Day 5 Tour de Piura

Buenos Dias!

Hoy es Jueves (Thursday) and we are still writing to catch up. Since we are only a twosome, we have some flexibility in kind of doing what we want. Most people here are with a larger group that determines their daily activities. Being just a pair is both an advantage and disadvantage. The advantage is we have some freedom to choose what and where we like to go. We do not have a group leader determining our daily schedule. The disadvantage is that we are not attached to a large group who is offered tours of the church's facilities and the Peruvian health care system. But, because Kathleen is so outgoing and has a connection to Marquette, we have made friends with the Marquette nursing groups; both are extremely generous in inviting us to join them in tours, presentations, meals, mass, etc.

On Monday, we joined the new group in a tour of the hospital and nursing home.
The hospital could be used as a scene in a 1920s movie. The OB wing had a room where 4 women could be in labor at a time and the delivery room has 2 delivery beds. The mothers stay 24 hours after birth in a four bed room. They dress their newborns so warm I wanted to take off a few layers. A few of us decided that maybe they are able to tolerate this heat because they are conditioned literally from birth. Because this is such a conservative Catholic society, there are many, many births. Abortion is not legal and adoption is very uncommon. Many of the women are not married and birth control is up to the male.

Often times the men do not want to be fathers and leave after a pregnancy is known. The church, via Ceceila, a midwife, offers counseling and pre-natal care to any expectant mother. She runs a first come, first serve clinic and often has 3-4 mothers waiting at any given time.

The nursing home, on the other hand, was absolutely beautiful. It is owned and run by an order of nuns. The entryway, dining rooms, visiting rooms and gardens were shiny and spectacular. Their sleeping rooms made my dad's room at Grancare look like the TajMahal. They had 2-3 beds per room with a nightstand by each bed. I don't know where they kept their clothes. There were no personal items or pictures to be seen. Dad has pictures and personal all around him. I know I have said it before, but the people here are very non-materialistic.

In the afternoon, we went to Vida Nueva (new life) a men's home for Alcohol and Other Drug rehabilitation. The church owns and runs this. The men all introduced themselves (like at a real meeting) and a few gave testimonials. They follow a similar 12 step program to AA. They live in a primitive facility with only well water. The facility is free and they are free to leave at any time, however, once they leave they may not come back for 6 months. There are programs to help them physically, mentally and spiritually and they must perform some tasks while there. It sure sounds like there is a lot of drug and alcohol use here, starting at a young age. The success rate of the program is only 25%.

As we do most evenings, we shower before mass at 7, eat dinner at 8, then visit and share experiences with others before turning in. The large groups often have reflections and/or prayer meetings. I use the time during mass to reflect on my day as there is very little I understand, except we enjoy the music and clapping for celebrations of many kinds:)

I hope those of you who are able to find our blog are enjoying it.
Take care,
Cathy (and her amazing daughter, Kathleen)