widows or the poor. She worked and instilled a strong work ethic in her family and a Faith that has served them well. When she wanted to have us come to visit, the family worked together and took time out of their busy lives to do as she asked.  A second table was brought into the dining room and we all sat together and enjoyed a delightful family dinner that was prepared by one of Sister Gloria’s nieces who hopes to be a chef.  She definitely has a talent. This was a heartwarming visit complete with family stories and all the fun that is part of that dynamic. Unfortunately, while we were there they received the sad news that one of the family had lost the baby that she had been carrying. Again, the Faith that is so ingrained in the fabric of the people of Peru was evident. The baby’s father came to see his family and greeted us warmly. When we offered our condolences, he said that he was Thankful for his three healthy, living children. God has asked much of the people of Peru but He has also given them great Faith. Their faith in such adversity is an inspiration.

Good night and God Bless.  Joan

Charles, Lucy, and Denis

Joan

Fish meal

Sea lion

DAY 6

Sunday started off with the church bells tolling a half-hour, quarter-hour and on the hour before each mass (3 this morning and 1 this evening).  After a breakfast of pancakes, we attended the 11:30 children’s mass.  As we entered, Sr. Gloria was front and centre with her mike and everyone was standing and singing, clapping and just filling their hearts with joy (I’m sure that this helps the smaller kids settle down for the actual mass too).  This went on for a good 10-15 minutes.  After mass the scholarship children were invited to come to the front and get their picture taken in their uniforms.  There must have been over 150 children!!  Denis, Charles and Lucie, and Joan, were meeting their sponsored children for the first time and they came over to the house for more pictures and gifts.

We had lunch in a nice restaurant where everyone got to try some Peruvian Sangria.  The wine was a Malbec/Merlot, the mix was a small bottle of cream soda, and the bottom of the jug was a layer of canned mixed fruit!! – enjoyed by everyone.

We returned to the house and packed bags for the nursery school kids.  The bags were made from donated material brought down by us. We gave yardage to Sr. Maria’s sister, Lydia, a seamstress, and she came the next day with a couple of dozen bags sewn up!  Each packed bag consists of crayons, play dough, a puzzle, colouring book, story book, top and shorts, white socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, small towel and a toy – 25 full bags in total.  We now have to find a BIG bag to put all these bags in, together with a dozen more of each item (extras) and get them to Jorge at Caritas Lima to distribute in El Agustino!!  We hope we can be there when the kids receive them, but not sure if we will have time next weekend.

We gathered a number of items to take with us and readied ourselves for a visit to the seniors’ home here in Chincha.  This home was 10 years in the building and finally opened in 1997.  Sr. Pauline was one of the founding members.  The Foundation looked for someone to run the place and an order of brothers took over for a number of years.  Just recently an order of sisters based out of Korea have taken over (nothing is signed at the present time for a permanent stay).  We were met by the sister and visited the seniors as they were sitting down for dinner.  There are 25 residents; 8 women and 17 men.  We left a number of gifts and asked the sister for a list of needed items which can be delivered at a later date.  We had a nice visit with the seniors and I remembered one or two of them from our visit in 2006.

On our way home we stopped at Grocio Prado for ‘picarones’ (homemade donuts, with syrup similar to maple syrup).

Back home and a quiet evening (maybe) –you just never know what might happen unexpectedly!!

Buenas Noches……………………  Yvonne

Scholarship children

Charles and Lucie's child

Joan's child

Bag contents

Packing the bags

Preparing the bags

Seniors eating

Seniors receiving gifts

DAY 5

Weekend Pilgrim Journey

Sister Pauline had said that Saturday was to be a day of rest and recuperation and that is exactly what we needed. Lucie is much better and my own stomach issues have improved too. It is very hard on the system to be in such intense heat and to be exposed to different foods and all that travelling in a foreign country entails.  Sister Gloria says that we needed to come to Chincha to be healed.

This morning, our group divided into two groups to get some personal shopping and some mission shopping done.  The Langlais men went to a supermarket to pick up some things that they needed and commented that the prices were good compared to Canada and found that the money exchange process was easy to navigate.  Charles spotted some quail eggs in the market. These small eggs are commonly eaten here in Peru and we have had them often. He decided against bringing any home though as he feared he would have to peel them after they were cooked!

