David and Scott's Peruvian Adventure

Hello everyone!!!! Happy May Day!!

I really hope that you are all doing well and HOPEFULLY enjoying some nice, spring weather (my parents have kept me updated on this crazy long winter that some regions are having!!). You have all been in my thoughts and prayers…. And especially in my thoughts as my time here in Peru comes to an end. I fly back to the States on July 1…. Exactly 2 months from today!! Wow!! I can’t believe it.

In this blog I really wanted to talk about the experience of two of my best friends, David and Scott, when they came to visit me this month...... 

They are two of my BFFs from the USA and they came for about 10 days at the beginning of April to visit me and see what my life here in Peru is all about!!!! First of all, I can’t express how gracious and humbled I was that they spent the money and took the time off to fly all the way to South America to visit me….. Second, I can’t express how HAPPY I am that they did!!!! I have been feeling a little burnt out lately on work and just missionary life in general, so it was really rejuvenating and motivating to have some time to spend just talking and laughing with them, feeling a little bit of home here in Chimbote.

I love when we have visitors, because I think we, as missionaries, become a little jaded to our lives here over time. I still have people  from back home say to me “What you are doing is so amazing!!”, “Your work there is so inspiring”, “Wow, I could never do what you are doing.” And these comments are an honor to receive and also strange to hear…. Because now after almost 2 years, I don’t see my life here as anything extraordinary or different than the norm. In fact, I see it as the opposite of impressive or glamorous…. Cleaning maggots out of the sink, showering out of a bucket, getting tested for intestinal parasites every few months, scrubbing my clothes on a washboard (they still never really get clean, I am counting down the days to the smell of clean laundry…) …. Are just a few examples of NOT feeling like my life here is very impressive or admirable.

But when David and Scott came to visit, it was an opportunity to see Chimbote and my life here through fresh eyes. To hear them talk about what they were pleasantly surprised by (“The food here is so fresh!!” or “The Peruvian people are so generous and welcoming!!”) to what they were not so excited about (“WHY WON’T THESE MILLIONS OF FLIES LEAVE YOUR KITCHEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE CLEAN!!” – this is especially a Scott quote – he apparently HATES flies, or “The roosters outside of our window literally started crowing at 3am”). I love planning for visitors and I planned a pretty full itinerary, filled with: Spending some time exploring Lima, shadowing me in Hospice a couple of days, a Greek-God themed Murder Mystery Party with other volunteer friends, climbing up a mountain that overlooks Chimbote and the ocean, attending the Stations of the Cross Easter event at our Parish, going out dancing with our Peruvian friends, a beach bonfire-campout, etc. And obviously, we took thousands (literally) pictures of everything.

I thought I could write all about our time together here, how wonderful it was to see two of the most important people in my life, to share stories and catch up after so long, to sit and realize how much I really did miss these two hilarious, wonderful, caring, amazing friends of mine.... but then thought, it would be pretty cool if they wrote their experiences themselves!!!! It’s always nice to hear it first-hand, so I asked Scott and David as guest-bloggers to write a little bit about their experience here and what impacted them the most…. for good or for bad…..

So with out further adieu……

Scott’s Dissertation on Peru

Scott!!

Less than three weeks ago I had the blessing to be able to visit Katie in Peru. During my stay there I had the fortune of meeting all of her wonderful friends and seeing amazing sites scattered throughout the country. While I was able to experience so much of the rich tradition of the country, some of the most treasured memories I have are in the smaller moments.

The first of such was when we, David and I, were able to greet Katie at the airport for the first time in nearly two years. It felt as though years upon years had passed but after we talked for a few short moments it felt just like the good times back at SLU and as though no time had passed at all. 

Our first picture together in the airport!! How excitingggg

Then, after arriving to Chimbote, we had the pleasure of meeting her roommates, Kyle and Clare. After talking with them for a short while, I knew that Katie was in good hands and that she had surrounded herself with excellent people while she was in Peru. Another experience that was very rewarding to me was being able to visit with some of Katie's patients in hospice. The amount of love and affection that these patients and family members offer is tremendous. It was inspiring to see how thankful the patients were for the smallest of things. Despite living with painful ailments, they thoroughly enjoyed interacting with us and hearing about our experiences in Chimbote (especially if we had tried the ceviche, haha).

Clare, Scott, David, me, and Kyle at Clare's going-away party

Me, David, patient Alberto, and Scott

Scott, David and I with my patient Maria

The final experience that I will share that impacted me greatly was being able to climb the mountain. I had never scaled a small mountain before and it was a fun challenge! After arriving to the top, we were able to enjoy the moment and reflect upon the trial that we had overcome. It was a beautiful sight to behold at the peak of the mountain; one side a sprawling city while the other a tranquil ocean. It provided me with a profound moment of peace. While I had a plethora of other valuable experiences in Peru, these are the moments that I will treasure the most. 

Scott and I walking to the base of the mountain to start our hike!! Love.

Of course we had many photoshoots on the way up.... Scott is holding up that huuuge rock AND me on top!! Haha.

View of Chimbote

View of the Isla Blanca/the ocean (this is only halfway up)

We made it!!!!!!

Resting at the top!!

David’s Peruvian Short Story

David!!

 I think that first and foremost it must be said that Scott and I were dying to see Katie. Two years ago we all graduated from St. Louis University together, and after a fabulous final semester, she was whisked off to some relatively unknown place to fulfill some grandiose dream. Besides pictures on Facebook and words through Whatsapp (thank God for technology), we had not seen our caring, sassy, and fun-loving amiga in the flesh since, well, forever. Agreeably Scott and I would search the world over to be with our best friend, and fortunately we had to venture to an unvisited corner of South America to find her.

