WALKING WITH THEM / PERU

WALKING WITH THEM / PERU

Walking through the town, we met up with Nimer, a young man, dark skinned, thin, polite, humble, smiling, who looked at us hopefully. He had just come back from Venezuela, with his wife and three-year-old son. She was not with him at that moment because she was not feeling well; she was in the advanced stages of pregnancy and the long trip had weakened her.  Imploring us with his simple, peaceful gaze, he said, “I spent a year working hard here in Peru, I saved money…until I decided to bring my family; the situation in Venezuela is getting worse and worse…” Five days to get there and five to return.     Here, in Villa El Salvador, he left his things, the indispensable things that he had managed to buy… On his return, he found nothing… He would have to start over from scratch. Immediately, with help from the neighbors we were able to obtain a mattress, a blanket, a camp stove, a pot… He was undaunted and immediately he began to work doing odd jobs… until he obtained employment on the outskirts of Villa El Salvador… in a rural area. They gave him a room with a bath… It seemed like a good deal. His work consisted of taking care of a garage where trailers arrived at any time of the day or night. Twenty-four hours a day. He did not have a work schedule, nor was there any clarity in the matter of his salary… the owner gave him money whenever it suited her.   Nayelis, meanwhile, managed to enroll in the SIS free Insurance so that she would receive medical care, and it was then, then they received alarming news. The doctor informed that the pregnancy was high risk, that it could be fatal… she was very weak, anemic, etc. This doctor advised her to return to Venezuela. Nayelis, who had just arrived and as is natural, was distressed and thought it best to return. She didn’t know anyone. She was 7 months pregnant; her abdomen was very large and hard because of an infection. Besides, she was having a very bad time of it, since the place where they were living was beside a pigpen — with fleas, mosquitos… and a nauseating odor.   In these circumstances, Nimer approached us to tell us that his wife was depressed and wanted to return to their country… that very week. I listened to him and among other things we discussed his work, salary… schedule, the holidays on which he worked and for which he should be paid extra…etc. This annoyed the boss very much, and she fired him on the spot.   It was about 6 in the afternoon on December 23 when Nimer informed us… we welcomed them into the retreat house of the Chapel, hugs, affection, and making them feel secure, at peace… Their suffering, the powerlessness, the loneliness and poverty were met with our desire to assure them over and over with great affection, COME, YOU ARE TIRED AND EXHAUSTED, WE WILL HELP YOU… and to open our arms, wishing to repair so many things, trying to offer them an experience of embracing life again, recovering dignity…   On the 24th at night, we had supper together; they brought a traditional dish of their country… “a cheese and ham wrap.” It was a beautiful, unique and meaningful experience…, which deeply moved us. We felt GOD WITH US. We celebrated as never before, and God filled us with life.   The following days were filled with medical matters… reinforcing her Nayelis’s treatment, iron, vitamins, antibiotics… and continuing on… how many beautiful and profound words came forth from her heart.   The baby was born on Thursday, February 19 at 11:00 am. She weighed 3.2 kg. The recovery as good, thank God! We had the experience of taking care of Aaron, who was separated from his mother for the first time in his life. The child knows us well and there was no problem. At night, his father would come to get him. He filled us with his innocent and happy affection.   Mela Vazquez