How quickly does the sun and moon change positions and, yet, despite the velocity of the change in days, I have found that many of these days are filled with lasting moments where I can pause and truly relish in the the fact that I am living in a beautiful valley in the Andes. Even more so, to reflect on the loving community here, that within these few weeks I have already been shown a humbling amount of generosity and care.
The gift of community has reminded that relationships are what truly enrich any person´s journey--service related or not.
I saw the impact of true, authentic relationships when Sarah and I attended the despedida (goodbye party) of the outgoing volunteers. We are sad to see them go, but hearing their words of thanks and reflection over their experience (both the good and hard times) created a looking-glass for me to see how a service journey has the ability to truly impact a volunteer. These three outgoing volunteers have fallen head-over-heels, deeply in love. A love that is not rooted in selfishness or vainity, but springs from the essence of who they are as an expression of peace, as an action of presence, and as a recognition of the dignity of the people in Andahuaylillas and of the people in Perú.
Moments like these, the glimpses into how this time has molded and affected other volunteers, makes my heart swell with gratitude that I am on this journey. It´s humbling, really.
In this act of love, we have been welcomed into this small, Andean community. Though we are here to love and serve, these actions are reciprocal. The tearful goodbyes from the outgoing JVs show the deeply profound, mutual service relationship between our community of volunteers and the larger Anda community. As volunteers, we do not just serve others, we are also, and often, served by others. Which is such a simple and obvious thing to state, but is equally important to recognize. It is very impactful to be the receiver of such generosity…again, a humbling experience.
Here are some photos to give an idea of the love and care I have been shown and given both in Bolivia and Perú.
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| Dancing the Cueca with Andresito (my host-nephew) in Bolivia |
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| Dancing more Cueca with Ely (my host mom) and Rolando (host dad) and Rocio (friend) play the music! |
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| Rolando and Rocio! |
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| My Bolivian birthday party...one month early :) |
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| Ely, Andresito y yo |
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| Cusco |
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| Llamas! (and Alpaca) |
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| Mallory (outgoing volunteer), Susan (my community-mate) and me overlooking the valley we live in! |
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| More of the Andes |
We spent Christmas Eve attending (and participating in) Mass at an upper community of Andahuaylillas. The valley towns, like Andahuaylillas, have communities situated in the upper hills above the town. These communities, though separate, feed into the parish and schools in the valley. Fr. Oscar, the priest in Andahuaylillas, visits these upper communities (and other nearby communities) to give Mass. Since it was Christmas, we also brought hot chocolate and bread to hand out.
When we arrived, one of the children shouted out, ¨Theresa!" He was a young boy, named Jefferson, who eats at the comedor (the cafeteria) in the parish. I can tell you, and I will use something Sarah has said, that there is nothing more affirming than having a child shout out your name. That, in it of itself, was a great Christmas gift!
After returning from the community (where we, also, tasted cuy aka guinea pig) we ate Christmas dinner with the sisters and quickly dressed up for the live nativity scene. We sat outside church before Mass and then were asked to step to the front of the congregation during the Gospel reading. It was a great way to spend Christmas.
Here are some photos from that night!:
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| Brian and Susan as Joseph and Mary |
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| We were the live nativity scene! (with Fr. Oscar) |
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This is my JV community (Susan, Brian, and Sarah) and this is how we spent Christmas! |
More photos to come from the adventures of this month!
Un abrazo fuerte,
Theresa
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