Quick Chimbote update

Have been so busy an way too tired to blog everything!

The 2nd day a group of about 6 of us went to visit the hospice. Hospice is unique here because culturally the philosophy is that pain and suffering is natural at the end of life; and of corse te Hospice philosophy is to make as comfortable and pain free as possible an preserve dignity during last days if life. When we first arrived a woman was recieving her sacrament of Last Rites. She passed away and casket came in and casket came out. Burials are very fast in Chimbote because there is no embalming process. Then the family usually had about a month to save for a funeral. At the hospice we helped cut and fold gauze for dressings (in the states they come in pre packaged sterile bandages) and helped to lotion the skin of some residents. It was an indescribable experience for me because I originally planned to go to the school but at the last minute decided to try something a little different. I'm glad I did. I am not sure yet why I witnessed what I did but I know it was some reason. I will update more later on the house building!

Me and the kids after church. 

First full day in Chimbote, Peru

Yesterday we left Lima about 10 am for a long bus ride to Peru. It took about an hour to exit a city of 10 million!  Then another 6 hours up the coast of the Pacific to the city of Chimbote, a town of about 300,000. We were pleasantly surprised with the conditions of the bus!  I was expecting like rickety scary Indiana Jones bus with stray chickens clucking around:) It was a beautiful comfortable chartered bus. The volunteer coordinator for Friends of Chimbote, a 24 year old new college grad from Manchester, England, met us in Lima and has been assuring and translating for us. My college Spanish is coming in quite handy. I am so happy with all I remember and all I can understand!!!!!!  I don't conjugate many of the verbs correctly but people can understand what I'm getting at:):):);)

Here are so photos from the bus trip and first arriving in Chimbote

When we arrived the Chimbotanos were so welcoming and sweet, giving lots of hugs and kisses as we got off the bus and carrying our luggage. We are staying on the actual mission grounds in dorm style rooms. (None of the Chimbotanos live at the mission, they live in the barrios, except Maruja, the head cook, and Jaime, an older mentally retarded person). We have a bed, nightstand, lamp, and locker. Here is Karna sorting through her 95+ pounds of donations!

These beautiful crosses were made by Karnas father. Made with nails. I love them!!!!!!!!

Today we had opening prayer and breakfast. We eat all of our meals in the "Gringo room."  So far we've eaten spaghetti and garlic bread, rolls, eggs bacon, fresh fruit, BBQ chicken, rice, frenchfries, a broccoli chicken stir fry and green beans. They know what gringos like to eat!!!  Then we had an orientation, which was 5+ hour tour of the barrios of Chimbote with Katie, Fr Jack, and Jorge the Director of ACAF (social programs). 

I am even more excited and energized after learning more today. What drew me to Father Jacks mission is looking for more than just straight charity. I passionately believe that nothing is ever free, and simply giving money away is further handicapping. Friends of Chimbote has a strict policy that donations not be given directly to Chimbotanos. The mission is to transform the lives of the poor through education. Not just classroom education... There is daycare, early childhood, school tutoring, parenting classes, marriage support, drug rehab, vocational training, job training, and the newest program is micro lending... In short, for graduates of the "programs", a loan to start a business so they can use skills to make their own income.  WOW. There was cosmetology class, seeing/clothes making class, cooking/baking class, computer classes and more. Lucrative business possibility in Chimbote is the idea. Again, the testimonies of the adults in the classes so moving. And of course we visited the youth centers, and the barrios. The level of poverty was astounding. I was absolutely moved to tears. Here are the last photos of the day and hopefully I will blog more detail tomorrow. We start building homes tomorrow!!!!  Oh and I can't forget we spent some time in the school this evening(they go until 6 since siesta is 1-3) and they loved our photos of Jordy and Justin and singing songs with us. Hasta mañana, buenas noches!

The classes:

Arrived in Lima

Fundraised & Wedded Bliss!

Thanks to generosity of friends, family, and strangers, in 3 weeks I will be traveling to Peru on my very first mission trip!!!!

What started out as a priests vision and sister's ministry evolved into 26 people committing to travel and work for a week in the barrios of Chimbote, Peru.  Our group set a fundraising goal of $50,000, about $40,000 to cover the trip with about $10,000 to "do" something while we were there.  Today as a group we have raised over $64,000!!!!!  Pretty good for 6 months of fundraising, and that doesn't include the numerous donated items we will be taking along with us, probably 20 suitcases full!

With the funds we've raised, we will be building TWO houses and delivering 20 beds (with bedding) and 20 stoves.  It's an incredible feeling to be apart of all ready and I'm really looking forward to a complete giving to other people.