While in Peru I experienced SEVERAL unforgettable, beautiful, iconic, picture-perfect moments where I felt like I was experiencing the epitome of life. For instance: dancing around campfire on the beach, learning synchronized movements from ‘Combate’; drinking a pitcher of Sangria in a stylish plaza in Lima, discussing life and what-not with friendly strangers; standing on top of a mountain, getting sunburnt but also reveling in my physical health and accomplishment; ALL in the presence of good company and my best friends. Could life be any better when you’re 23? It was thrilling and liberating, and Katie did such a phenomenal job of showing us aspects of Peruvian culture. Undoubtedly these are life-making memories I will cherish. 

Hanging out, singing songs, talking and laughing

Good friends, good food, good music!! All around a beach campfire

Scott, me, and David by the bonfire

Cheers!!!!

Cheers!!!!

Cheers!!!! Some friends we made at dinner one night in Lima.

Our whole group at the top of the mountain!!!!

However, if I had to choose one defining moment from my trip, it would be this one:

When most foreigners visit Peru, they go to Cuzco and walk the Incan trail. Katie, however, is a missionary with the Incarnate Word Sisters, and as such her daily life does not involve putzing around the lush rainforests and taking pictures of llamas. She lives in fish-smelling Chimbote, serving as a nurse and providing hospice care with limited resources. I am NOT a nurse, and most days I am very fine with not seeing extremely sick people who need my full attention. BUT a trip to see Katie means experiencing her livelihood, and her life is made complete by her patients. Most of them are older individuals in their final stages of life, and as we ventured from house to house on our job-shadow day she explained what was ailing them.

My co-worker Edward with Scott, David, and my patient Teresa

Edward and I with Teresa

Me and Julia!! Who you all have seen pictures of a million times because I'm in love with her.

Again, I am not the most comfortable with illness and disease, but I can endure and help as needed. I gave massages to frail women, bathed older gentlemen, and assisted Katie in cleaning cancerous wounds on a woman’s face. No problems what-so-ever. HOWEVER, I almost tossed my cookies when we saw her youngest patient living in one of the worst parts of Chimbote. Katie has been robbed several times while attempting to visit her, and as such she worried more about getting us safely into the house rather than prepping us for the state of the patient. I had no qualms, and quickly and quietly followed her up the open-air stairs to reach the patient’s room. I was expecting to see an older person on a small cot, the sight I had seen in every other home. What I saw, though, was pretty pink Disney princess room with a young mother and her baby. The mother obviously looked healthy; her daughter was like an alien from a sci-fi movie. Her body was tiny while her head was swollen in the shape of a flattened watermelon. The brown hair looked like fuzz, and the tightened skin from the enlarged head showed veins and squeezed her little eyes shut. The moment was surreal, and I stood there in complete shock. ‘What happened?’ I thought. ‘WHAT happened?’ Thank God I was not the nurse, for I was rendered completely useless in that moment. Katie, on the other hand, simply walked up and kissed the baby’s pancake head, all the while saying “Hello, beautiful!” She and the nurse assistant attended the baby, doing what I am not quite sure (admittedly I completely blocked out that time and tried to distract myself with other thoughts). I was so startled and unsettled.

Me and Alisson, the baby. She is 1.5 years old.

Me and Alisson

Me and Roxana, Alisson's mom. She is 25 years old, my age.

Mama and baby!!!! Roxana and her little Alisson. She loves her soooo much and does everything she can to take such good care of her.

I thought hospice care was only for the elderly. NOT babies. But then, as I regained the capacity to link thoughts,I reasoned that sometimes people lead VERY short lives and still need care in their dying days. Katie later explained that this little girl was a miracle, as the baby had lived over a year in her unearthly condition. It all seemed so tragic and unfair to me. Babies should not be in this state and should not require this kind of care. But, unfortunately, some do.

In that moment I truly realized and remembered why Katie came to Peru. I enjoyed the country immensely, finding the majority of people to be lively and open. Again, I created memories that will last a life time. But I am most grateful to Katie for sharing with me her devotion and passion, and I am truly inspired by the difference she is making in the world. Most people in Chimbote do not have much, and Katie has little to work with. However, the most important thing is that she continues to give her all. Now that I am back in the USA, I can only be more thankful for the resources available to me, and I hope to make better use of all that I have been given.

Some other pictures from Scott and David’s trip:

David and Scott, Bienvenidos a Casa Mana, We hope you enjoy your stay!!!!

Best friend love!!

In front of the Isla Blanca and the fishing boat port of Chimbote

David and Scott in the Chimbote Plaza de Armas!!

Beach Volleyball!!!!!!

Go volleyball Team USA!!!! + Peruvian friend Elmer... haha. Scott, Elmer, David, me, Kyle, and Jackie.

Tent confusion.... Where does this pole go again????

Snack attack in our tent!!!!

Group shot by the fire

We hiked up a small hill overlooking the beaches

Playing in a cave that we found

Our whole beach campout group!!!!!! So much fun. 

Scott, me, and my friend Alejandro 

Out dancing!! Nataly, Fiorela, Mayumi, Alejandro, me, and David

Dancing the night awayyyyyy

Halfway up the mountain

Hiking and hiking and hiking.....

David, Kyle, Scott, and Clare resting on the way up

Looking out at the view!!

The Stations of the Cross re-enactment

Stations of the Cross

Before Easter mass

Murder Mystery Party!!!!

In-character photo shoot

True love

Aphrodite and the two brothers

The whole group!!! Clare, Hannah, Bridget, David, Katie, Scott, me, Kyle, and Jackie

Greek God(des) Murder Mystery Dinner = Success!!

Our last day together - enjoying a beautiful afternoon on the coast in Lima!!