Birthday Wishes (Carrie at Aldea Infantil)

So my birthday was Monday but I didn’t get back to the Aldea until Tuesday night due to a hospital check up for my stomach (I'll spoil the ending and say that I'm all better now).

Cakes are different here so I wanted to learn how to make a traditional Peruvian cake, and what better opportunity than my own birthday cake? This week I’ve been eating in the adolescent boy casa and making a cake with 10 hovering, hungry vulchers (I mean, boys) was definitely difficult. We put the cake in the oven pretty late at night with most of the boys asleep and it was going to take 2 hours to bake so Luis, the oldest boy and my head chef, told me he’d take it out and I could come eat it in the morning. I showed up to the casa the next morning excited to have a breakfast of something other than bread and milk but ALL of the cake had been eaten except for 2 tiny pieces—one for me, the other for Rebecca, Clare, and Jason to share—and no one left in the house. Haha, I should have known better than to leave a perfectly good cake in a house full of teenage boys. At least later the boys said they enjoyed it and I enjoyed it too, the thievery and all.

I wasn’t the only one with a birthday this week though. Ana Quesada turned 15 on Thursday and we all had a huge fiesta for her quincenera. In Hispanic culture, turning 15 is a huge turning point in a girl’s life—it’s when she closes the door of adolescence and enters into womanhood. Quinceneras are full of cake (the boys waited patiently), speeches, and waltzes with the audience clapping off beat (ever tried clapping to a waltz?). The decorations were beautiful, Ana was dolled up by the tias, and everyone had a great time.

My favorite part of the night was 7 year old Jenifer leaning into me and asking, “Will I look just as pretty as Ana when I turn 15?”

Though I won't be here to see Jenifer or the other little girls turn 15, it was still adorable to see them watch Ana waltz with her older brother and dream of when they too can wear lipstick, pretty dresses, and dance a special dance on a day just for them. “Yes, you most definitely will,” I said.

Actually, I lied, that's a party I won't want to miss.

Photo Captions:

Ana is normally pretty shy but she really lit up when everyone sang her birthday song and then she got to cut that gorgeous, glorious cake.

It's tradition that the birthday girl dance with every man in the room. Yeah, it takes a long time and some "men" are still just awkward boys.

Our directora, Blanca, giving a wonderful speech about Ana to everyone.

Ana being escorted by her brother, Walter.

National Initial Education Week (Carrie from Aldea Infantile)

The other volunteers and I joined the kindergardeners for marches through the Plaza de Armas of nearby cities for National Initial Education Week.

How super cute to see these 4 year olds carrying signs that say “I like waking up for jardin!” “To be a child is to be marvelous.” “Listen to me, I’m important.” “Small people of the future.” We had journalists and photographers come and take pictures of the march and even some important person speak (though I wasn’t paying much attention—I was chasing kids and making sure they didn’t hit each other with their picket signs). I love seeing everyone, right down to our little huddle of 4 year olds, take their education so seriously and love it.

WANTED: ENT for Little Delia (Little Bug)

(Note: This is from Laura while our expedition was at the Little Bug. If anyone knows an ENT who might be interested in going down to help Little Delia, please let us know!)

While doing the medical exams yesterday, Dr. Doug came across Delia who has a tumor in her ear. Delia was a very patient patient! First Dr. Doug put a wash in the ear to see if it could just be removed simply. In the end, however it seems she needs to be seen by a specialist to have it removed to make sure there is no long term negative effects on her hearing.

People on the expedition are going to work to raise the funds once they return to the states. It would be awesome if somehow an ENT decided to go on the August expedition... that would solve multiple problems!

My Trip to the Hospital (Carrie at Aldea Infantile)

My trip to the hospital was perhaps the most eventful of my Peru experience thus far. One morning I woke up with a terrible aching in my stomach but the other volunteers had just conquered their bout of stomach aches so I wanted to tough it out too. I took a Pepto thinking it would just blow over but the pain just kept increasing until I really blew over. By the time Marta, the nurse of the Aldea, had come to see what was going on, I was throwing up quite violently.

