Building houses in La Legua

Most of the missionaries that came to Santisimo Sacramento will have an opportunity to build houses for the villagers. This is an experience of a life time. Not only do we learn about materials and construction, we learn a little bit about sustainability and the family of La Legua.

Building supply store where we can purchase bamboo poles, bamboo mat, prefabricated doors, plywood, wood, zinc roof, nail, and wires.

Loading bamboo poles, bamboo mats and doors from the local supply store.

Construction crew ready for action. Materials needed for one house.

Unloading

Bamboo walls 

Front and back doors.

Missionary from St. Anne with the Peruvian family who will be staying in this future new house.

Discussing how to put up the front wall.

Getting wood for the partition.

Making partition for the house with Jake.

Putting plywood on the partition frame.

Nailing and securing the corner of the frame.

Putting up bamboo pole to support the zinc roof.

Interesting fruits and vegetables at the market

Whenever I am free, I like to explore outside the parish to see and learn new things. This is the market where the store displays their wares, in this case; fruits and vegetables. There are quite a few stores that I find it interesting. Below are the pictures taken in the market.

It's amazing that the soya sauce choices is much more than that found in the grocery store like Safeway, Lucky, Raley's or Trader Joe in Newark, California.

maiz morado - main ingredient in making chicha morada

A type of passion fruit: granadilla 

Aguaymanto

mosquito repellent?

Peruvian Indigenous potatote varietals

Olives!

Pacay aka ice cream bean - a legume. Each seed is wrapped in a white sweet vanilla-ly pulp which has a cotton candy texture.

Before I Leave

 Before I left, I had a lot more experiences in the market, the beach, and the final dinner.

At the market at Catacaos, a town about 1 km south of Piura, there was a fairly large market that sold many souvenirs, snacks, and paintings. This was an open market that spanned one street, and everyone found a gift suitable for their relatives and friends back home! The market was extremely cheap and I even learned how to bargain down there, as I managed to bargain a wooden puzzle from 5 sols down to 3 sols using my limited Spanish. There were especially tons of pottery and statues at the market, including many nativity scenes, reflecting on the extremely devout and admirable nature of the residents.

Missionaries from St. Anne buying pottery from the market

Necklaces and other bracelets in the market

I went to the beach a second time, this time with the nurses from Marquette and Shannon from Montana. This time, I dressed more appropriately and wore a t-shirt and shorts so that I could play soccer on the beach and have more fun than I did last time, when I wore jeans and could only get ankle deep into the water!

Playing soccer at the beach

I also got to experiment more with the lunches, since we decided to order several different plates of food this time and share among ourselves. Even though the fish and chips, chicken kebabs, and different varieties of grilled foods looked extremely appetizing, I found myself drawn back to the amazing ceviche that the restaurant at the beach made! I'm pretty sure that it was better the second time because I had worked up an appetite!

Eating lunch at the beach

After I came back from the beach, I spent the evening before mass hanging out with the Chira family, Yolanda, Alehendro, and Jesus to talk about their living conditions and what I could do to help them when I came back to the United States. We had an amazing conversation with Shannon as our translator, and their words confirmed what I had already learnt: being adopted by a family in the United States helped them a lot and allowed them to improve their quality of life since they could spend money on other necessities other than food.

Interviewing Yolanda and her family with Shannon as the translator

Teaching the Alehendro and her elder sister  how to use the iPad

Finally, at dinner, I got to meet the 49er's coach Jim Harbaugh and have an amazing conversation with him! Its so nice of him to take time off of his busy schedule to help the people of Piura and inspire them as well as teach them football!

I wish I could have stayed longer and hung out with him to build houses and deliver food and materials and supplies to families with the people that stayed here now. Since the parish is now mostly filled with the team from the medical mission, there can be a closer relationship between those that are not with the medical mission. I really regret that my trip was only two weeks and definitely plan on staying longer next time!

Eating dinner with Jim Harbaugh!!

VIllages in Piura

Most of the villages in Piura, Peru have houses made from either bamboo or locally available materials. The residents built houses wherever they like and they abandon the houses when they move out. There are no proper sanitary system or garbage disposal. You can see garbage on the side of the road wherever you travel. The road system are mostly unpaved road. So, it is quite a bumpy ride to visit all these villages.

I have the opportunity to visit some of the villages on the outskirt of Piura, Peru.

Rural Piura

On the way to build houses; view from the back of the trunk

The parish of Santisimo Sacramento constantly helps the residents of  San Jacinto, La Legua, La Piedra and other districts.  They coordinate and send some its missionaries out to help build houses. These houses are for villagers that don't have enough resources or supplies to have a decent home. This service is made possible through donations from the US. Many families that can't build their own homes are still waiting patiently for their new homes. Usually, a single home can be put up within a day and lasts for 8 years, a very good investment. It is a much bigger and better than the previous house. Each house is made with a tin roof, bamboo mats for walls, bamboo beams for the supporting structure, and wooden frames to ensure that the house is sturdy.

Bamboo supply store

Different types and quality of stoves that the family uses before getting help from the missionary.

Cooking food with a simple stove on the ground.



Using empty oil drum as table to put the stove at waist level for easier cooking.



Stove donated by the sponsored family.

Donations also improve the quality of life. This means that with only $25 a month, a family can spend less on food and more on other supplies such a refrigerator. All of us take refrigerators for granted, but a fridge to a family means they are able to prevent food from spoilage.  They can enjoy cold drinks and a wider variety of fresh foods too.

Pots and pans are hung on the bamboo wall. Kitchen opens to the back of the house.

Pots and pans are nicely piled up on the makeshift stand.

A fridge! One of the family has a refrigerator at their house. 

The money is donated by their sponsor from United States.

Different  stages of living quarters of the Peruvian villages. Most of the houses are in stages of  dilapitation because they could not afford to repair and upgrade their house.

Typical house in the village.

Bedroom with part of the roof fallen.

Narrow walkway from the kitchen to the front of the house. Space is enough for only one person to walk through. Bedroom is on the left.

Nicer bedroom with mosquito nettings. Money donated by families in the United States.

Peruvian children at the village.