Yvonne, Sister Gloria and I went to a market that sold everything from raw fish to cell phones. Our job was to pick up items to pack into bags to send to the Wawa Wasi (nursery) School in Lima.  We bought puzzles, crayons and colouring books and some items of clothing for the little ones at the school. I found the heat, combined with the market smells, did not agree with my queasy stomach and asked Sister Gloria’s brother to drive me home.  I felt badly to leave but I thought it was best for everyone.  Yvonne and Sister Gloria  brought home bags of things to divide among the children. I wish I could be there to see them receive the gifts but that will happen at a later time.

Dennis and Pedro delivered some beds and mattresses to families that are part of the sponsorship program. Dennis says that they assembled 4 beds for elderly people who were very glad to have a new, clean bed. He noticed that all the beds were similar to the ones here in the Convent. They are basically a wood frame with slats across the centre to support the straw mattress.  He was impressed by their appreciation for all that they had been given.

Walter and Ricardo are two school teachers who are working as carpenters in the summer. They were constructing bamboo houses for the program and came to take us to the homes so we could see their progress. It was very impressive to see the “before and after” of the living conditions in these families. Their homes had been woven reed mats and the roof consisted of tarps, vinyl table cloths or whatever they could find.  The new homes are made from a flattened bamboo wall board that is nailed to sturdy bamboo poles. The roof is made from bamboo pole supports and more flattened bamboo and then a heavy plastic layer that is held down with a layer of mud. There is even electricity in these new homes. The families were so proud and wanted to show us all through their houses and have us see how neat and tidy everything was.  There is one more home to be built for that family and their extended family and that will be done next week. The pregnant woman who will be in this new home told us yesterday that she was very excited to be moving before the baby comes.

Our evening outing was one that Sister Pauline planned. One of the associates suffered a stroke recently and is bedridden. Yvonne and Sister gathered some things together and we climbed into our van and headed out to the rural farming village of El Carmen. This community is built in a fertile area that has acres of cotton fields, corn and other crops.  At Theodora’s home, she invited us into her room and proudly showed us the progress that she had made in a very short time. She was able to lift her left leg and squeeze a ball in her left hand, neither of which she could do last week. The interesting thing that both Yvonne and I noticed was that when she spoke , the left side of her mouth moved very little but when she laughed, which was often, her whole mouth moved.  This remarkable woman who worked her whole life in the cotton fields was the one from the Parish who took care of the sick and helped the Priest by preparing the Altar and taking Communion to the sick. She lives with her older sister who is a diabetic and lost a leg because of her condition. While her sister was sick Theodora carried her, in her arms, to Mass. Her sister, Emilia -told us before we left that she was blessed to come from a family that gave her great Faith. It is so hard to imagine that these women count their blessings but they do each and every day.   Joan

El Carmen consists of descendants of African slaves brought over to work the cotton fields (similar to the situation in the U.S.).   Last time I was here, we visited the Hacienda that still stands as a reminder of those days gone by.  You can visit the underground chamber where the slaves were put in chains and as you walk around the grounds you can feel the despair that was these people’s lives.   When you drive into El Carmen, everything is very different from the other districts of the Chincha Valley.  There is less traffic here and I feel a peacefulness  as we drive through the square, compared to the busyness of all the other areas.  The streets are cleaner, less cluttered as if a totally different lifestyle is followed here.  There is ‘quiet’ as we drive down the streets to find the right house.  As we visited with Theodora in her bedroom (she is forced to stay there by her family – if she had her way she would  be visiting the sick in her neighbourhood!!), I could see what a strong woman she was, not just physically, but mentally.  She is a hard working woman with a strong will, just like her ancestors.

A previous visit to this area was also a unique one for me.  We were invited to a home so we could enjoy some authentic entertainment by the local youth.  Their dance was different from the typical in Peru and we thoroughly enjoyed the show and interacting with them afterwards.  Everywhere we go, we are treated with respect, politeness and joy and everyone appreciates our visits.  It does the heart good to be around these people who share their smiles and joy with us.  Yvonne

Before wall repair

After wall repair

The Market

Receiving new bed

DAY 4

Today is sunny and hot as is every day here in Lima.  Our driver picked us up at the Convent and took us to Caritas Lima which is the office of the foundation that is responsible for all funds donated by the Pembroke Diocese and other local and individual benefactors.  This office is located in the building that houses the Cardinal’s residence and the offices of the Diocese of Lima. It is at these offices that extremely difficult decisions regarding allocation of funds must be made.  Needless to say, there is a much greater need in the Lima area than the donations can possible cover, but those responsible for the poor take their jobs very seriously.  We were given a brief presentation by, Jorge, Director of Caritas Lima, who has accompanied us on our journey.

