Greeting Ministry

Wednesday, July 24, 2013
This morning was a little different than the other mornings because about half the group decided to wake up early for a 6:15am walk with Fr. Jack. For years, Fr. Jack would walk to the river every morning to say buenos dias to whomever he encountered. This became known as his "Greeting Ministry." Now that he is older the walk to the river usually only happens once or twice a week. We were grateful to experience this ministry. In true Fr. Jack fashion, he continued to tell stories for the entire journey stopping at various places of significance and recalling exact details. Fr. Jack is well respected and loved by the people of Chimbote, which was beyond clear during this walk. It was refreshing to start our day with some exercise and learn more about the sights, smells, and sounds of this city.

Today was another day for building houses and playing with children. The group from yesterday's house numero dos went back to finish building the walls of each room. The roof would be saved for the workers to accomplish. A third house was added to the project list since we were so productive yesterday. This house belonged to a man named Miguel who lived in La Quinta Natividad, which is a neighborhood for people with various handicaps. One of the parishioners who Anne had helped feed earlier in the week also lived in this quinta, so the group was excited to visit her again. Originally, the plan was to simply put up a wall and build part of a roof. However, with such a strong and determined work crew, they were able to build a roof over the entire house. Dot made a friend with an older gentleman who invited her into his home, which was fortunately equipped with cement walls, electricity, and water.

After completing these homes, some people spent the afternoon making chicken sandwiches and hot chocolate to be served at the Elderly Group meeting. This group meets once a week for support and prayer. Some of Sister Peggy's "Dollars for Scholars" recipients were there to assist us in the serving efforts. Eileen B. even found a 'Peruvian Pa.'

Another group went to teach English at El Corazon de Jesus, but ended up simply playing with the young children because no students had arrived.

When it was time for the kindergarteners to be picked up from school, a crying mother went over to Mary Brigh holding her sick baby. The mother was hysterical and tried to hand Mary Brigh the baby. Apparently this baby had heart problems and symptoms of pneumonia. The mother had taken the baby to the hospital the previous week and was told to come back if he got worse. Unfortunately, she had no money to make the trip again and nobody to watch her other two children. We quickly handed her the necessary 50 soles, which is only about $20, and promised to watch her children at the parish until her sister could come pick them up. She got into a taxi, and we made Kevin (5 years) and Paula (3 years) feel right at home in the Kenney family. Paula was a bit shy at first, but eventually warmed up to everyone.

After dinner, we all participated in a variety of activities. Jack, Liam, Charlie, and Emmett went to el campo to play soccer with some of the locals while others went to the supermarket. Mark, Anne, and Kassy attended Mass where they were blessed with several sleeping children on their laps. Finally, a crew stayed back with some of the long-term volunteers to hang out and enjoy some Baileys.

Un Temblor and The Shirt Off Their Backs

Tuesday, July 23, 2013
After an emotionally exhausting Monday, we were ready for some sleep in order to prepare ourselves for the work ahead. Everyone awoke on Tuesday determined to make a difference, although not without questions about the rumble that was felt at 4:48am. Yes, most of us experienced our very first temblor (EARTHQUAKE) deep into the night. The strong Peruvian quake started 49 miles below ground level with a 4.6 magnitude. Many of the boys slept right through it, while almost every gal in the ladies' dormitory was up to discuss. Others simply incorporated the shaking into their drowsy dreams. This trip is certainly an adventure every step of the way!

With so many people in our group, we had to divide and conquer to accomplish this epic task. From repairing homes to teaching children to helping at the prevention center to cooking in the soup kitchen, there was an assignment to match everybody's strengths or push them outside their comfort zone. We split up into teams based on needs and interests. Then, it was off to work!

House Numero Uno (Mark, Mike, Dot, Eileen B., Jack, Maeve, and Emmett)
The first family to be helped consisted of a mother, father, and four children. The mother and possibly one child are infected with AIDS while another child has special needs. The father was not around during the day as he was working outside the home. The project was to transform the bathroom into a bedroom for the boy with special needs. According to the Peruvians, Jack was "muy mal" or very bad at hammering (again...we are stepping out of our comfort zone). Because certain materials are expensive, it was time to get creative when building. Bottle caps are used like washers as the nails are hammered through the estera, a type of material used to build walls. What an ingenious idea; we will forever view bottle caps differently. The group also spent time reading books to the girls, and Dot even showed them some photos of her home in Seattle. The children were fascinated by this and kept some of the pictures. This hard-working group finished the project in one day allowing the boy to sleep in his own room for the first time and another family to benefit from their work the next day.

House Numero Dos (Colleen, Jim, Anne, John, Erin, Liam, and Charlie)
The second family consisted of a forty-year old woman with three children ages 19, 16, and 6. Sadly, the woman was abandoned by her husband. The oldest daughter worked at a hotel as a small source of income. The lot was rather large considering other houses we have seen, but it was in desperate need of  new estera and a roof. The entire home was receiving a makeover so the demolition began right away, making this a three day project. Our team had four locals guiding us as we recalled Spanish vocabulary words for construction such as sierra (saw), martillo (hammer), clavos (nails), and escalera (ladder). Just like the first group, we used bottle caps as washers when hammering nails into the estera. Additionally, we spent hours threading alambre (wire) through the estera. There was a bit of a tiff between Sosa (the man in charge) and his crew of local Peruvians. Apparently the estera was upside down, so he got upset, left, and we continued to work. There was work to be done, so that is what happened. Quite different than jobs in the States, right?!

