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Elizabeth Larson with some of the Internado youngsters.
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By: Elizabeth Larson, Parishioner of Saint Anastasia, Teaneck, New Jersey
Seven months after returning from my year long missionary commitment in South America, I and two fellow parishioners from Saint Anastasia’s, Teaneck, New Jersey, traveled to Peru for the purpose of strengthening the “bridge” built between our church and the community of Sicuani. In the November 2005 issue of Carmelite Review, I gave a brief account of my experience as a lay missionary from September 2004 to October 2005.
This time I was looking forward to revealing to Jessie Trivino and Marie Villanueva the wonders of the mission there, as well as to Machu Picchu. Both Jessie and Marie are United States citizens, but born in the Philippines, and very interested in mission endeavors.
As is often the case, our plans are sometimes intervened. After arriving in Lima, and spending the first night at the Carmelite Formation House in the Mira Flores neighborhood there, we spent a busy day walking around downtown Lima and the area around our residence. Then, as is often the case, plans can change suddenly.
Jessie did not let us know that he was having some unanticipated health issues. However, at two o’clock in the morning he could no longer keep the problem to himself. He knocked on my door and said he needed a doctor. I jumped into my emergency mode, awakened Padre Pepe(Reverend Jorge Villagas, O.Carm., and had him drive us to an Urgent Care Clinic in the neighboring town of San Isidro.
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Marie Villanueva with two students at the Internado—a school-run boarding house for rural children. Most travel the five-hour walk back to their homes on the weekends.
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After four hours of tests and consultations, it was determined that he had a large tumor, bleeding internally. At his request, they worked to stem the bleeding so he could travel back to the United States for further treatment. Meanwhile, Jessie wanted Marie and me to continue with our travel plans. The Carmelites agreed to be with Jessie so we could take the 11:00 a.m. flight to Cusco. It was with heavy heart that we boarded the plane and headed for the next step in the journey. Still, we were very aware that God had been merciful to let the crisis come to a head in Lima, and not up in the Andes, where health care is not readily available. God is indeed awesome!
After two wonderful days at Machu Picchu, being awed by the Inca ruins and the prodigious talents of folk long gone, we met Sister Eileen Egan, I.H.M., and headed in her Land Cruiser for a week in Sicuani. For me, it was as if I had never left. I simply picked up where I had left off, thoroughly enjoying the expressions of love and appreciation from so many familiar faces. Marie, on the other hand, valiantly dealt with altitude discomfort (Sicuani is 11,500 feet above sea level), and lack of language facility as she used her extensive computer expertise to work with the “ancient” computers at the Internado (a boarding house for young girls needing a place to live while attending school.) She was able to install some excellent programs to be used for homework and other school projects, helping the adults to access them so they could help the girls. We also went up in the hills with Sister Tomasa, to visit the ill and elderly, bringing the Eucharist and food for the hungry—always an extremely touching experience.
One day we visited the two Australian Sisters, Cathy and Angela, in Pitumarca, to bring items from our parish, and to purchase some of the handmade items always needing a sales outlet. Our visit on another day to Pujio Pujio, gave us a chance to meet a dedicated teacher and his eight students in their one room school, high up in the mountain. They, of course, were delighted to have their pictures taken, and to taste the candy treats we had brought with us.
One evening we were able to spend time with Bishop Michael LaFay, O.Carm., and Monsignor Francisco Roy, in order to catch up on Peruvian news and events, both local and national, as seen from their perspective, especially in light of the upcoming elections.
The time went more rapidly than any of us could have imagined, and before we were ready, it was time to head back to the U.S., bringing with us the richness of a blessed experience, ready to share our insights with the Saint Anastasia’s church family.
It is my hope that next year I will be able to take a group of college students to do the Inca Trail, a trek of 4 days, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, followed by a week on mission in Sicuani. Our Pastor, Father Dan O’Neill, O.Carm, is working diligently to draw our young people into the richness of parish life, and this should be a step in that direction.
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