Jorge explained that, yes, the people of Lima who have money do contribute to this and many other charities but there are many who are hesitant to entrust their money to either Church or state. As is often the case, the poor suffer because of this reality.  The donations that are received are used for education, health care, housing, and nutrition. Their philosophy is that each person deserves both spiritual and material growth.  He was justifiably proud of their progress but admitted that there was much work to be done.

After the presentation,  we were privileged to visit Asilo Immaculada which is a home for 12 elderly women who do not have any family to care for them.  We took them gift bags containing items of clothing, toiletries and sweets that had been put together in Chincha with donated clothes/blankets and purchased items such as nightgown, toiletries, socks, container of treats, etc. and brought to Chincha for this purpose.  The women were deeply touched by our generosity and especially by the gift of our time and would have loved to have us stay all day. Some looked through the bags immediately and one refused to set it down. She carried it and followed us everywhere we went. They fixed their hair and asked that we take their pictures! It was another experience that I will cherish forever.

We made our way to the main square of Lima, Plaza de Armas  to see one of Lima’s most popular tourist attractions, the changing of the guard in the courtyard of the Parliament buildings. Some of the group had time to make a quick tour of the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, one of Lima’s oldest and most beautiful Churches, before we joined the others in our group. We watched the changing of the guard in full regalia and the brass band sounding their best for the spectators.

Our next visit was Hagar Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo which is a home that cares for patients who are preparing for or recovering from medical procedures.  It was here that we met an amazing Sister from Brazil, Hermana Jacinta Rampazzo, who, along with 3 other Sisters, cares for 42 patients. One of their most special guests is a 3 year old boy who came in for surgery 6 months ago (weighing 5 k!!) and was left in their care by his mother because she could not look after him.  When the  Sister went to his home to see if she could do anything to improve his home situation, she found that “home” was a flat piece of dirt shared with many animals and the only possessions was a cooking pot. She decided then and there that he had to be cared for at Hagar Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo and he will continue to stay there. His medicine is very costly and they were not equipped to deal with a young child but clearly, Sister Jacinta is loving her new role as caregiver/Mother figure to this very beautiful boy. During lunch she laughed and confided that she really never expected to be raising a child and was rather unprepared for the task.  From what we saw, she has taken to the task very well. He followed her into the dining room and climbed up on her knee as would any 3 year old surrounded by strangers.  She too is doing remarkable work with very little money. She freely admits that she receives barely enough money to pay the bills and leaves the rest, food and volunteer help, to Divine Providence.  May God Bless her and provide that much needed help.

Thank you and God Bless.  Joan

Another remarkable day here in Lima – Joan’s words speak for themselves – I would just add mine from the viewpoint of having been here before – not to the senior women’s home, just to the home caring for those visiting the hospital.  The women we met at the seniors’ home were all over 70 years of age and were tremendously happy to see us – one lady from Cuzco had a shy look about her, but was so happy to interact with us and we were told that she loved to feed the pigeons and was always being chastised as (as we all know) the pigeons love to come back and make a mess if they are constantly being fed!!  This is a problem at one of the churches downtown too – St. Francis of Assisi – if people would not feed the pigeons, they might depart, but there is always someone taking pity on them and feeding them!!

I could not believe that Sr. Jacinta recognized me when we arrived at the Home caring for the sick – it had been 2 yrs in Nov. when I was there and she recognized me before I even stepped out of the van.  This person amazes me, she oozes so many things: energy, enthusiasm for her work, caring, happiness, and especially love!!  It’s so hard to put into words, you have to experience it to truly appreciate it.  This home is a Godsend to everyone in it and it brings tears to my eyes to see this!  She deserves so much more help, but all is being taken care of in some way.  At the present time she is worried that they are having trouble paying the gas and electrical bills.  The wife of one of the men volunteering at the Manchay water/sewage project (from France) is volunteering here, as are young novitiates and a nurse.  How do these projects come together and work?  Sr. Jacinta would say it is Divine Providence or all in God’s hands!

