soon i'll be home. right at the moment its sounding really good. but i'm still working! and of course i'm still taking pictures. my last posting was of work in ollanta and the remarkable washi and carlos. i hope you've had a chance to take a peak. if not, scroll on down. all the work here is amazing, actually the people are whats amazing. sometimes its frustrating to not be able to do as much as you want, or to do what you think needs to be done, or for that matter fast enough to see visible changes. it is just so different. there are times i am overwhelmed by the poverty and don't have anyone to talk to about it. but, in saying that, i remember what my friend rita wrote me about a boy throwing all the jelly fish back into the sea and when someone asked him what in the world he was doing, he replied he may save just one. and everyday i know what i'm doing makes a difference even if just for a second to someone. thank god! considering how much i have given up to be here, i'm thankful when i make a tiny difference here. so i wanted to post some more about sipascancha and a little on the centro de salud in colquepata. finally after that i have a few shots of the emergency room at antonio lorena.
these photos of sipascancha are from about a week ago and heres abit of background:
they are building a new school of adobe. when they mix the adobe, they take a horse and lead him around and around in circles, mashing and mixing it all together. men of the community all volunteered there time. they have a mold they use and in this they put the wet mixture. they smooth it all around, remove the mold and do it all over again. they still have over 5 times more bricks to make.![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/making%20adobe.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adobe.jpg)
When i get to sipascancha or if i step into the primary school, these kids run to meet me, everyone wants to take your hand, or latch on to each leg. they call me 'laurita'. most speak quechua and are learning spanish. in spite of the poverty they live in, they are always happy. some always have there pants falling off and you can see their little butt cracks. they have few clothes and i can't imagine why they aren't obviously freezing to death. i am all bundled up once the sun drops behind the mountains. but while they have hats, they wear their ahokas or traditional sandals, never have socks, or coats and the little girls often wear skirts. they don't have underwear.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adellas%20class.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/pretty%20girl.jpg)
pretty girl!
we've been teaching hygiene, both personal, in the home and on the property. the houses are of adobe and have dirt floors. there is very little light. the cocina is often separate from the sleeping quarters. and many times the cuy live in the cocina, ie., guinea pigs. they don't have running water or the water they do have plumbed from a lake is not potable. some families have even less. they may sleep all together. there is so much dust there. they have no refrigeration and may have lights, but not all families. so it adds up to this: they have few clothes, so often they are dirty. it is so cold in the mornings and evenings, they rarely strip down for a full bath. many times they don't even possess soap or shampoo or toothbrushes. in the homes the dust gets everywhere. it contaminates the food they they don't keep covered. there is very little light and lots of bugs. on the property, they often have livestock and while encouraged to keep them separated, many times they graze and shit where the kids play. they are ignorant about trash. and there is so much plastic here. so the result is sickness many times. the little kids have worms and swollen bellies. whole families come into the clinic with 'razca razca', or itching, often from bugs in the bedding. warts are very common. so back to the teaching. we've taught both the adults and the kids. 3 times! i have been given toothbrushes, shampoo, toothpaste by friends--(thank you best western in toppenish and diane and paul and karla!) as well i purchased alot with the money donated at christmas time. during the classes we use a puppet, (rita la enfermerita) we demonstrate the techniques. we try to come up with solutions to real problems, like bathing in the cold, (ie., leave the water in a tub outside during the heat of the day and bath after school...) adella in the primary class has little towels for each child and a comb, toothbrush and soap. when they arrive, if not clean, clean themselves and before they eat and after they use the bathroom, they wash their hands. pavela has drawings of a home thats filthy, and one thats clean and the adults discuss the differences. we talk about setting an example for their kids and having respect for their bodies. so with all this, i can see a bit of a difference. especially since we started visiting the homes. (we told them we would be making surprize visits!)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/using%20the%20stuff.jpg)
the evidence!!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adella.jpg)
adella and the kids visitng the houses.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/clean.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/clean%20house.jpg)
not spotless, but definitely cleaner!
one night a group got together to show me the some of the traditional medicinal herbs they gather and ways to use them and prepare them. this is hard for me sometimes. i certainly believe in the use of the herbs. they can be effective and it represents their culture. and i think its important to keep their traditional practices intact and to pass them onto to the younger ones. but in saying that, the facts are also the climate is extreme, there is malnutrition, dirty water, they get sick and sometimes really sick. so, i use the medicines also....
