Peruvian Orphanage

-Hey


I am safe and sound in Peru. The orphanage I am working at is in a small town called Chaclacayo, north of Lima by about an hour give or take another hour depending on the traffic, road blocks, any other given deterrent. The landscape is quite mountainous, but the mountains are not at all like the ones back in Sun Valley. The ones hear are not quite as big but the main difference is that they have not a single tree, bush, shrub, leaf, not anything. It is just rock and dirt, a plain gray covering the entirety of the mountain side. 


The people here are extremely kind and welcoming. I am the only white person when I go out into Chaclacayo or into Lima, and that is quite different but it is a good change of scene. I havent been eating all that much, but when I do the food is delicious:) For breakfast they normally serve just toast and a chocolately milk thing, which is pretty good. Lunch and dinner are much more hearty meals consisting of rice, always rice, lettuce, tomatoes, soup, a meat of some kind mostly pollo-chicken or pescado-fish. 


My work at the orphanage has been eye opening as far as the things that I have seen. I wont go into much depth because it is very disheartening, but every child here has a major issue that we are trying to help them with. Many have cleft lip, are missing an appendage or two or three, have severe burns, the list goes on and on. The children here deal with more pain and agony in a single day than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime. Not to mention that many of these children were found malnourished, abandoned, or left in the streets. Each day as I see more children and learn about their lives and what they have gone through, I feel so spoiled to have grown up in such a wonderful place with a great community. Don't take your blessing for granted- my advice to you.


Until next time, adios chicos


mo