It was a very emotional day for me!   After a rest in the afternoon, some of us took in a local show of cultural dance of South America put on by a school of dance – nice experience, and then a spot of supper and back for a good night’s rest as tomorrow we will be packing up and heading to Chincha!!  Hasta Manana. Yvonne

Ceiling needs repair

Charles and Lucie

Denis

Group at Hogar Immaculada

Jacinta providing an explanation

Jorge and Charles giving gift

Jorge

Rolando

Enjoying her gift

Home for the sick

Showing their gifts

2 Senior Residents

DAY 3

As I lay in my bed this morning listening to the mourning dove cooing in the Convent garden, I said my prayers and asked God to help me with my visit to El Agustino today.  I had read in our pilgrim’s information book about the community and knew that it was the poorest of the poor in Peru. After our trip to Manchay yesterday, Yvonne advised me that today’s visit would be more difficult.  I could do little else but pray for our visit.

The area of El Agustino, east of the city of Peru, is home to over 180,000 people. That is a larger population than the city of Oshawa, Ont. In the most densely populated area, 14,000 people live in a square km. The community was established by families who left Peru’s mountains in the early 1940’s but the majority of the people began their migration in the late 1960’s.  They did not turn to the Church for help and waited instead for the government to come to their aid.  That help never came.

Today we met with Bishop Tomasi and the El Agustino’s Parish Priest, Padre Arcos.  When the people of the community turned to the Church for assistance, the Bishop asked for the Padre’s help because he was able to speak Quechua, the language of the mountain people.  This partnership began 5 years ago and their progress has been remarkable.

  We met today to make the trip up to the community but alas the roads were not suitable for our van so arrangements had been made for us to drive up in Moto taxis.  They are three wheeled carts that are powered by a motor scooter or small motorcycle.  The drivers sit on the seat of the bike to drive while two passengers ride in the back seat.  There is a plastic cover over the roof and sides but there are no doors and seat belts would be entirely out of the question.  The journey up the mountain was, as some mentioned, like a ride in a blender. Throughout the climb it was clear that the higher you traveled, the poorer the people were.

When we got out of our taxis we were greeted by small children and parents who had prepared signs to welcome us to their school.  The children danced and sang for us then we moved to the play area of the school where we were served refreshments during snack time for the children. There are currently only 25 children in the school as the rooms are very small.  Padre posed for a picture beside the wall plaque that stated that this was a project done in partnership with Pembroke Diocese. The mothers thanked us for our support and asked God to bless us for our charity. It was really an incredible moment.

The entire area was an assault on the senses.  While the school area was very clean and neat, the homes were little more than shacks and the smell of human waste was everywhere.  Dogs roamed freely and no one cleaned up after them, even in the areas where people walked and the young ones played.  Because of the terrain, there is no flat area except for the dirt floors of the houses.  The dirt road, a trail really, was just wide enough for two Moto taxis to meet and then the edge gave way to the side of a cliff.  The cliff would drop about 20 or 30 feet to the lower level of shacks and thus a community was created.  The view from the school could have been stunning as it was high over the city. Instead, as far as you could see there was level after level of shacks and homes built into the side of the mountain. There were a few cactus plants near the path in two locations, but other than that, I did not see a single thing growing there.

The Bishop stopped our group on the way back down the mountain to show us his newest project.  The Church had recently bought a piece of land, that had been someone’s home, and had plans to turn it into a larger school that would help 80 students and provide their food. Today we saw three mothers working in this new facility.  They had huge pots of potatoes and were peeling them and preparing them for the noon meal.  Even though there is little or nothing to work with, these women are already preparing food that is taken out to be eaten by the children.  They sat on the cement floor, in the dark, and without running water and were very happy to have this place to prepare food for their people.  Miracles happen every day.

Our tour continued to another area of the El Agustino community where an unused water tower had been converted into a day care area for children. Again, women were making lunch and were so grateful for the help that they had been given.  The Bishop told us that part of this work was funded by a young couple who had toured the school and were so touched by the children that they donated all of their wedding money to the project. His niece, a teacher in Italy, fundraised at her school to help the Bishop build one of the classes. He seems to have drawn financial support from all corners of the world.