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/old%20woman%20with%20herbs.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/retama.jpg)
this is retama or scotch broom! they use it for arthritis and make a salve from it.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/muna.jpg)
this is muna. its used for itching. and also by inhaling the scent, its said to help with altitude symptoms.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/manzanilla.jpg)
it doesn't look like camomile, but it is. its for stomach problems, gastritis, etc.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%201.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%202%20santa%20maria.jpg)
this one is santa maria and i forgot what its for! and i can't find my notes for the life of me!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/eucalipto.jpg)
eucalipto..not native to peru but from australia. nonetheless its used for salve for the chest with ajo, or garlic. and for mates to treat colds, bronchitis, etc.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%203.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%204.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%205.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%206.jpg)
these all have names in quechua....and i can't find my notes!
so i went to the centro de salud in colquepata. when they asked me to start going there the weeks i was up in the mountains, i said, sure, but i also asked how i would get there. i was assured i would either be able to go in a combi or by 'moto', but i ended up having to ride the worlds worse bike on the worlds bumpiest road...for about 2 1/2 hours! (and the next day when i came back to open the clinic on market day, again i was assured,'oh, yes, there would be a combi at 6AM'; well i rode the bike AGAIN on very sore ischial tuberosities, but thankfully hitched a ride with a truck heading to the market after i had ridden half way. it was pretty, but jesus, bumpy! what little flab i have left in my arms jiggled all the way...a few times i thought to myself, 'now, look at this, you are riding thru the andes, forget the fact you are at some incredible altitude, on a bike that won't switch gears, sitting on the worlds worse seat and inhaling more dust than in a dust storm, for god's sake!' i couldn't believe it. what a trip! colquepata is very pretty and so quiet. no tourists go there either. the clinic was very nice. they have a beautiful rose garden. there are 2 women doctors there and two nurse technicians. they want me to help with weighing and measuring the kids, and to teach classes with the local health promoters. i really liked it...and now i ride a taxi for the outrageous sum of 60 soles...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/on%20the%20road.jpg)
on the road to colquepata.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/nurse%20techs.jpg)
the nurse tecnicians.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/lab.jpg)
the little lab...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/birth%20bed.jpg)
this sad little place is where the women have their babies...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/dental%20room.jpg)
the dental room...maybe once a month the dentist comes.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/exam%20table%20colquepata.jpg)
exam room
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/beds.jpg)
this is where they keep the people who are sick needing attention. beds for kids and adults.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/garden.jpg)
the garden!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/new%20rooms%20for%20moms.jpg)
here they are in process of building rooms for the pregnant women to stay as they near delivery. because they come from so far, they need a place to stay until they give birth.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/in%20the%20truck.jpg)
riding in the truck back to the village after hitching a ride
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/weaver.jpg)
josiah, this is the woman whos weaving the bag for you!
so the last entry for today...i worked in the emergency room yesterday at antonio lorena. you can see, it lacks luster! the patients seem to stay in here awhile. when they need medicines, the family first has to buy them from the pharmacy, inc the syringe, if necessary and then the nurses give the medicines. while i was there students from the local med school were making rounds on the pts. many were some form of trauma. they told me they have no emergency room doctors regularly working but have doctors they call when they receive a patient. recently they were donated 2 defibrillators. they wanted me to show them how they worked. they were locked up on the top shelf, for fear they would be stolen. such a shame. i tried to explain to them they needed to have them ready to go! well, i discovered when setting one up to show the operation and maintenance, they didn't have a transformer for it. luckily i found one, but, it can't stay in the emergency room. (apparently 3 defibs were donated with one tranformer...) they had no electrodes, and no extra paper and no manual...i showed them anyway and when i was done, they put it back in the locked cupboard...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/the%20emergency%20room.jpg)
the emergency room.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/the%20trauma%20room.jpg)
heres the room for trauma pts. all the equipment is terribly outdtaed. this was where i was trying to get them to put one of the newer defibrillatora.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/nurses.jpg)
some of the nurses.
