El Bichito: Field Trip to Cajamarca

Abigail, an intern at El Bichito, tells us about their recent field trip to Cajamarca: 

Last week we had the opportunity to take our very first fieldtrip with the kids!  We organized a trip into Cajamarca to help the kids learn more about the history of the city and the Peruvian people.  Our first stop was to a cathedral near the Plaza de Armas.  

Our guide taught us about the architectural and usage differences between that cathedral and the one across from it.  Next, we visited the Cuarto del Rescate. This is where the last Incan king, Atahualpa, had his ransom collected while he was being held captive by the Spaniards. The room is the last surviving Incan ruin in Cajamarca. 

 

Third, we visited a museum a block away.  The museum was an operating hospital until 1962.  It holds many artifacts from Cajamarca as well as areas all over Peru.  Last, we went to Santa Apolonia where we hiked up what seemed like thousands (but was probably just hundreds) of stairs to a beautiful overlook of the city.  It was an awesome experience for us and the kids to see its beauty from the top of the mountain.  While we were up there, we ate our packed lunches and enjoyed running around in the grass.

Abigail and a few of the boys resting

 Noelle and Luiz Fernando

Brittany and Alex 

Playing at the playground

We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to take these kids out to learn and have fun!  It would not have been possible without the help of many people from Eagle-Condor as well as the amazing Feliciana and Merchola here at El Bichito.

Learn more about helping these orphans by visiting our website. Learn more about El Bichito by visiting the page or viewing past posts.

El Bichito: Meet Marco

Update from Abigail, an intern at El Bichito:

This week has been great at El Bichito!  The kids continue to love reading every day and learning new games and activities.  We’ve introduced them to quite a few new crafts this week.  The boys will usually start a craft and not finish it while the girls stick with theirs until the end.  There is one boy, Marco, who loves art and will try any type of new craft we introduce.

Marco isn’t a typical child here at El Bichito.  He’s actually 26 years old and suffers from Polio.  To get here he has to walk down the hill 20 minutes and his walk back home is all uphill.  This is not easy for him as his legs don’t function properly and he has to use a crutch.  While many of the boys enjoy running around and doing active games, Marco stays sitting at the table for the majority of his time here.  He LOVES painting and drawing and last week we gave him his own art set.  In return, he wrote us a very sweet note and made each of us a bead bracelet.  He’s not very talkative unless you start talking to him first.  He also enjoys reading books every day although his reading level is still at an elementary school level.  Marco aspires to be a pastor at a church someday.  He is actively involved in his church here in Puylucana.  He also looks forward to learning how to use a computer.


Learn more about how you can help Marco and others like him by visiting our website. Learn more about El Bichito by viewing past posts and the El Bichito page.

El Bichito: Meet Luzelena

Abigail, an intern at El Bichito, introduces us to Luzelena:

 Luzelena and Abigail

Cristian and Luzelena

Wow!  What a crazy two weeks it has been at El Bichito!  We are loving the children and getting to know each one of them.  There are so many names to learn and a few new ones each day.  Just when I feel like I know everyone that comes a whole new family arrives!  That’s the joy of the summertime I guess. 

From day one, Luzelena has been an angel sent to help us.  She is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met and has a contagious smile with a hint of mischief.  The very first day with the children, she and another girl wrote me a little note that I will always cherish.  It doesn’t say much, but it says enough to keep me going during the tough times.  That was the first of many thoughtful notes from her.  Luzelena enjoys doing anything we are doing and is always up to try new games with a little bit of encouragement.  She’s very much a girl and loves making bracelets, writing letters, having her hair braided and braiding our hair.  She comes to the center with her nephew, Cristian, and doesn’t let her eyes off him. Whether she’s carrying his food, reading to him, or making sure he gets a turn in every game, she’s the best aunt he could ask for.  Before leaving the center for the day. she never forgets to give each of us a kiss and say thank you.  It’s a little reminder for each of us how blessed we are and how fortunate we have been to come and help these children.  They are an inspiration to us and their “thank you’s” mean so much!!

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Thanks Abigail!

To learn more about El Bichito, you can view more blog posts or view the El Bichito page. Learn more about becoming an intern or helping a child like Luzelena.