Mission Peru

by Niki Wright
West London Alliance Church

Day four of our Peruvian adventure our youth group, WLA, had the privilege to go to Mana, a daycare about ten minutes from the compound where we are staying. The first thing I noticed about the daycare was all the smiling children who were not afraid to come up to you and hug you.

One little girl in particular came up to me, smiling and pointing to my necklace, saying “Corazon! Corazon!” I soon found out that meant heart and, using my vast knowledge of the Spanish language (yeah right!), I introduced myself. She told me her name was Raquel and she didn’t leave my lap the rest of the time we were there. Our youth pastor Dave told us to expect the kids to hang off you and cling to you but I never expected to be giving all my love to someone who I would see for only a few hours.

We played some games inside the daycare then went to the soccer field (which is actually made of cement, not grass). We drew with chalk and played piggy back and hopscotch. While I carried her here and there, drew “Corazons” on the cement, and had my hair done by her little hands she babbled on and on in Spanish thinking I could understand. Perhaps she knew I couldn’t but I listened anyway and longed to know what she was saying.

Although we both spoke different languages there was a connection that words couldn’t explain. Her need for love and my willingness to give her all my attention and love were what made the day care trip something I will never forget.

At the soccer field a group of little Peruvian boys came up to me and started talking in rapid Spanish. I told them “No hablo mucho Espanol, hablo Ingles” which made them laugh and whisper to each other so I might have said that wrong.

They asked me my name and to the delight of the boys, I repeated “Niki” maybe ten times. When we left the field to go back to the daycare the little boys stayed behind because they were not a part of the daycare and yelled “Ciao Niki!” I waved and tried not to cry.

The children at Mana don’t have very much love in their lives and I wonder how many times they actually hear the words “Te amo” which means, “I love you”. So when it was time to leave, the words came to me and I told Raquel that I loved her in her language. She kissed me and tried to share her lollipop with me, hugging me tight all the while.

This experience made me realize how fortunate we are in Canada being able to go to school and taking it for granted. Having everything we need, and yet we still want more, while the kids in Trujillo don’t have much and yet are so content. Little Raquel inspired me to appreciate what I have and I will be praying for her and for the kids at that daycare.