so friends for now thats all. i'm tired! i was able to locate quite a few addresses that had been previously lost at the point i was still using the public computers, so i will make sure you all know there's an entry. of course, pass it on if you think others will be interested. plans still stand to return home in august for 3 months to work and do some speaking and hopefully raise money to continue to buy medicines and supplies sorely needed. then if it all goes to plan i will be back here in november for another year. again if anyone has a idea about who might be interested in hearing more about this, email me. i really, really can't wait to see you all.
these photos of sipascancha are from about a week ago and heres abit of background:
they are building a new school of adobe. when they mix the adobe, they take a horse and lead him around and around in circles, mashing and mixing it all together. men of the community all volunteered there time. they have a mold they use and in this they put the wet mixture. they smooth it all around, remove the mold and do it all over again. they still have over 5 times more bricks to make.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/making%20adobe.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adobe.jpg)
When i get to sipascancha or if i step into the primary school, these kids run to meet me, everyone wants to take your hand, or latch on to each leg. they call me 'laurita'. most speak quechua and are learning spanish. in spite of the poverty they live in, they are always happy. some always have there pants falling off and you can see their little butt cracks. they have few clothes and i can't imagine why they aren't obviously freezing to death. i am all bundled up once the sun drops behind the mountains. but while they have hats, they wear their ahokas or traditional sandals, never have socks, or coats and the little girls often wear skirts. they don't have underwear.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adellas%20class.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/pretty%20girl.jpg)
pretty girl!
we've been teaching hygiene, both personal, in the home and on the property. the houses are of adobe and have dirt floors. there is very little light. the cocina is often separate from the sleeping quarters. and many times the cuy live in the cocina, ie., guinea pigs. they don't have running water or the water they do have plumbed from a lake is not potable. some families have even less. they may sleep all together. there is so much dust there. they have no refrigeration and may have lights, but not all families. so it adds up to this: they have few clothes, so often they are dirty. it is so cold in the mornings and evenings, they rarely strip down for a full bath. many times they don't even possess soap or shampoo or toothbrushes. in the homes the dust gets everywhere. it contaminates the food they they don't keep covered. there is very little light and lots of bugs. on the property, they often have livestock and while encouraged to keep them separated, many times they graze and shit where the kids play. they are ignorant about trash. and there is so much plastic here. so the result is sickness many times. the little kids have worms and swollen bellies. whole families come into the clinic with 'razca razca', or itching, often from bugs in the bedding. warts are very common. so back to the teaching. we've taught both the adults and the kids. 3 times! i have been given toothbrushes, shampoo, toothpaste by friends--(thank you best western in toppenish and diane and paul and karla!) as well i purchased alot with the money donated at christmas time. during the classes we use a puppet, (rita la enfermerita) we demonstrate the techniques. we try to come up with solutions to real problems, like bathing in the cold, (ie., leave the water in a tub outside during the heat of the day and bath after school...) adella in the primary class has little towels for each child and a comb, toothbrush and soap. when they arrive, if not clean, clean themselves and before they eat and after they use the bathroom, they wash their hands. pavela has drawings of a home thats filthy, and one thats clean and the adults discuss the differences. we talk about setting an example for their kids and having respect for their bodies. so with all this, i can see a bit of a difference. especially since we started visiting the homes. (we told them we would be making surprize visits!)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/using%20the%20stuff.jpg)
the evidence!!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/adella.jpg)
adella and the kids visitng the houses.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/clean.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/clean%20house.jpg)
not spotless, but definitely cleaner!
one night a group got together to show me the some of the traditional medicinal herbs they gather and ways to use them and prepare them. this is hard for me sometimes. i certainly believe in the use of the herbs. they can be effective and it represents their culture. and i think its important to keep their traditional practices intact and to pass them onto to the younger ones. but in saying that, the facts are also the climate is extreme, there is malnutrition, dirty water, they get sick and sometimes really sick. so, i use the medicines also....