Marta said we needed to go to the hospital because I was losing my fluids too quickly. I couldn’t walk, couldn’t stand up, and couldn’t keep anything inside me for longer than 5 minutes—how was an hour journey to the hospital even going to be possible? We tried it anyway. Jason carried me and my dead-body self through the Aldea to the street. A lot of the children outside stopped playing and asked if I was going to be okay. I don’t remember much but I remember their concerned faces. It must have been scary for them because it was certainly scary for me.

After an IV, some antibiotics, and a night in the hospital, I was able to walk, eat, and come back home to the Aldea. (And yes, it’s home now.) Turns out it was an infection in my intestine—I blame the cheese. After we all got back, it was nice to hear we were missed even if we were gone just for a day. When one of the other volunteers went to lunch, she said that one of the little boys, Abran, asked “Is my sister Carrie dead?” Here’s me saying, nope, I’m not dead and hurray for that! There’s no worse time to miss your mother than when you’re sick and many miles from home, but it was very comforting to have so many tias, tios, hermanitos concerned for me.

As our directora told me, this experience was all part of the “experience” in Peru. Let’s just say I’m glad that “experience” is over. At least now I think when I tell the tias not to give me the cheese because it gives me a bad stomach, they’ll listen.

The Little Bug (Laura)

Note: Our June expedition is well underway! They are helping to start construction on the second story which will transform The Little Bug from a drop-in center to an orphanage. The following report comes from Laura on the expedition.

We got a lot of work done at The Little Bug yesterday. Besides our little group unloading over 5000 bricks for the start of our second story, we had a small team of doctors checking all the children to establish baseline medical records.

Backgrounds, height, weight, dental and blood pressure were a few of the stops each child made. At first the children were a little nervous, but as they went from station to station there was an increasing sense of "fun" about the whole experience. We've got seven 16/17 year old girls on this expedition who have all become best of friends. It is fun to watch them work together and even more amazing is how they team together to make sure the children feel loved.

Homework at Aldea (Carrie)

Often my favorite part of the Aldea is helping with homework—sometimes I think I learn more than the kids do! We have to help kids of all different ages so I do everything from simple cursive (Spanish cursive weirds me out sometimes) to pre-calculus (hace tres anos!). I like learning the vocabulary from all different areas and levels of study, too.

Miguel Angel is my favorite person to help for homework. Miguel has mild cerebral palsy and sometimes has a bit of a temper. Often tias and his brothers in the house have a hard time getting him to start his homework. They grab him, place him in the chair and, by then, he’s certainly in no mood to study. On days that I come by his house for homework, I like walking in, talking his hand, and asking if he wants to do his homework with me. We’ll make it fun and easy, I say. Then the mood completely changes and he’s always very excited to count out his apples or follow the lines to make a cursive F. I can’t say enough how much I like helping him. Miguel and another girl in the Aldea are the only special needs children in the region of Libertad that go to school.

It makes me feel so good knowing I’m part of something truly revolutionary in Libertad, Peru—even if it’s just taking a hand and asking, “Would you like to do your homework with me? We’ll make it fun.”

Alegria de VeVir (Laura)

One of the things we found most remarkable at the Alegria de Vivir, in Trubaco, Colombia, was the level of volunteerism and dedication to provide care for handicapped children in the community. Every women at the home was a single mother, or grandmother, of a handicapped child who could not pay for medical treatments or evaluations. The four young women running the home, all under 30, had seen the need in their own community so they decided to bring the physicians to these children. They went through the paperwork of registering the home, spend their free time contacting doctors who will donate their expertise and do local fundraisers to pay transportation costs for the doctors.

some photos of Aldea Infantile

note: for some reason I receive stories from the interns in Aldea Infantile that never have any attachments and then I receive some photos that never have any stories to explain the photos.

Since I haven't been to the Aldea Infantile (yet!), I don't have the names of the kids in these photos. They sure are cute and I'm hoping to get to Aldea sometime. Then I can tell you how wonderful and good all these children are!

For now, enjoy...

celebrations (Jason at Aldea)

This week was full of celebrations. We had some kids from the university come in to put on an activity for the aldea children. The university kids are those that are interested in childhood education I believe. Then, the next day, we had a birthday for Fany and Sophia (twins) and Keny (an adolescent). The kids were very blessed to have special treats at these occasions, so everyone was very happy for the celebrations. These kids go all day at top energy, until early at night when they crash and fall asleep. I admire them for their hard work and hard playing.

