I've hardly been in Lima recently...

VISIT FROM WOMEN OF HUDSON RIVER PRESBYTERY (NEW YORK)

I spent a week and a half traveling around with six wonderful women in the middle of February. We also had the pleasure of welcoming two men, who were visiting from St. Louis to attend the annual Joining Hands Network Assembly, from time to time as well. We basically had the same itinerary as what we as YAVs did during our orientation here in Peru, and it was fun to visit some of the same places and people that I hadn’t seen in months. I did make a quick detour when we went to La Oroya and Huancayo to visit our artisan groups there, so that allowed to me to get to know that area better, but other than that I was there to help translate, offer a different perspective, and provide some calmness when things got stressful or a little overwhelming. These women (plus me!) represented every decade of life from a 20-something all the way to an 80-something year old. It meant we had quite differing perspectives, but I was impressed with the sincerity and commitment they brought to each interaction. We had many conversations about the overwhelming nature of many of the problems we can see in Peru and how/if they could make a difference when they return. I am excited to see how they continue to be involved with the work we are doing here in Peru!

Wanda, Norma, Susan, Joy, La Sheila, Lori, and Me (in order of age)!

YAV RETREAT 2

The last week in February we took off from Lima in a Cruz del Sur bus to head 20 hours up the desert-y coast of Peru to a private house right on the beach. There we spent the week enjoying the warm and oh-so-beautiful beach, soaking up some rays, eating and cooking delicious food, and playing Frisbee practically nonstop. It was a glorious time of relaxation and community and worship.

We spent the mornings having a time of worship, Bible study, and reflection together. The passage we focused on was Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you but to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.” It was good to look back on these past months and evaluate how my life has or has not reflected those principles and also to think ahead to how I can re-center and recommit, especially in this time of Lent as I look back and remember who my God is and all that he has done for me. The rest of the day we would spend laughing, eating, sharing, playing, swimming, singing, and tossing the ‘bee.

Mary Kate, Blake, Me, Spencer, Emma

Our house and beach furniture.

Beautiful days on the beach!

We had a pool and hammocks as well.

Travel to and from the house was in moto-taxis.

A night out in Mancora.

Bonfire and songs on the beach.

ARTISANS

I have now finished visiting all of the artisans. Of all the things I have done so far this year, these visits have definitely landed at the top of the charts. It was fun to adventure around to new places and see where each of them lived and worked. They each have such a different reality, each challenging in its own way. I loved hearing their stories. I loved making them laugh or smile. I loved making them feel uncomfortable as I pulled out my camera and captured them on film.

It was encouraging to hear the stories of success, and the ways in which their participation in Fair Trade has positively affected their lives and the lives of their family. Each one had one of these stories of success and growth. But each also had stories of struggles and failures and difficulties, both presently and in the past. There are stories of economic insecurity, of constant battle against a chauvinistic culture, and of lack of running water in the home. What amazed me was the hope that they all showed. One question I asked every group was what their vision or goals were for the next five years. Almost without fail, they replied that they wanted to get more orders and find more customers. That was more or less the response that I was expecting to hear. But what they said next was what really made an impression on me. They want more orders and more customers not primarily so they can have more money for themselves and their families, but rather so they can employ their neighbors. They want their neighbors to know and experience what it is to be a part of a team, to have a voice, to have a vision, to dream again. Bridge of Hope provides so much more than just an income for these artisans; it provides a new way of life. A way of life that is fair and just. One in which the women stand up for themselves and begin to share equally with their husbands. One in which they can say proudly that they are sending their children through college because the children were able to stick to their studies and graduate high school. One in which they value the work that they do.

The website is now done and just needs to be published. Check back in a week or two to see the new design! www.fairtradeperu.com/en

I also put together a short video to allow the artisans to introduce themselves. As you will see, they are awkward and funny and unique and so loveable!

And now I leave you with this:

"We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer