Water that’s fit to drink. Air that is free from the stink of sewage. A house with bricks that cannot melt.
These are just a few of the things appreciated by six selfless women when they traveled to the remote reaches of Peru in February to teach a church what Bible school is all about.
For 10 days, Jennifer Haidu, of North Barrington, Cindy Malin, of Lake Zurch, Chris Pappas, of Lake Zurich, Rev. Sara VandeBerg, of Barrington, and Rev. Charisse Jensen, of Palatine, left the comforts of suburbia to serve the flood-ravaged, adobe-hut dwelling residents of Chiclayo — the fourth largest city in Peru.
They were led by Carolyn Muir, founder of the Arlington Heights-based nonprofit Ingage Unlimited, which tries to create bridges between global needs and resources. The group works to provide leadership training for 60 volunteers and guide more than 150 day-camp children at the group’s field partner — the Impacto Cristiano church.
Rev. Paul Pistone and his wife, Debbie, founded Impacto Cristiano from scratch more than five years ago after having witnessed the immense need for spiritual help in Chiclayo.
Many of the local children have witnessed the horror of their own parents being murdered or jailed. Others have experienced the ravages of prostitution or addiction. The church now acts as a safe haven for more than three generations of local residents.
“In that culture, the kids take care of each other because they have to,” said Haidu, who taught more than 50 children. “The minute we walked in the door, they loved us … and we loved them.”
To say the residents of the shanty town were poor is like a drop in the buckets of rain water that wash through their collapsed roofs.
“It was clear to all of us that these people have nothing, but they are so joyful,” Haidu said.
Malin agreed, saying the trip made her “appreciative and mindful of our resources.”
She recalled how every residue of paint or crumb of Playdough used in projects would be carefully saved by even the youngest of children.
“They are so good at honoring what they have,” she said.
The Ingage volunteers said the residents also were surprisingly generous, bringing offerings to the church in the form of bits of food, used shoes and other items.
“As poor as they were, everybody could donate something,” Haidu said.
Pappas added: “They don’t waste a thing.”
Pappas prepared for the trip by interviewing teachers that she knew.
“The power of teams is that everyone has their unique gifts to offer,” she said. “One single positive role model in a child’s life can make a difference.”
Ingage members hope to maintain a relationship with the church.
“The time and energy poured into this weeklong event to provide a safe place for children to sing (led by Pastor Sara), play and learn amazed us all, and we were truly blessed to be a part of this experience,” Muir said. “There is nothing more exciting than to be a part of a team that is walking alongside people, building relationships, sharing resources and learning from one another in a cross-cultural context.”
Jensen’s most cherished memory is of a little 10-year old girl named Katherine.
“She longed to learn English words and to talk with me, but most days, she would silently come and stand by me and just quietly be with me. We connected somehow, and I still remember how her smile could light up a room. It was a love that transcended language.”
Kimberly Albrecht is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.
