Lord, help me to seek humility.

The weather has definitely taken a turn for the better. The past few days have been for the most part nice and sunny with only a little bit of rain in the afternoon. Yesterday, Candy (one of the new staff here in Kcauri) came to work and was telling us about everything that is going on in Lucre (where she lives). Most of the homes in Lucre were washed away, including her home. I asked her what the government was doing for those left without homes. She said she didn´t see them doing much. Those whose houses are still standing have opened their doors to those with nowhere to go. Candy said these homes are completely packed. Everyone else is living in tents. As she was leaving, I gave her a big bag of clothes to take back with her to Lucre.

Today she came back to work carrying a bag full of choclo. She said everyone was so grateful for the clothes. They had all sent me choclo from their crops to say thank you. I was speechless. How is it that these people, who have lost so much, can give me this? yeah...so I gave them clothes, but it wasn´t like I was going to be lacking anything...I have way more than I need...my day-to-day life will not be greatly changed because I was giving away clothes that I rarely even used...I´m not suffering. I felt my heart break and swell inside of me. I wanted to cry...how could these people think of giving me anything let alone part of their crops that were now mostly washed away. It was very humbling. I feel like an ¨expected¨ response would not be to give away from the little left of one´s possessions...let alone food. I feel safe in saying it would be completely justified to think of oneself, one´s family, and how to survive after an occurrence such as this. I have never met these people...they could have just written it off with a quick, ¨wow, that was nice of that gringa to give us clothes.¨ But they wanted to give me something. Their gratitude moved them to act and in a way they bridged a gap between us. They made a connect instead of leaving blank unknown faces and moving on. At first, I didn´t want to accept it. However, I knew that not accepting might offend them and take away from what they wanted to do. All I could say was, ¨Thank you.¨

Please, God, may I feel so full of gratitude that I am moved to act, to love others as these people have shown me. Life is not about being helped, saying thanks, and then moving on still only concerned about one´s own needs. We are to live as a community, with our actions showing our connectedness to one another. May our livelihood be wrapped up in that of our neighbor.

January 27, 2010

It continues to rain in Cusco, but where I am (in Kcauri-Quispicanchi) we had hardly any rain all last night and this morning...so we are praying that the rain continues to calm down here and throughout this region of Peru.

Most of the news I read online is about the situation at Aguas Calientas, where many of the estimated 2000 tourists are still stranded because the railroad is still damaged from the mudslides.

There has been talk of the governement sending tents, food, and other supplies from Lima for those whose homes have been destroyed. However, people I talk to and whose families have lost their homes don´t seem to think this will happen any time soon. A common frustration I hear is that the wealthy and tourists are being helped first. Travelling back to Kcauri yesterday I passed through Oroesa, Huacarpay, and other small poor towns close-by where many homes have been washed away by the Huatanay River. I saw a van and people lined up to receive food. Aside from this, I didn´t see very much help for the people. In the Plaza de Armas in Cusco there is a big donation tent set up where people can bring clothes, food, and supplies for those left homeless.

Sacsayhuman (in Cusco) and other historical sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas have been affected. All major roads in and out of Cusco have been closed off.

It´s hard to find out what´s going on. I see what is going on right here close by where I live, but the rest is what I hear on the radio, read online, or what people say. Not sure if the situation here has really hit the news stateside, but I live in a pretty isolated community...so if any of you hear anything and can pass me a quick email with any more recent info on what´s going on, I would really appreciate it.

I´d also like to ask you to please join with me in prayer for all of those affected by the heavy rains...those who have lost loved ones, lost their homes, crops, animals, for the governement here, and those stranded in Aguas Calientes.

I miss you all very much. Can´t wait to see you. Thank you so much for all the prayers, encouragement, and support. Through each of you, I have felt in a very real way God´s love. Thank you.

Much love,
Tasi

January 26, 2010

I´m currently living in Kcauri which is about 2 hours away from the actual city part of Cusco. I stay here Monday thru Friday. On the weekends I make my way to the city to visit friends, go to church, and in general do errands. On my way back to Kcauri two days ago, my heart broke as the bus I was on slowed down to wait in a long line of cars and buses trying to make their way across a pool of water and mud that was knee high. To my left and right I saw what remained of what used to be people´s homes, crops...beautiful green land as far as the eye could see. Monday morning, rooftops and wooden doors half covered in mud (many of homes in the campo are made from mud brick) were the only proof that at one point, homes were there...as the rest of the buildings were literally swept away. To my right I saw pigs and livestock, dead on the side of the road. To my left, I saw crowds of people trying to help a family gather some last belongings from their home, which was already waist-high in water.

It is normal for it to be raining pretty regularly right now in Cusco but only at night. Today marks the fifth day of non-stop heavy rain, all day and all night. As a result, many of the rivers have overflowed, roads blocked due to mudslides and boulders. I heard on the news today that 2000 tourists were stranded in Machu Picchu because the railroad was blocked. They are either in the process of getting airlifted out or are already on their way home. Several bridges have been swept away along the Sacred Valley. I had to go back into Cusco early this morning for work stuff. On the way back to Kcauri again , I saw more of the damage of the heavy rain. There were people sitting on the side of the road, with all they had left at their side. On the radio on our way back, we heard that so far in Cusco, there have been 8 deaths and 50 left injured due the flooding and mudslides. There have also been a few deaths of tourists who were hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The rain continues to pour.

I´m trying to read up on the latest right now online, but due to a very slow internet connection (I think this office is he only place that has internet in Kcauri) I´m not sure how possible that will be. I just read from BBC: A state of emergency has been declared in south-eastern Peru, where the authorities say up to 3000 people have had their homes destroyed. So please, pray. There are many people suffering...here in Cusco, other places in Peru where this is also happening, in Haiti, as well as other parts of the world. I´ll do my best to keep everyone updated on everything that is going on here.