Soup Kitchen (Maggie, Suzette, and Mary Brigh)
While part of the group built houses, another crew worked in the Soup Kitchen at the parish compound. Maggie, Suzette, and Mary Brigh made soup for 107 families. The soup consisted of pig hearts & lungs, potatoes, and rice. Some brave souls (Maggie) even tasted the pig heart and lung...what a trooper!

Kindergarten (Bil, Kassy, Emily, and Eileen R.)
In Chimbote, school is only half day for all grade levels. The younger children go to school in the morning and the teenagers go to school in the afternoon. Although their educational experiences may be lacking in some ways, it is brilliant that the start times are divided in this way. Developmentally it makes more sense for young children to begin school in the morning and older children to begin later in the afternoon. Kassy came prepared with many activities for the kindergarten classes such as making pinwheels and singing. Bill even pretended to be the pig during her rendition of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

Prevention Center (Bill, Mary Brigh, Suzette) 
Alcohol and drugs are certainly a problem in Chimbote, so the Friends of Chimbote mission have created a prevention center for the children whose parents are affected by such demons. The children at this center have absolutely no resources, so our volunteers had to get creative. Bill, Mary Brigh, and Suzette couldn't find any balls for the foosball table, so they used bottle caps instead. The foosball table consisted of figurines attached to boards with rusty nails. Someone found a jumprope, which made for some great fun. The children at the center continued to ask our volunteers for various items, so Bill and Mary Brigh literally gave the extra shirts off their backs.

*High of the Day*
The title of this post mentions giving "the shirt off their backs;" the theme of the past 24 hours. After Mass on Monday night, a gentleman was standing outside the church. This man looked somewhat familiar and we realized that we had seen him the night before, but with a great deal of facial hair. The man was now clean shaven and in dire need of new clothes. Without hesitation, Mike took the Dominican University (shout-out to Eileen B) t-shirt off and handed it to the gentleman. He was very grateful. The next night (Tuesday) was our Memorial Mass, so the church was filled with people. One man in particular stood out; the man with the Dominican University shirt. For most of Mass he stood to one side, but then joined everyone hand in hand for the "Our Father" and sign of peace. This man was also the very last person to leave our toast after Mass. Fr. Jack told us later that this was the very first time this man has walked inside the church for Mass and participated in a parish event. What an amazing transformation to witness!

Tour of the Friends of Chimbote Mission

Monday, July 22, 2013
Since Sundays are truly a day of rest, our first day out of the parish compound was on Monday. This day was reserved for touring all aspects of the mission including facilities for education, healthcare, social programs, and transformation. The mission statement reads "Friends of Chimbote is a faith-based organization dedicated to supporting programs that improve and transform the lives of the poor of Chimbote, Peru." (You can find more specific information about the programs on the Friends of Chimbote website).

We awoke around 7:30-8:00am to either attend morning prayer or eat breakfast before beginning our journey around Chimbote with Fr. Jack. Nothing could have prepared us for what was to come. We are beyond blessed to be in the presence of such a phenomenal human being with the kindest, most giving heart and soul. Fr. Jack is filled to the brim with insights and stories after 38 years here in Chimbote. With every step of the tour, Fr. Jack shared with us his memories, hopes, successes, and failures. He is a natural born storyteller; a gift which is precious and rare. Through these anecdotes, Fr. Jack's passion shines through and helps to transform his world into ours; even if just for a moment.

Chimbote is an intense place in every sense of the word. There is not an accurate way to describe the sights, sounds, and smells of this poverty-stricken city. Instead of attempting the impossible, here is a collection of pictures and captions to help you have a better understanding of what life is like here in Peru and how the Friends of Chimbote are bringing hope and joy to everyone they encounter.

The Kenney Clan ready for a tour of Chimbote

Fr. Jack beginning to explain the mission

Wheelchair donations waiting to be repaired

The Repair Man

Fr. Jack explaining how the salt corrodes all metal and paint 

Herman and Fr. Jack

Emily and Maeve 

Always riding in style

Sister Peggy's home

The horses and donkeys are an essential component to the Peruvian culture

The barrio from above reminds us of all we take for granted 

A stark contrast between the sports fields and roads

Trying to digest all the sights, smells, and sounds

Hope for the future

"Little by little we can change our lives for the better." 

Joy in the face of despair

Even the horses are ragged and tired

A pile of rocks waiting to be used for a new road

Chickens inside a home

Listening intently to Fr. Jack in one of three bibliotecas (libraries) in the parish

Families do not attend mass as a whole for fear of robbery

Learning the color song 

Kassy in her element

Kassy with Maria and her kindergarten class

Mark finds a new friend

Walking into the Medical Post 

Helping women to transform their lives 

Jorge Villar, ACAF Executive Director describes micro-lending 

Dot always breaking the rules for animals

By far the hardest working man in Peru...and I'm not talking about Fr. Jack

Luis asking for Fr. Jack's forgiveness after stealing a bike from the church

"Drugs and alcohol destroy lives."

The Drug and Alcohol  Rehabilitation Center 

The garden dedicated to Mama and Pa outside the Social Worker's Office

"It's NOT God's will that poverty exists."

Fr. Jack sharing personal stories about hospice care

The Hospice Center...truly a piece of heaven on earth and Fr. Jack's proudest SUCCESS!


"Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal."
-Saint Thomas Moore