Snippets of Life in Lima

Our Garden

What does a WSU Master Gardener do when the back courtyard of our apartment has a little bit of dirt? Well he gardens, of course! While our assignment here in Peru keeps us very busy, Rob enjoys doing a little "dirt therapy" if there is still some daylight left when we arrive home. This shady spot beneath the bougainvillea had a difficult time with a combination of low light and high heat. Cutting away overhanging branches from the neighbor's starfruit tree allowed in a little more light. Adding a huge bag of peat moss and cut up leaves and twigs from the bougainvillea, starfruit branches and other plants improved the soil texture. Add some ferns and shade loving tropical plants and now the flower bed is transformed. Rob loves to study his scriptures and grammar while sitting next to the sliding glass door that overlooks this side of the courtyard. And the geraniums have started blooming as well!

Training Workshop Ceremony

We also returned to the training center from our last blog post and had a formal ceremony associated with our donation of surplus computers to this training center. This is one of eleven such training centers in Lima and it is located in a neighborhood of southern Lima called Paraíso ("Paradise"). The photo of the homes on a hillside was taken outside of the training center. 

The director of all the centers was present and spoke during the ceremony. Sometimes it seems like, "Oh he's just the city's director for this program" and then we remember this city has 11 million inhabitants! That's the population of Washington State and Oregon combined so I guess that is a pretty big deal.

As was mentioned in our previous post, this area has a lot of family violence, adolescent pregnancy, abandoned mothers, and residents face many challenges not the least of which is a lack of job opportunities. The training center provides skills training to help people become more self sufficient economically and foster character attributes that can bring them greater opportunities. The computers will be used by most of the participants to augment their skills training with marketing and business tracking tools. Some will focus on computer repair and computer operational skills but for most it is an added bonus.

Jackie

Photo:  

*Jackie with her product in a neighborhood store.

We were able to meet Jackie who is a successful former participant of the training center. She was invited to the ceremony to share her success story. She has a similar demographic background to what we've described for the neighborhood and said that prior to participating in the workshop programs she only focused on all of her problems. The center helped her to realize that there were opportunities, even for a person like her with small children and a less than ideal personal situation. She knew that anemia in young children is a serious health problem in their neighborhood (of 50,000 people!) and she decided to make a tasty snack/cereal that was iron-fortified to help address this problem.

She makes it in her home and now employs three other single-mothers. She not only is doing her part to solve a health problem, but is providing employment and encouragement to others to look beyond their problems and see the opportunities that exist. She is an inspiration to others and a testimony to the success that is possible with this program. We were able to visit some nearby shopping areas to see and sample her product in the marketplace. She serves as her Ward Self-Reliance Specialist.

Contrast

The photos here contrast the roadways in San Juan de Miraflores where San Gabriel Alto and the skills training center is located, with those of La Molina, where we live and spend much of our time. Notice any difference? Both are in Lima.

Odds and Ends

We received a surprise package from the Spurgeons in East Wenatchee. Those who follow Brian's blog may remember he had a photo with some cookies they sent him some weeks ago. Well, the mail is slower getting to Peru than Brazil but we were pleased that they arrived and have been delicious. The seal-a-meal vacuum packaging let them travel remarkably well. It took nearly two months but we appreciate tasting your love. Thanks!

We also got to eat at the two Mexican restaurants in Lima over the last two Saturdays here. We finally were able to find them open after previous unsuccessful attempts. Mary is pictured with a tasty burrito from last week's outing to the Burrito Bar in Barranco, an area of Lima near the ocean.
We went with another missionary couple (The Prince's) and a couple of interns from BYU who are here in Lima.

The last photo is of a Peruvian lady who was over at our home this week and was knitting these beautiful socks to sell. I was amazed at how talented she was with the knitting needles.  She uses five knitting needles at a time to make these.