Visit to Camaná, December 2004

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It is two years since I (Steve) last visited Camaná on the coast. A church in Belfast's Neighbourhood Spot raised £175 ($330) from a coffee morning back in May and asked that the proceeds be used to help children here in Peru. So, Rachel and I went shopping buying tee-shirts and underwear. Around 80 of the most regular children from the six children's clubs operating in the Camaná area had been chosen to receive a gift. Each received a tee-shirt and three pairs of pants. We had thought of buying socks as well, but realised that most do not wear shoes! We also bought some candy canes (15 for 15p!). The shop where we bought the underwear gave us a pile of socks as a present. These, along with the extra tee-shirts and underwear will be used at the pastor's discretion for needy children. A friend of ours also brought some used clothes and some clothes and toys donated by a nine year old boy she knows. This is the first time he has shared anything with anyone. He also gave a pair of very good leather shoes used for dancing a traditional Peruvian dance (Marinera). He is a champion at this! His father is in Argentina and his mother does not have regular work. Please pray for Rodrigo as he begins to learn to share.
       
On Friday December 18th I boarded this bus for the three hour drive to Camaná. That evening I went with Adam, the pastor, to San Isidro (For more on that place, see the gallery Earthquake 2001 (The Coast) almost at the end). Here are the children who received a gift. There is not much to do here at night with no electricity, so quite a number gathered with the children from the club. On Saturday afternoon Adam and I along with one of the church members who took us in his car went to three other clubs. Another also operates, but was too far away to get to in the time available. This is Ramiro, a very poor area of Camaná.
       
Here the children meet in a home that is made from rushes and wooden posts lined with fertilizer bags. The floor is just the bare earth on which it is built. In spite of this the children gather each week to learn more about the Bible. There are not even enough benches for all the children to sit down. After receiving their presents and Christmas leaflets they all came outside for this photo. Even those who didn't get clothes received the leaflet and a candy cane.
       
The view from the back door. Looking out of the front door where pastor Adam is talking to one of the helpers. Despite the barreness of the terrain, God is using him and the club staff to bring hope to many young lives. Next port of call was Columbo, a club that has started since I last visited. These reed posts are a very common cheap building material in Camaná. We walked into the yard to find the club in full swing to the right of this view.
       
It was quiz time. The children sat around the open room on rough wooden benches and chairs. Despite having little in the way of worldly wealth, these children enjoy a good exciting quiz! Not everyone raised their hand nicely like this to answer the questions!
       
Sometimes things got a bit out of hand! It was so encouraging to see the way the teachers have been working faithfully over the last two years. Young lives being influenced for good by the Word of God. The obligatory group photo!
       
When I looked up, I saw the roof was a bamboo frame covered in grape vines! Now that is some ceiling! From Columbo we headed off to Juan Pablo. Here one of the longest standing clubs meets in what is a more established neighbourhood. Here the children are slightly better off. However, it is all relative. These children are poor instead of very poor! Here again they were delighted with their new clothes.
       
I took several photos standing in the doorway looking out over Camaná towards the sea. This is a rice growing area and the fields are very green at this time of year in stark contrast to the dry sand of the nearby desert hills. Even the dry hills are being occupied. In part this is due to the fear that there might be another tsunami as there was after the earthquake in 2001. This happened on pastor Adam's birthday, so he always remembers the exact date! Many dwellings have vines growing.
       
Peru is a place of contrasts. These houses are right across the street from the one in the previous picture! On Sunday we held a children's service for all the clubs as Saturday was the last time they will meet until the new school term begins in April. About 80 children attended. Many were wearing their new tee-shirts!
       
Afterwards some piled into a pickup for the ride home. In the afternoon we visited another club which meets in a housing development called Habitat after the organization that built it. Here they were mainly boys! More young lives being influenced for good. This is also a club that has started since I last visited.
       
From where the group photo was taken you see this view to the right. It is right on the edge of town! The children mill around after the club finished. No tarmac, just a dusty road with simple houses on each side. I had company in my sleeping bag on Friday night! As I write this, they itch like mad. I had about 30 of these divided between both my feet. I think the flea came from the cat who had just had three kittens! I also counted over 80 mosquitos round the lights on the ceiling of my
       
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