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/old%20woman%20with%20herbs.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/retama.jpg)
this is retama or scotch broom! they use it for arthritis and make a salve from it.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/muna.jpg)
this is muna. its used for itching. and also by inhaling the scent, its said to help with altitude symptoms.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/manzanilla.jpg)
it doesn't look like camomile, but it is. its for stomach problems, gastritis, etc.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%201.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%202%20santa%20maria.jpg)
this one is santa maria and i forgot what its for! and i can't find my notes for the life of me!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/eucalipto.jpg)
eucalipto..not native to peru but from australia. nonetheless its used for salve for the chest with ajo, or garlic. and for mates to treat colds, bronchitis, etc.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%203.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%204.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%205.jpg)
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/herb%206.jpg)
these all have names in quechua....and i can't find my notes!
so i went to the centro de salud in colquepata. when they asked me to start going there the weeks i was up in the mountains, i said, sure, but i also asked how i would get there. i was assured i would either be able to go in a combi or by 'moto', but i ended up having to ride the worlds worse bike on the worlds bumpiest road...for about 2 1/2 hours! (and the next day when i came back to open the clinic on market day, again i was assured,'oh, yes, there would be a combi at 6AM'; well i rode the bike AGAIN on very sore ischial tuberosities, but thankfully hitched a ride with a truck heading to the market after i had ridden half way. it was pretty, but jesus, bumpy! what little flab i have left in my arms jiggled all the way...a few times i thought to myself, 'now, look at this, you are riding thru the andes, forget the fact you are at some incredible altitude, on a bike that won't switch gears, sitting on the worlds worse seat and inhaling more dust than in a dust storm, for god's sake!' i couldn't believe it. what a trip! colquepata is very pretty and so quiet. no tourists go there either. the clinic was very nice. they have a beautiful rose garden. there are 2 women doctors there and two nurse technicians. they want me to help with weighing and measuring the kids, and to teach classes with the local health promoters. i really liked it...and now i ride a taxi for the outrageous sum of 60 soles...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/on%20the%20road.jpg)
on the road to colquepata.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/nurse%20techs.jpg)
the nurse tecnicians.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/lab.jpg)
the little lab...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/birth%20bed.jpg)
this sad little place is where the women have their babies...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/dental%20room.jpg)
the dental room...maybe once a month the dentist comes.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/exam%20table%20colquepata.jpg)
exam room
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/beds.jpg)
this is where they keep the people who are sick needing attention. beds for kids and adults.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/garden.jpg)
the garden!
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/new%20rooms%20for%20moms.jpg)
here they are in process of building rooms for the pregnant women to stay as they near delivery. because they come from so far, they need a place to stay until they give birth.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/in%20the%20truck.jpg)
riding in the truck back to the village after hitching a ride
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/weaver.jpg)
josiah, this is the woman whos weaving the bag for you!
so the last entry for today...i worked in the emergency room yesterday at antonio lorena. you can see, it lacks luster! the patients seem to stay in here awhile. when they need medicines, the family first has to buy them from the pharmacy, inc the syringe, if necessary and then the nurses give the medicines. while i was there students from the local med school were making rounds on the pts. many were some form of trauma. they told me they have no emergency room doctors regularly working but have doctors they call when they receive a patient. recently they were donated 2 defibrillators. they wanted me to show them how they worked. they were locked up on the top shelf, for fear they would be stolen. such a shame. i tried to explain to them they needed to have them ready to go! well, i discovered when setting one up to show the operation and maintenance, they didn't have a transformer for it. luckily i found one, but, it can't stay in the emergency room. (apparently 3 defibs were donated with one tranformer...) they had no electrodes, and no extra paper and no manual...i showed them anyway and when i was done, they put it back in the locked cupboard...
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/the%20emergency%20room.jpg)
the emergency room.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/the%20trauma%20room.jpg)
heres the room for trauma pts. all the equipment is terribly outdtaed. this was where i was trying to get them to put one of the newer defibrillatora.
![](http://pencilsforperu.blogspot.com/nurses.jpg)
some of the nurses.
so friends for now thats all. i'm tired! i was able to locate quite a few addresses that had been previously lost at the point i was still using the public computers, so i will make sure you all know there's an entry. of course, pass it on if you think others will be interested. plans still stand to return home in august for 3 months to work and do some speaking and hopefully raise money to continue to buy medicines and supplies sorely needed. then if it all goes to plan i will be back here in november for another year. again if anyone has a idea about who might be interested in hearing more about this, email me. i really, really can't wait to see you all.