Peru, Part 3: Misminay Service Project

We had an unforgettable experience in a small mountain village called Misminay that was high in the Andes Mountains (almost 14,000 ft above sea level.) We had previously gathered school and hygienic supplies for a little school in the village. We arrived with 85 bags of supplies for the children on their first day of school.

Here we are organizing and bagging the supplies. I can't tell you how impressed we were with our students through out this whole experience! And a special thanks to all those that donated items. It wouldn't have been this successful with out your help!

The kids loved their bags of supplies. They clutched them close and wouldn't let go of them. They were so precious! They looked at us with somewhat eyes full of wonderment.

The school was very small and meager. There were only wooden tables and little chairs in the classrooms.

Their native language is Quechua. So basically our students taught them how to say the names of their new school supplies in Spanish.

We also gave them toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. We showed them how to use those items, and we think that was the first time some of them had seen a toothbrush or toothpaste. This little guy was so excited and he pulled his floss out to give it a try right away.

As we were leaving, the children sang us their school song as a final good-bye. Then of course they wanted us to sing a song too. Thank goodness the students knew the Melissa Cardinal's (our school) fight song and they sang it loud and proud. The children loved it of course.

After our visit to the classrooms, the adults of the village demonstrated their farming techniques to us. It was a spontaneous gesture of thanks for our service. They even invited a couple of our students to participate. Our students were not as efficient as the villagers, if you can imagine (the air is a little thin 14,000 ft. above sea level!)

We shed many tears of gratitude that day. I walked away from the small villiage of Misminay realizing the beautiful simplicity of life. They had food, family, a rich heritage and a strong work ethic (demonstrated to us in their farming.) What more do you need?? Yet they were happy and grateful to live with such clarity and unity. I felt so much love and humility that day. I hope I never forget what the people of Misminay taught me!