February 2013 Pembroke Diocese Youth Work Experience In Chincha Alta, Peru: Day 4

This morning Sydney and I set out with Jimmy and Charo (our translators) as well as Milly (a friend) to visit a family and take them shopping with Christmas and birthday money from their sponsor families in Canada. This family had 6 children ranging in age from 3 to 17 and just so happens to be the family I am staying with next week. We took the Micro (bus) to the market and spent hours shopping for what everyone wanted. Each wanted something different and had 50 soles (20 dollars) to get whatever they wanted. Luciana, age 3, wanted to be a princess and found a pair of pants with little beaded hearts and a shirt with a little bow on it. She also found a Backyardigans puzzle that she didn’t want to let go of. Santiago, age 5, got a Ben10 playset as well as socks and a shirt. Angela, age 9, got a sparkly purple purse and a few t-shirts. Piero, age 13, got a pair of shorts and some socks. Gloria, age 15, got some overall shorts. Rosibel, age 17, got a new shirt and a pair of shorts. Everyone was really excited to go shopping and the little ones couldn’t help but run around the stalls looking at everything. I had a great time just watching their faces light up as they found the perfect toy or the perfect outfit that they didn’t want to let go of. This afternoon the entire group will be heading to a fruit farm to work then swimming and trying some new Peruvian foods. This morning was so eventful I can’t wait to see what’s in store for my stay at their house next week. Marissa

Today Kayla, Sabrynna, Jordan and I went back out to the daycare that we didn’t finish yesterday. We painted the wall orange and the outside a lighter color. It was a lot warmer today so it was really hot inside the daycare when we were painting it. We also visited a farm that had animals and fruit. We gave the family hats, and clothes and hats for the kids. Kristin

It’s Saturday already, and I feel like I have been here for weeks………..everything and everyone is so familiar to me by now (6th visit to Chincha) that I really do feel at home and I can sleep through the night and not be bothered by the noisy traffic (I don’t think the dogs were out last night either!) It was a leisurely day for most of us (in comparison to the last couple of days working in the heat of the day outside). We finished painting the two SET schools we had started yesterday and managed a few murals on the inside walls for the preschoolers. Some of us are finding hidden talents and others are using the ones they are comfortable with. Everyone is becoming more familiar with our local friends and feeling much more comfortable with the surroundings. Saturday here is the same as a Saturday anywhere and it’s time to celebrate the weekend and party a little ………..so……………Yvonne

Today some of us went back to the school to finish painting it. We painted the walls orange then added some drawings. It was a lot of fun to paint the school. In the afternoon we went to a farm to look at the animals and things that they grow there, we also gave out hats, and clothes to the family. Kayla

I did something different from everyone today. I completed my last mural at the preschool we were at yesterday. It was a very satisfying finish to that project. I put a Canadian flag beside the picture on the wall and the translator, Janet, and I signed our names. The experience was really great. I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. Because with that mural, the teacher can not only show the different months of the year to the kids, but also colours, animals, and what not. At 11am I got to go with my mom and Chris Cole to visit some friends (Jim and Aly Keogh), who live in Chincha Baja. On the way there I was really surprised at a visual sign of the Peruvian's faith: a grotto dedicated to Mary on the middle walkway of a major street, with benches around it. People really celebrate and show their faith here and I think that’s awesome. Angela

Later this evening, after swimming, we got to try picarones, which is like a sweet doughnut. A lady was making them and she even let a few of us flip the picarones in the hot oil. I spent the first part of the morning with Marissa taking a family of 6 children to the market to buy them all gifts with money that their sponsors had given them. Most of the children got new clothes and toys. They were so happy and it was crazy in the market - people, cars and goods for sale everywhere. We got to take the bus too, which was an experience in itself. I think they need longer buses. All in all a very good day!!! Sydney

The pictures I am sending this evening show the purchases of three of the six children who were taken to market to spend the gift money their sponsor from Canada sent for Christmas. The smile on their faces is worth more than words could express.

There is a group picture taken at our swimming spot which we have been able to enjoy at the end of each work day. The owner of this property is a long loved friend of the Sisters and a great supporter of our Parish of Our Lady of Fatima here in Chincha.

There is also a picture taken out on the farm they visited this afternoon. The farm belongs to the Carrera Perez family who are supported by Robert and Nancy Coyne of Arnprior. We have many lovely pictures of them receiving the packages sent by Nancy and Robert. Mr. Carrera proudly showed off his fruit trees (cherry, cherimoya, lucuma, avocado, apple, fig’s, bananas, grape vines, peanuts to name a few) and his animals (guineau pigs, rabbits, parrots, canaries, ducks, turkeys, pigs to name a few). He and his two brothers operate the farm which also has a big cotton field.

Then I have put in the pictures of two of our artists with their master pieces that were painted on different SET school walls.

Tomorrow will be a quitter day with each one having some free time before the Liturgy and then a day of ´´Sunday Rest´´. Pauline