A lot of people have asked me if I'm "nervous" about the trip.  I am a little anxious about being gone from Jordy for 8 days, but nothing about the trip makes me feel nervous or unsafe.  I have always wanted to do something like this, and what moved me about this particular mission is there is a specific focus on helping people to help themselves.  Visitors are even asked not to give money or gifts; but rather to give of time, prayers, and materials.  The donations that are going down are collected by social workers who work directly with their families and assist with fulfilling the needs.  The programs are designed and intended to help folks get back on their feet and find vocations and professions they enjoy and will be successful in; and thus improve life for their family.  There is a HUGE emphasis on education, from preschool through adult education, parenting education, and more, which was another big draw for me.  It just jives with my personal philosophy that we better the world by bettering ourselves, and helping others to reach their own goals.

Why this trip will be good for me, too, is it's all about the unexpected and being flexible.  Going somewhere without much of a plan is a challenge in and of itself!  Can't even count on the showers or the electricity.... and since my idea of being outdoorsy is drinking on my deck, it should be interesting!  I am hoping to blog some updates while we're there through my phone, so stay tuned!


And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that tomorrow we are celebrating 5 Years of Wedded Bliss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I absolutely love being married to kindest person I have ever known.  Most people say that the first year of marriage is the hardest, but for us, it was this one!  Not because it was hard to be married...... that was actually the one nice constant we had in A LOT of craziness.  I haven't found a better feeling in the world than having someone who is always 100% on my team.  We subscribe to the philosophy that each of us give each other 100% all of the time.  Believe it or not, even a baby didn't change that.  We of course meet his needs, too, but have continued to promise each other that Jordy is not more important than either of us or our relationship.  I read somewhere the greatest gift you can give your children is to love their mom/dad and to give them a strong example of what being a partner in a relationship is.  That is something we are committed to doing for him and if we didn't make the conscious decision would've turned out differently.
It's probably easier to explain with an example... I'm not the most flexible person (see above).  I like schedules, routines, lists, order, cleanliness and organization!  Well living with a basketball coach all of that goes out the window.  I think it's important that Jordy and I are apart of what Justin does as much as we can.  So, yes, he misses bedtime to go to the games.  Yes, we rode on a bus with 20 20yearolds for 15 hours!  We are both becoming flexible; because not any one of us is more important the other!  And, there are only 2 people that can make this marriage work (well, 3: us and God!  but not our kids). 

Happy 5 Year Anniversary baby!  I love you more each and every day, even when you leave the microwave door open!!!!!  When I count my blessings, I count YOU twice!

 

I'd love to hear your input on living married, too!  Any tips, tricks, and advice????

Never be too busy to count your blessings.

Called to Serve Others

My friends, family, random blog readers, strangers in a grocery {liquor :)} store…

Some may have heard and some may not!  This July, I am headed to Chimbote, Peru with St. James Basilica as part of a mission trip.  Fr. Jack Davis has been serving the people of Chimbote since 1975. The mission is simply known as Fr. Jack’s Mission or Friends of Chimbote.

Chimbote is about a 6 hour drive northwest of Lima, the capital of Peru. This former thriving resort town on the Atlantic Ocean, known in the 1950’s as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World”, is now in extreme poverty.  The average YEARLY income of $300/person (no, I’m not missing a couple zeros) is unable to satisfy the basic needs of the population.  Daily a meal is served at the mission, often this is the only meal the people of Chimbote receive.   The cost of this meal is .30 per person, a total of 109.50 per year.  I don’t know about you, but far too often the Wieck weekly grocery bill is over $109!  Since 1975 the mission has created daycare, provides healthcare, opened a Hospice, and provides safe shelter for battered women.

In Chimbote, it costs $1.96 for a Well Baby Check Up!!!!!!!

March of 2013 a devastating rainfall hit Chimbote.  The little that was owned by the average Chimbotano is now lost. Friends of Chimbote have been scrambling to assist procuring shelter and other basic needs that were lost as a result of the flood.

Prayers, prayers and more prayers are needed for our endeavor.  Prayers for our safety, wellness and health while we are travelling to Chimbote are needed.  Prayers for the ministry that we will be sharing with the people of Chimbote are needed.  Prayers for the people of Chimbote are needed.

We are fundraising to offset the cost of the trip.  We also hope to purchase beds, stoves and material to build homes.  Our original hope was to raise $2000.00 per person (about $50,000 total).  Now with so much of Chimbote in ruin due to the flood, I would like to personally increase my goal to $2500.00.  I ask that you prayerfully consider helping me meet that goal.  I have raised $1442.91 to date.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Thank you for your prayers as we work towards this worthy endeavor.

A Hyperlink to donation page:

St. James Mission Trip to Chimbote Form & PayPal

No donation is too small!

Never be too busy to count your blessings :)

Laura Wieck

Mission Prayer

Loving God and Father, we journey towards you.

We bring you our offering as a sign of our love and gratitude

for all we have received.

May this offering, loving Father, help build your kingdom here on earth.

We know that what we offer is little, but it is all that we have today.

Accept it, O loving Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Some Pictures of the Programs at Fr. Jack's Mission: