Letter from
Peru #10
Dear Friends... Queridos
Amigos,
Greetings from Chulucanas... and Frias. One of the most difficult
practical adaptations you have to make here is to the varied
climate. Sitting here in Chulucanas writing this letter, sweating
(at night) and the heat on the rise as we begin to approach the "summer" here
on the coast. Tomorrow morning I head back to Frias - 2 hours
drive into the mountains - where soon we'll be beginning again
the "winter" of rains... and damp cold. The weather
recently has been "confused"... hot when it should
be cold and cold when it should be hot.... wet when it should
still be dry. People are nervously talking about another "El
Nino" , or as it's known here "El Fenomeno". The
last "fenomeno"
was in 1998 and before that a major disaster hit in 1983 when
huge damage and destruction was suffered by the people. Basically
it means massive rainfall which washes away the crops and causes
untold suffering. Please say a prayer for the non-materialisation
of "El Fenomeno"!!
Recent weeks have pretty much been filled with visits to the
campo and some of our many rural communities. Most are VERY happy
to be visited and prepare with great enthusiasm, meeting in the
evening for prayer and sharing, re-gathering in the morning for
the celebration of Mass followed by shared food and a party,
with maybe a football match thrown in. Sometimes, though, the
reception is less enthusiastic. With communties, as with individual
people, there are the "weak" and the "strong" -
the challenge is to build up the weak! Always the wonderful children
keep us smiling as we move from village to village...
... thank God for the "little ones"
My companera, Sr Helen, in our visit to Putagas
Anyone who knows me well, or even a little bit, will know my
interest in food! Even though I've lost 10 kilos in a year I
feel fit, thank God, and mas o menos enjoy everything that's
put before me. Below is a typical plate in the campo from a shared
lunch....... delicious!
yuuummmmy !!
There are, however, one or two items that I meticulously try
to avoid. One of these is PIG, or "chancho" or "coche" as
known in these parts. Why?... because, without going into gory
details, their hygiene practices leave a lot to be desired. One
morning in the campo as I was washing outside the house I looked
at the huge pig wallowing in the mud and thought "thank
God (s)he's not for breakfast". Into the house I went to
find a plate of pig liver and gut with boiled maize awaiting
me....
.... nice piggy... but not for breakfast please!
We're in thie thick of elections once again - this time not for
El Presidente but for the Alcalde Municipal (the Mayor). It's
actually BIGGER than the national campaign. We have 6 candidates
in Frias. Nearly every house has been painted with the name and "party
colours" of their preferred candidate...blowing any chance
of electoral anonimity!! One candidate recently, addressing a
crowd in one of the villages, was suddenly attacked by a mob
from one of the other candidates - gun shots were fired in the
air and a brawl ensued. The man who fired the gun has since acted
as godfather for the baptism of one of the 5 children (all baptised
together 2 weeks ago) of the "attacked candidate"...
which I take to mean , like good Christians, they've put the
incident behind them!! We had an open
"foro politico" in the Church with all candidates presenting
themselves to the public. Very successful with over 500 people
attending.
the current mayor, Manuel Holguin
On a sad note I recently celebrated the funeral of the fourth
man in the parish - in a year - to be killed in a drunken stabbing.
It's a real problem here - the drink! Brewing their own fermented
cane juice ("canaso") and then consuming large quantities
coupled with carrying machetes and knives (the practice of campesinos)
makes for a dangerous cocktail.
funeral procession heading up to the cemetry
On a lighter note - which thankfully are a lot more frequent
- I've yet to come across anyone who spells my name correctly. "Dring"
was spelt on an official document as DRUIW, while the most bizarre "Kevin"
spelling was in a campo visit to Chupicarumy. Very touchingly
they'd decided to put a welcome sign over the Church door - Quevi's
in town...
I also was amused, and slightly concerned for the mother,
when I saw this oversized "calf" having a quick
hit of milk...
... shouldn't you be on solids by now ??
A few thoughts and images. I've now been a year here and
the time has passed incredibly fast. There've been plenty
of challenges but I constantly feel touched by the sincerity
and humility of the people I have the privilege to serve.
Thanks be to God and also for your prayers and support. Keep
well and hasta pronto amigos.
con afecto y rezos,
" Quevi Druiw"
Kevin
PERU POSTAL ADDRESS: Casa de la Fraternidad, Calle Cuzco
381, Chulucanas, Piura, PERU
For
Fr Kevin's address in Peru please email the webmaster : webmaster(AT)st-dunstans.org
To protect these and other addresses on this site the
@ has been replaced (AT). Please substitute the (AT)
with @ where necessary. |
