Pampallacta again.. and again...

I've been really excited by the opportunities to return to Pampallacta.

The church from nearby Tintay visits every week and AIDIA often accompanies them - between them they visit people, encourage the small group of believers, teach literacy, do a kids club and a short church service. 

Literacy classes...

... and church!

I take my guitar, which the kids really seem to enjoy - both listening to and playing. It also means I'm learning some songs in Quechua.

I've been meeting with different people associated with the district.
The health worker tells me that it's a newly created village - the government moved people from unstable land further down the hill for their safety.  This means there's not much community feeling or cohesion established yet, and little motivation to develop the village.  It's also an area where alcoholism and domestic violence are a big problem.
The government water representative for the district seems very keen to have any help I can offer with training or maintenance / improvement.  He also said that he's seen the same church working in other similar communities, where as a result there's been an amazing improvement in the alcohol and violence problems.  He said nothing about any personal belief he might have in God, but it was wonderful to hear that he has seen the power of God transforming communities - and asked us to carry on.
I´ve been back 3 times since the dental visit and am starting to feel I know people a little.  

In November AIDIA received a shipment of about 2000 emergency food boxes (which we spent several hours unloading - it hurt even to lift a glass of water the following day).  These are gradually being distributed via the local churches to needy people in their communities - i.e. widows, the very old or injured - those who don't have their own land or are unable to cultivate it for food.  We took a few to Pampallacta.

We returned just before Christmas for an afternoon of activities, culminating in giving out presents (donated by a visiting church from Lima), panetone and hot chocolate - traditional Peruvian Christmas foods.  I wasn't going to be able to go, but my Diploma graduation ceremony was postponed at the last minute, so it was good to be able to be another familiar face amongst all the Lima visitors.

Stories and games about water:

 

Chaos: queueing up for Christmas presents

 

The following morning - more hot chocolate, playing bowling games with the empty milk tins, and sitting in the only shade available to watch a drama (by the truck we travel in)

 

Oh and here's a little video of the journey there: