It has finally come to my attention that I’m not Peruvian. Anyone could’ve told me this, but I was hoping I could at least convince my host family that I could adopt any and all of their ways. However, over the past week I have learned to be honest with myself and admit my own needs.
I am a giant compared to most Peruvians, a good six inches taller than most women. With that, I need to eat more food in order to keep up. I initially welcomed the idea of sharing three simple meals a day with my host family, of mostly rice and potatoes. But even with my daily multi-vitamin, I know I’m not receiving enough nutrients. I admitted to my parents over the phone how truly hungry I have been. The next thing I knew, I was sitting down for dinner where my host mother presented me with a second plate of food! The following morning, over breakfast, I was delighted to find a full bowl of fruit, a new fiber-filled cereal and a warm apple drink. Either my host sister overheard my conversation with my parents in English, or G-d sent down some grace in the form of papaya and bananas (most likely a combination of both). I decided to talk to my host mother and we agreed that I would buy extra produce and snacks for myself to eat in between meals.
I am also adjusting to the climate. The sun is much more intense and I’ve accepted that it’s okay to wear sunglasses, even if it reinforces my identity as an extranera (foreigner). I’ve also learned that I must take extra precausion against mosquitos. I’ve counted some fifty-eight mosquito bites on my legs, the result of a walk around town with my host sister during which I carelessly forgot to use repellent. With the help of aloe and chamomile lotion, the bites are healing and I have learned my lesson.
Paz y Esperanza
Alongside these early adjustments, I have come to really enjoy my work with Paz y Esperanza and the new friendships that are developing. On my first day in the office of Paz y Esperanza, I sat among new faces and participated in the usual Monday morning devotional. I am grateful to have a seat at the table, where we sing songs, reflect on a short Bible verse and share joys and concerns from each area in the office.
1) The Justice Program includes five lawyers who prosecute aggressors in the community, guilty of rape and sexual abuse. At a workshop on HIV/AIDS that I attended at a local church, I was shocked to learn that in the province of Huánuco, every three hours a young girl is sexually abused.
2) Victims’ Rehabilitation includes four psychologists who work with young girls who have survived sexual assault. When pregnancy is the result of rape, the young girl is especially vulnerable and is often disowned by her family. Three girls, and their young babies, have been placed in a protective setting called the Casa Del Buen Trato (House of Good Treatment), located on a dairy farm that financially supports the rehabilitation program. I will be spending one weekend a month with the girls, helping with their academic studies and discussing self-care, nutrition and maybe even an introduction to yoga. Although this will be a challenge, I continually remind myself not to indentify these young women solely by the trauma they have experienced.
3) Women and Children’s Rights includes three social workers who lead workshops that educate local women on how to prevent and respond to abuse and sexual violence in their communities. The training program, titled Mujeres sin Violencia, Mujeres en Desarrollo (Women Without Violence, Women in Development), also empowers women to be involved in local decision making in order to change power structures. The overall goal is to empower women to redefine relationships in their communities and reclaim their dignity.
While this program is directed mostly to women who live in poverty in isolated mountain regions, the concepts presented in the curriculum are universal and do not just apply to the needs of women and their families in Peru. I am already imagining ways in which this program could be used in communities closer to home.
4) The Church Program includes three pastors who encourage local churches to be community advocates in the areas of human rights, peace and reconciliation, safety and protection of youth, and the building of sustainable families.
5) The Peace Program includes two psychologists who continue the work of the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, responding to the widespread affects of the civil war that occurred between 1980 and 2000. The Program works for the restoration of families and communities in Huánuco that continue to suffer psychologically, physically, financially and spiritually from the violence.
Kotosh
To retreat from the busy work environment, on Sunday three friends from Paz y Esperanza, my host sister and a visiting medical student from Switzerland, all visited the ancient temple of Kotosh. We walked through the busy streets of Huánuco, which eventually brought us to a dusty road that revealed absolutely majestic views of mountains and a rushing stream where two young boys were fishing with a blanket sized net. After roughly two hours we arrived at the site, situated on an open plane surrounded by mountains.
We visited the Templo de Manos Cruzados (Temple of Crossed Hands), a ceremonial hut where marriages took place, honoring gender equality and the equilibrium of nature. It was upsetting to think how much these values have been lost. Before leaving this sacred place, we each took a moment to stand on a flat stone where the confluence of magnetic fields magnifies one’s voice like a megaphone. The energy of the space was intensified by the heavy storm clouds drawing over the mountain tops, which brought on a cool rain.
Relief
That evening, I retreated to my bedroom to reflect on all that has occurred during the past week, and to apply my usual treatment to those annoying little bug bites. Then, through the dampened air, came the melody of a Spanish rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence," projected through the public loudspeaker of a nearby Catholic church. Static altered hymns of praise blared through the streets through much of the day. During the evening, I thought of what it must be like to hear similar announcements in Mecca, which call the masses to stop and pray.
I have never felt so compelled and relieved to pray as I do here in Peru - partly because it offers a rare moment to close my eyes and retreat from all that is new. But more often, I am drawn into prayer because there is simply no other way to fully admit the centrality of G-d in my life then to directly thank G-d and resign any personal responsibility for all that has occurred thus far. I couldn’t have created these moments even if I tried!
I am a giant compared to most Peruvians, a good six inches taller than most women. With that, I need to eat more food in order to keep up. I initially welcomed the idea of sharing three simple meals a day with my host family, of mostly rice and potatoes. But even with my daily multi-vitamin, I know I’m not receiving enough nutrients. I admitted to my parents over the phone how truly hungry I have been. The next thing I knew, I was sitting down for dinner where my host mother presented me with a second plate of food! The following morning, over breakfast, I was delighted to find a full bowl of fruit, a new fiber-filled cereal and a warm apple drink. Either my host sister overheard my conversation with my parents in English, or G-d sent down some grace in the form of papaya and bananas (most likely a combination of both). I decided to talk to my host mother and we agreed that I would buy extra produce and snacks for myself to eat in between meals.
I am also adjusting to the climate. The sun is much more intense and I’ve accepted that it’s okay to wear sunglasses, even if it reinforces my identity as an extranera (foreigner). I’ve also learned that I must take extra precausion against mosquitos. I’ve counted some fifty-eight mosquito bites on my legs, the result of a walk around town with my host sister during which I carelessly forgot to use repellent. With the help of aloe and chamomile lotion, the bites are healing and I have learned my lesson.
Paz y Esperanza
Alongside these early adjustments, I have come to really enjoy my work with Paz y Esperanza and the new friendships that are developing. On my first day in the office of Paz y Esperanza, I sat among new faces and participated in the usual Monday morning devotional. I am grateful to have a seat at the table, where we sing songs, reflect on a short Bible verse and share joys and concerns from each area in the office.
1) The Justice Program includes five lawyers who prosecute aggressors in the community, guilty of rape and sexual abuse. At a workshop on HIV/AIDS that I attended at a local church, I was shocked to learn that in the province of Huánuco, every three hours a young girl is sexually abused.
2) Victims’ Rehabilitation includes four psychologists who work with young girls who have survived sexual assault. When pregnancy is the result of rape, the young girl is especially vulnerable and is often disowned by her family. Three girls, and their young babies, have been placed in a protective setting called the Casa Del Buen Trato (House of Good Treatment), located on a dairy farm that financially supports the rehabilitation program. I will be spending one weekend a month with the girls, helping with their academic studies and discussing self-care, nutrition and maybe even an introduction to yoga. Although this will be a challenge, I continually remind myself not to indentify these young women solely by the trauma they have experienced.
3) Women and Children’s Rights includes three social workers who lead workshops that educate local women on how to prevent and respond to abuse and sexual violence in their communities. The training program, titled Mujeres sin Violencia, Mujeres en Desarrollo (Women Without Violence, Women in Development), also empowers women to be involved in local decision making in order to change power structures. The overall goal is to empower women to redefine relationships in their communities and reclaim their dignity.
While this program is directed mostly to women who live in poverty in isolated mountain regions, the concepts presented in the curriculum are universal and do not just apply to the needs of women and their families in Peru. I am already imagining ways in which this program could be used in communities closer to home.
4) The Church Program includes three pastors who encourage local churches to be community advocates in the areas of human rights, peace and reconciliation, safety and protection of youth, and the building of sustainable families.
5) The Peace Program includes two psychologists who continue the work of the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, responding to the widespread affects of the civil war that occurred between 1980 and 2000. The Program works for the restoration of families and communities in Huánuco that continue to suffer psychologically, physically, financially and spiritually from the violence.
Kotosh
To retreat from the busy work environment, on Sunday three friends from Paz y Esperanza, my host sister and a visiting medical student from Switzerland, all visited the ancient temple of Kotosh. We walked through the busy streets of Huánuco, which eventually brought us to a dusty road that revealed absolutely majestic views of mountains and a rushing stream where two young boys were fishing with a blanket sized net. After roughly two hours we arrived at the site, situated on an open plane surrounded by mountains.
We visited the Templo de Manos Cruzados (Temple of Crossed Hands), a ceremonial hut where marriages took place, honoring gender equality and the equilibrium of nature. It was upsetting to think how much these values have been lost. Before leaving this sacred place, we each took a moment to stand on a flat stone where the confluence of magnetic fields magnifies one’s voice like a megaphone. The energy of the space was intensified by the heavy storm clouds drawing over the mountain tops, which brought on a cool rain.
Relief
That evening, I retreated to my bedroom to reflect on all that has occurred during the past week, and to apply my usual treatment to those annoying little bug bites. Then, through the dampened air, came the melody of a Spanish rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence," projected through the public loudspeaker of a nearby Catholic church. Static altered hymns of praise blared through the streets through much of the day. During the evening, I thought of what it must be like to hear similar announcements in Mecca, which call the masses to stop and pray.
I have never felt so compelled and relieved to pray as I do here in Peru - partly because it offers a rare moment to close my eyes and retreat from all that is new. But more often, I am drawn into prayer because there is simply no other way to fully admit the centrality of G-d in my life then to directly thank G-d and resign any personal responsibility for all that has occurred thus far. I couldn’t have created these moments even if I tried!