It was at this point that Bishop Tomasi left our group to return to his work.  After thanking us and wishing us well for the rest of our trip, he asked that we not forget his people in Peru.  That is not possible.  The sights, sounds and smells of El Agustino are forever etched in my mind.

Thank you and God Bless.    Joan

Bishop Tomasi and Padre Arturo

Bus tour

Charles in moto taxi

El Augustino

Joan in moto taxi

Preparing lunch

Wasi wasi group

Welcome to group at El Augustino

DAY 2

It is not often that I am lost for words. Today was one of those occasions.  We left the city of Lima and traveled to Manchay.  This is a community that was established 16 years ago by families that fled from the mountains to escape the Shining Path.  Yesterday, from the high points in the city of Lima we could see this area that is built onto the rocky and inhospitable desert terrain of the foot hills of the Andes Mountains. Today, accompanied again by Bishop Tomasi, we had what is perhaps the most unique experience of my life.

The mini-bus driver, who is my new hero, navigated our bus up the “road” that connects Manchay to the rest of the world . The roads are really just paths that have been carved into the rocky mountain side. Our group was met by the Parish Priest, Padre Jose, who is quite a remarkable man. Padre began our visit in a small office that had a wall sized drawing of the many different districts that make the community of Manchay.  I was completely unprepared for the size and scope of this project.  When Padre began his work 16 years ago there were 20,000 people living in the area. Today that number has grown to an astonishing 80,000 souls.  There is one large church and several smaller chapels. Last year alone there were 580 children who made their First Communion and 400 children who were Confirmed.  These staggering numbers would send most Parish Priests on an extended leave of absence but this man was full of energy, enthusiasm and most of all, pride in the accomplishments of his people.  He too fled from the mountains and dedicated his life to God as thanks for his freedom.

We learned of their schools and day care programs that keep the youngest children safe and nourished while the parents are at work.  One of the most impressive undertakings is the Trades School that is clearly Bishop Tomasi’s pride and joy. This school prepares young adults for a work force that will need workers trained in sewing, cooking, health care, computer technology and agriculture.  Currently there are nurses who have completed their training at the Trade School who are employed in a Manchay clinic. We drove to the top of one of the areas and were able to look down over a huge sprawling tangle of houses, businesses and other structures built from any manner of material that could be found. My thoughts must have been evident as the Bishop came over, put his arm around my shoulders and simply asked that were my thoughts.  That was a tough question to answer. His pride in all these projects is certainly mixed with a profound sadness that there is need on such a large scale in his community.

There is certainly no time or room for despair in Manchay.  Our last hour with the Bishop and Padre were spent planting 7 trees along the road that winds up behind the Trades School.  There are a small group of volunteers from Europe who are working on a project to use waste water from the school to grow trees and other “Green” projects along what could only be described as a Lunar Landscape. The real miracle is that some trees and ground covers are now over 2 years old and seem to be thriving. God does work wonders!

Tomorrow we will tour another district with the Bishop.  I can only pray that he and Padre Jose live to be very old men so that their projects will continue to grow with the community of Manchay.

Thank you for your prayers and support.   Joan

Denis arrived early this morning – his flight was late and Sr. Pauline and Pedro had to wait a while at the airport (I guess I wimped out as I had trouble staying awake until 11 pm!!), and they arrived close to 2am here.  Everyone slept well and after breakfast here, we piled into the van and made our way across the sprawling city to Manchay – one of the newest communities in Lima.  Most of the people living here are from the mountains – poverty has forced them to find a new home and a new life.  They make their way to Lima and try to get a small parcel of land in the steep hilly area of Manchay.    This community is only about 16 years old and within the past 8 years, I see a big difference.  It was about 20,000 big and now has grown to 80,000 people.   The church that was built first was surrounded by sand and rubble, but now paved streets surround it, a park area has been built in front of it, the parish school has grown to twice its size and now trees and other plant life are being planted along the streets to try and beautify the place.

We visited the community centre where now we see more construction in the nursery school area – a dining room is being built. At our last visit six classrooms had been built.  These nursery schools are very important to the community as they let the mothers find work and increase their income and living conditions.  It also provides the children with a safe environment and teaches them simple things that they might not receive at home (one of them being how to use a toilet, instead of squatting over a hole in the ground!! )  It’s easy to shake your head at this, but it is a reality for many here and a lot of effort is being put into teaching them hygiene and nutrition.