A Sad Story (Jason at Aldea Infantile)

This last week we had a sad story. A boy came in to the Aldea who had huge blisters covering all of his lips. I am close to the tías at the Aldea and so I asked one of them what may have happened. Apparently, his mother heated up a spoon over the stove and put it to his lips because he was behaving badly. She said how sad that is and asked what kind of mother would do that? I can't even imagine. But, this past couple of days has brought some positive things as well. Since he has been at the Aldea he has been receiving kind care from the nurse their for his lips (cream) and they seem to be healing up nicely. But the biggest thing has involved another child with special needs at the Aldea.

Miguel Angel lives with a bunch of "normal" boys who sometimes poke fun at him that he doesn't really mind. But I don't believe he feels an equal to them. This little boy with the blisters has spent a considerable amount of time with Miguel and Miguel has enjoyed him very much. The boy is younger than him so Miguel (the former youngest of the group) feels like he is an equal with a kid that he lives with. I know that that seems like something small, but it is a moment for Miguel to shine and just be happy with himself and his friend.

I love working at the Aldea and making the kids feel loved and teaching them things they are excited about, like English or photography. I just love to help the kids shine and be happy with themselves and the talents god has given them. I don't try to force them to learn though, so they have learned quickly that I won't so they make sure they really pay attention and are proactive in educating themselves (all part of being self-sustaining /sufficient).

This reminds me of this great conversation I had with a man on the plane ride to Peru about how important education is. He called it an investment that always returns. I am hoping that the things we teach these kids make a difference. While I was in Lima, the person who picked me up from the airport asked me to talk about how important it is to pursue your dreams and follow the talents that God has given you, even in the work field. He said it is a problem here in Peru that some people think that there are only certain jobs that they can do to sustain their families. Essentially, it is an attitude of go where the money is. I think that in some senses he is right. I believe strongly that we should follow our dreams and god-given talents and use them to bless the world and sustain our families. I know it takes a pioneer to break out of a mold of thinking, but, it is worth it, not only for that person and his family, but his community and those that follow him.

I was saddened when I asked (biased I know, but come on, I am a film student), a kid here if he wanted to ever make movies. He said, "psshhh. Me make movies?" and then laughed it off as if it would never be a possibility. I hope to inspire these kids to strive for their dreams and pay the price to obtain them, even if the norm says it has never been done. It can be done. I have mutually beneficial connections to film people. And now these kids have connections to me. I apologize that this email is sort of a montage-like deal and perhaps not super clear, but I wanted to let you know that it's going great here!

Alegria de Vivir (Cameron, expedition leader)

Note: This home is a funded home in Turbaco, Colombia specifically catered to helping handicapped children providing care so these children can stay with the families and off the street.

“Alegria de Vivir” started with a few women in Colombia who wanted to help handicapped children receive medical care that they desperately needed but could not receive. The name means “Happiness of Living” and the volunteers that work to keep this small center running, truly make this their goal when working with these kids.

In the areas surrounding Cartagenas there are many deformities and chorinic diseases that would shock most of us here in our comfortable homes. In this area these kids very rarely will see a doctor will most likely never receive the type of care they need. In a sense the kids are forgotten and looked over. The brave women of “Alegria de Vivir” have proven that this will not happen in their community and have made it a personal fight to help these children. They have made connections with local physicians and medical personnel who are committing to offer their time and services to help. Still the center has a long way to go.

When we met the children at the center and saw how much help they really needed, Southern Cross decided to be a part of this beautiful home and cause for the needy children in Colombia.

Since January, Southern Cross has helped in the funding the home, allowing the volunteers provide food and activities for these kids. The funds are designated to help in whatever aspect these volunteers deem necessary, including helping to pay for treatment of certain problems or visits to the hospital when needed. We hope to raise enough interest in this area in Colombia and in these children to bring an expedition to Cartagena and help construct a playground in the back of the center where children with disabilities can leave the small building, and enjoy the outdoors.

We applaud the volunteers who work with these children and plan to become even more involved in this wonderful cause. Help us improve the lives of these children so that together we understand what it really means to have “alegria de vivir.”