April 2
After a grueling 15 hours of flight time, we have arrived in Piura. My body's clock is so out of whack, I'm still slowly realizing that I am actually in Peru! We got off the plane around 8am and were immediately greeted with members of the church we're staying at. They had huge signs and were so elated at the sight of 30 missionaries coming to help their town.
Some of us piled into vans, others hanging on for life in the backs of trucks, we made our way to Santisimo Sacremento. The welcome there was completely overwhelming. As I walked through the archway, into the antechamber, I realize that the crowd inside isn't the daily churchgoers mingling after a service. They're all here for us. At least 75 people, women, men, children, mothers, elderly, cheering, singing, waving. I was flooded with so much emotion, I broke down and started to cry. What an amazing introduction for the rest of my journey here.
After many a "hello," "welcome," "thank you," and "god bless you," we were escorted upstairs to our living quarters by the resident priest, Father Joe. It's set up much like a dormitory. Most of the rooms are small rectangles with two bunk beds, concrete floors, and a rotating fan. We cleaned up, ate breakfast (a mixture of deli meats, fruit, scrambled eggs, bakery items, and cereal), and gathered to hear the day's itinerary. Father Joe announced that we'd be taking a tour of Piura and the various establishments he'd founded for the people there.
First stop was a village in one of the poor areas. I can't even call what they live in a "house." Dirt floors encased in sheets of wood with tin roofs all connected to one another. No plumbing, no running water, no electricity of any kind. Kids running around in the blazing sun with bare feet and minimal clothing. A baby bathing in a bucket of water. Culture shocked is putting it mildly.
The rest of the city was a bit easier for me to handle. We visited a hospice, school, men's rehab center, nursing home, and an orphanage for girls. All of these were built by Father Joe. That man is an absolute saint. He graduated from Notre Dame University and decided to become a priest. He's been in Piura for over 20 years now and has done so much for the people here.
Such an amazing day! Save for the gnarly sunburn. Getting ready for mass now (did I mention it's Holy Week? How rad?!), then dinner time. Tomorrow's our first day of building -- I'm so excited to get to work!
Dios te bendiga :)
Edit: Oh my goodness! Completely forgot a HUGE part of this day! There was an earthquake tonight! I was completely asleep and all of the sudden I start waking by a rumbling sound, then Linda's shouting "Alexa...ALEXA!" I jumped out of bed, running out the door of our room and into the courtyard. By the time everyone had gathered it was over. No one was hurt, it wasn't anything major, but still! Definitely a crazy way to start off this week, haha.
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