At one time in downtown Lima the streets smelled of urine as there were no public toilets to be had and people just used the sidewalks.  All this is changing and public washrooms are popping up everywhere .  All of Lima is looking cleaner (as you see street cleaners sweeping daily), more green is evident as the grass, trees, shrubs and flowers are watered and taken care of.  They are showing that they are proud of their city and Lima is actually quite welcoming now, compared to my first visit in 2005.  The pollution still exists, but they have built a train system that helps alleviate traffic congestion and pollution (somewhat anyway).

And so I see a similar change in Manchay – more streets are paved now, more stores abound, but they still have a water problem.  Water is still trucked in and everyone has a huge plastic storage tank and it is sold by the liter!!  The technological school is expanding and now they are working on a project that uses sewage as a watering system for plants and trees.  At present there are two men from France who are volunteering for this project.  They have set up the system and already over 200 trees are thriving.  We all planted a pine tree along the roadway going up to the top of the hill. Some of you may remember the back of the school - it was just a steep bare rocky hill, now there is greenery in the trees and shrubs as they are being well looked after by the special watering system.  Pretty soon the statue of Pole John Paul II will be surrounded by lush greenery!!

We had lunch with Bishop Tomasi and Padre Jose in the dining hall at the parish school, prepared by the kitchen staff.  The last time I visited here (Nov. 2010) the place was teaming with children and their laughter and chatter.  Today it was quiet as the summer holidays continue until the beginning of March.

The ride back to the centre was somewhat shorter than this morning’s and we have a quiet two hours until we are picked up for a bus tour of the city.

The bus for the city tour is an open air bus and its great during the day, but you have to be careful of the sun.  At night it gets a little chilly and you should have a sweater!!  We had a little trouble hearing the guide, but seeing the city from the second story was very interesting.  Each city square we entered was teaming with people at cafes enjoying the evening.  We stopped at the Water fountain park for a walk through and then at the Sheraton Hotel for tea, coffee and sandwiches!!  Nice touch!  Then it was back to the centre for a quiet night’s sleep.  Buenas Noches. Yvonne

Padre Jose from Manchay

Group with Bishop Tomasi and Padre Jose

Group in Manchay

Planting a pine tree in Manchay

More work on the tree.  Notice how the landscape resembles a desert .

DAY 1

And so it begins.  This pilgrimage to Peru is one that I have dreamed of experiencing for most of my adult life.  As we met with Sister Pauline and Yvonne to prepare for the trip, we were given travel information and a general idea of what our visit to  Peru might encompass. Expect the unexpected seemed to be their mantra. Tough to pack for that!

Upon our arrival at the airport in Lima today we were so pleased to hear that we were early enough to meet our youth group that were preparing to board the plane and head home. They were still very excited and eager to share their experience.  It was a joy to see their enthusiasm as they told their stories about their work among the poor. They told us that their trip had been amazing, wished us well and headed back to Canada.

We were driven from the airport to a Convent Retreat Center that would be our home for the next several days.  I considered it a small miracle that we made the drive and lived to tell about it.  Traffic moves at a rapid speed in Lima and the drivers seem to navigate with a system of hand gestures, horn honks and aggression that makes rush hour in Toronto look like a Sunday drive.
After we had a short rest and a much needed shower, we drove into the heart of Lima to have lunch with Bishop Adriano Tomasi and Jorge, assistant to Cardinal Cipriani.  As we tasted our first Peruvian food and drink we learned of the many projects that the Diocese oversees.  Bishop Tomasi’s love for his people and his beliefs that they must be helped was very evident. His frustration with the politics involved in some of the work was also very clear.  I have never had so many work projects explained to me in such a short time.  I am very pleased to know that we will meet with the Bishop again tomorrow and see some of this work first hand.

It is hard to believe that we have not been here for a full day. There is much to see and learn and I am very excited to be part of that process here in Lima.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.  Joan

Group in front of the Lima Cathedral main altar.

Group in the Lima Cathedral Museum.

Group in front of a partnership agreement between the Archdiocese of Lima and the Diocese of Pembroke signed by Cardinal Cipriani (of Lima) and Bishop Smith (of Pembroke) in 2006.  The plaque behind the group hangs in the Lima Cathedral.