July 15
Well after what felt like 2 days on airplanes or sitting at airports we arrived at our destination. Oh wait! it was two days.
We arrived at Trujillo a couple of hours late because of a maintenance issue with the plane, was swept away by our hosts to a youth retreat, and thus the mission trip truly started. We worked with some college age students from the church Jose Lopez started in the city, spending a day and a half with them.
On Sunday it was off to church at a retreat center due to the number of people attending. After church we did seven baptisms including one of our own in a swimming pool. Our own Ben went into the water to be baptized by his sister Crystal and Jose. Really made this trip special for all of us. We also were able to spend several hours with some students trying to learn English. That was truly an interesting experience to see them going through the same struggles most of us are with trying to learn Spanish. Sunday night Margie and I got hit with the flu, today two more are down and I expect it will run it’s course through all of us. Even one intern working with us is down as is one of Jose’s children. Don’t let anyone say this team didn’t bring anything special with us.
Monday was a day off to see the city and the work going on. Margie, Randie, and myself staying behind due to the flu. Randie was taking care of both of us. The farm is an area where they have built barns and are raising snails and guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are sold locally and around Peru and the snails are imported to France. In the first full year of operation they are expected to make $120,000. It is staffed by 40 people from the districts who had no employment or income prior to this venture. The women’s center has been given 20 acres and will be built sometime this year. This will employ women who are single parents and on the streets. All are great projects and are changing lives.
Today, Tuesday the team is pouring a slab in one of the housing districts and this afternoon will be visiting a hospital. Those who have been sick were asked to stay behind and that number has risen to 4. These housing districts tend not to have user friendly bathrooms and getting over the flu makes that a necessity and you don’t want to carry the flu to the hospital.
For those of you who have been contemplating a move here I have come up with several reasons to lure you here.
PROS. Gas of all grades, $1.00 per galloon CHEAPER. Diesel, 2.00 per gallon CHEAPER. Food, way cheaper. Average apartment rental price, $350 per month for 1,200 square feet. Average cost of feeding 17 people at a restaurant including tip, $100. Average winter time temps, 70’s. Average rainfall, none compared to Washington.
CONS. You need to be able to do the 50 yard dash in 2.5 seconds to cross the streets or wait until night. Crosswalks mean nothing. If you wear lager than large clothing forget it. If your shoe size is over 5 forget it. It’s truly an interesting place and how the people have adapted to living here.
It’s been fun watching the new people who have never been here get used to things like the cold water shutting off in the middle of a shower, water not coming on at all, getting cut off in the grocery lines by people in more of a hurry than you, crossing streets, and the noise at night.
Oh and today is my birthday. One I won’t forget for a long time.
Updated flu count, Fred, Margie, Gabe, Katie and Jeremiah. Ain’t just us old guys.
July 16
Flu count, Diana, Ronnel, and Jeremiah. Good news is it’s hitting less of us. Bad news is that the reason is most of us have had it now. I and the others are back on our feet and being semi productive.
We had a meeting last night at dinner with the overall mission director and the man who runs the farming end of things. For some reason I find the farming things pretty interesting. At peak, it will employee 200 people. They are getting ready to ship 2 tons of snails to Spain, France, and Italy. Who would have thought that raising snails could be such a huge step in changing lives. They process and ship 2 tons of cui a month and one of the largest buyers is the Peruvian Navy. And speaking or cui, we get to eat some on Saturday, those who are brave enough anyway.
Today we are breaking concrete, getting ready to pour cement, going to a hospital, and whatever comes our way. It’s my turn to give back to the team so I’m taking care of the sick.
You may notice the blog is not updated everyday. The reason being is that we get so busy and internet access is not easy.
Things to remember. We arrive Monday at SeaTac at 9:35 PM. For some reason several people think we return on Tuesday. We do not. We are back on Monday.
For you parents who send young ones down let me be the first to say they are an amazing group. You should be very proud of them for the job they are doing.
Oh and Scott Wallace if you read this, Starbucks is coming to Trujillo. I saw the sign myself. They have truly entered the modern times.
