Chimbote

Hola! The first few days were spent in Lima which has a similar feel to Taipei with the haze and traffic. We toured and picked up our residency cards which will allow us to renew after a year in country. Now we are just getting settled in Chimbote, our new home for the next two years. We are asked to observe and get a feel for how we would like to serve.

This is a noisy town that has a rhythm and music of its own. It has a small town feel with dirt roads. At any given time of day, you hear street cars motoring by the house beeping their horns, playing cumbia, salsa or the occasional rigatone. Crazy. At night the stray dogs on the street bark at the pet dogs on the roof and if you are unlucky as I was last night, they bark right under your window – all night. On the weekend, the social-cultural center across the street can be rented out for parties. For instance, this past weekend we celebrated St. Rose de Lima. If you party, be sure to take a nap before because they go all night and until 6 am the next morning with fireworks being set off at all hours. Did I mention this building is across the street from us? Once your ears grow accustom to the noise you can tune it out. In the meantime, I have earplugs.

Todd, the other missionary in the house who is my age will be departing soon. The community is starting to say their farewells to him. I rose with Jane, Julie and a few others to accompany him on his routine morning run up to the sand dunes. Make no mistake, Chimbote is a dessert. You are constantly at war with the dirt and dust getting everywhere. Cleaning and sweeping the house is a way of life not a weekly chore. The wind and the cars pick up the dirt and the people of the town will frequently throw buckets of water on the road in front of their house to attempt to control the dirt. It is arid. I was pleasantly surprised on the morning run. At the peak of the sand dune, one can look out on one of the few green belts and farm land in Chimbote. Todd likes to run at 6:30 am because it is considered a safer time. It is also the time many of the farmers are taking their crops to market. It is winter now in Chimbote, which is more spring like temperatures where I am from in Dallas. Corn is in season and the locals still use a donkey and a cart to take it into town. I encountered several of these farmers on my morning run. Once we arrived at the sand dune, Todd pointed out two rivers and behind it the outline of a few islands off coast line you could view while standing on the dune. The run helped to paint a more complete picture of Chimbote for me.

The food is good and very fresh. The meat is the freshest I have tasted probably because they really do kill the chicken the day you eat it. I did not think this was true but the average joe here drinks instant coffee which is better than the States instant coffee but it is still instant. Surprising for Latin America but that is part of the inequity that exists here. Their biggest assets are exported and the average citizen never sees a dime of it. I will continue to drink the instant coffee but tea is making a comeback for me, I can feel it.

Todd has done work in the parish too long for me to list and do it justice. They will be sad to see him go but he is leaving everything in the very capable hands of Jennifer who traveled down with me from San Antonio. She will continue a few projects but also brings her own special talents and will make it her own. The nice part about this entire program is the liberty you have to do your own thing.
I join two other medical missionaries, Courtney (22) tall, curly hair outgoing who came here out of nursing school. Julie (22) who extended her stay one more year in Chimbote then wants to continue with medical school on an international level. Her favorite sport is water polo. Jane (22) works rather independently with the NGO with media and education, not sure what all that entails. She had taught a ballet class at the beginning of last summer and may do so again this coming year. Several play guitar. There are also a few Peruvian flutes in the house, recorder and pan pipes that I have already taken a stab at. I only got out about two notes but I have 2 years to work on it.

Many have asked how my Spanish is doing. I struggle, as expected, but occasionally impress with a logical sentence or two. I have made some humorous mistakes and I am sure there are more to come. “Poco a poco” is what they have come to expect from many missionaries that have gone before me. Everyone is very encouraging. They say after a year, everyone tends to level out with their skills and conversation flows naturally; so here’s to the future.
I am grateful for all the prayers and emails. They lift my spirits. I am sure your prayers got my luggage to Peru. I boarded the plane on the first leg with 5 minutes to spare and on the second leg of the trip our luggage actually got pulled off the plane because we had neglectfully waited until the final boarding call to show up. However, there was a one hour maintenance delay so the luggage cleared security again and made it back on to the plane. I do miss family and friends but this is a blessing I feel compelled to embrace and grow from, I am so grateful.
P.S. The showers are cold – outdoor camping has prepared me well. It helps to get over the initial shock by using some reverse psychology. As you jump into the cold water say “hot, hot, hot.” It worked for me this morning. I am told the cold showers are something to look forward to in the summer heat.
Blessing on you all!