Jordan missed getting his last journal into Thursday night’s (DAY 10's) report.
As the sights, sounds and delicious smells from the Muchaypiña family’s party washed over me, I could not help but feel empty. Despite the wonderfully happy atmosphere, I could not seem to enjoy myself as much as anyone else. In this case it went beyond my deep rooted dislike for parties in the first place, no, tonight it was different. As I sat trying to drown out the beeping. honking and booming of the dance music with good food and friendly faces, my mind continuously wandered back to the Cespedes Carbajal family I had spent the previous two days with. I knew that just a few blocks away from our music and good food, they sat in their living room, as family, probably watching television while the mother prepares a simple dinner. The sight before my eyes was both happy and sad at the same time, for there would be no party for them on this night. Tonight would be like any other night for a poor Chincha family, and even though they had naught but their meager dinner and some shared laughs, that reality seems more fulfilling. I would rather be there, laughing while desperately trying to communicate through our Spanish-English dictionary, and sharing in their tea and bread. Yet when I open my eyes, I’m back at the party, with the music dancing and laughter falling on my blind eyes and deaf ears. Jordan
I spent the last two day with the Muchaypiña Fuentes family enjoying their company and the comfortable atmosphere. Although we had a hard time understanding each other we got by with one or two words in either language and many hand gestures. The family was so kind inviting me into their home and their family and I truly feel like they will always be my Peruvian family. All 6 of the children feel like my brothers and sisters and I didn’t want to leave. Most of our time was spent playing games or teaching each other English and Spanish (They’re better at English than I am at Spanish) and I wish we could have had longer together. Marissa
Last evening was our last night in Chincha and we attended at one of the family’s home to have a ‘party’. It was a wonderful time enjoyed by all and the music blared out into the street, sending the neighbourhood children to the open doors to view the festivities. Most everyone had a little dance around the floor to a variety of music and we came away saddened by the fact that our visit was drawing to an end.
All too soon it is Friday, our final day in Chincha. This morning we finished up a few errands. Some of us went to the market to purchase school uniforms for children we had previously visited. Some had to buy supplies for other families visited; clock and pots for cooking. The rest of us piled into Pedro’s truck and headed out to Ricardo’s house (one of the men who is helping to build the project houses) to see the construction of the top floor of his house, where we enjoyed the view of the city with the mountains in the background. Then we made our final visit to the families who were the recipients of the first house built by the youth. We also dropped off bags of baby clothes to the 3 women who were expecting. These families are very grateful for the help we have given them. The women here make straw hats (which take 2 days to make) for some income and were very happy to give the youth a few in gratitude of the time they had spent building their new house.
It’s time now to get ready for lunch – we are taking the women out that have been working in the kitchen for us during our stay. Then we will go to an associate’s house, Elizabeth, for ‘picarones’ – those wonderful Peruvian ‘donuts’ and then it’s on to Lima, where we will stay for the weekend and do some touring. This evening we will go to the cultural dances and Saturday and Sunday will be spent touring Lima, the main square, Cathedral, Parliament Buildings and a bus tour of the city (and of course, some souvenir shopping!!).
The youth will leave on Monday morning, taking the plane that the pilgrims will be arriving on. We will see one group off and pick the other group up and then spend the week with the pilgrims in Lima, touring and visiting the diocesan projects we are supporting in Lima. We will meet with Bishop Tomasi and visit some parish communities. Then we will come back to Chincha for the weekend and after that the pilgrims will experience the wonder of Cuzco and Macchu Pichu.
We will not be able to communicate any more after today as we will not have access to internet, but we will be back in a week to report on the pilgrims’ progress!! Ciao for now. Yvonne
We were not able to send the above blog out earlier on day 10, so we are actually posting it on day 11 as we now have a wi-fi stick.
No comments:
Post a Comment