The first home visit

Well we finally got a little start with visiting the homes of the children at the chupaca project. Not all of the children live in a poor setting or environment but thís wasn´t the case for the frst home we visited.

Out of respect for the girl and her family i´ll just say here name is Lucy. The house isn´t far from the chupaca project as we were able to walk there. Along the way we walk down an unpaved road and a brown river. In front of lucy´s house were patches of semi fertile soil, one patch had fully grown corn. This seemed to be enough to provide some food but i wouldn´t presume it was enough for a whole year. Lucy had to run ahead to hold back a dog named Rambo, and i´m willing to bet we would have been eaten if Lucy hadn´t done this. well while waiting the door, a piece of flimsy sheet metal, to open i noticed there was no lock. also, someone could easily just jump over the door and be in Lucy's house. It was no wonder they needed vicious dog in front of their house.

When we entered, a expand Peru staff member, Lucy, and me, i saw dirt walls that could be entirely picked away with my fingernail. I had to duck because there was electrical wire hanging up to hold wet clothes for the sun and wind to dry. But there is no electricity running through those wires or the house and there is no running water. They have to use the river. There were two rabbits in two different rabbit cages, another dog, this one was much more friendly, and a one eyed little white duck. The house was completely uncovered except for three rooms (including the main room, there were a total of five rooms). The first room was the bedroom for Lucy and her brother to sleep. they each had their own bed but Lucy´s bed was a couch. around the room were boxes of clothes. it looked as if the family was all packed and ready to go somewhere, but they wern´t. We were there late in the afternoon and so the sun had started it´s descent. Yet, where the roof and the walls were supposed to meet, there was light sneaking in. the nights are getting colder here and sleeping in that room wouldn´t be very different than sleeping outside. Then we moved to the parents room and i could give the same description all over again. I wish i could say the same for the kitchen.

We walked over to a small corner with a blue trap. the holes in it made me think it could have been used for Target practice. I couldn´t imagine cooking there in a cold rain. There was no place to keep fresh meat clean and hidden from animals. everything has to be cooked over a little fire pit. i wondered how much it cost them just to cook their food as they would have to buy wood or charcoal each time.

I found out the father picks potatoes all day in a field when work is available and the mom washes clothes by hand all day long. The dad only brings in 20 soles for a full days work, about 7 dollars. I never found out what the mom earns but i don´t think it can be any more than what the dad makes. If they both have a fulls day work then i imagine that everything would be okay. but what happens what the dad or mom gets sick, injured, or work just isn´t available? where does the money then come from? Food prices in Peru are also on the rise but the wage of Lucy's parents isn´t.

This is a family on the edge of extreme poverty. When i walk down the street now i can´t help to think that some of the homeless and poor were not so different from Lucy. What would happen to Lucy and her mom if her father died.? My guess s that they would end up on the street. I don´t have a guess for how many people in peru are living on the edge and i can´t begin imagine living on the edge.

Well Lucy is living on the edge but until i went to her house, i never would have guessed it. She doens´t always listen, like all kids, but she is always smiling and laughing. her clothes are clean even though her mom has to wash them in the brown river. She likes to color, play games, and, when you ask her, help out.

At the moment i´m working with expand Peru to see what the family needs most. When my parents arrive with the donations in two weeks, something will be able to be done to help give this family a little support. thank you in advance to anyone who will help Lucy and her family!