I created a short video with clips from our trip. The first song is a friend from Scotland...Gina Macleod...buy her record at www.ginamacleod.com...the last song is one of my favorite bands One Eskimo
hope you enjoy it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q8dQojo-cU
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Peru: FWM Day 4
Day 4: February 3, 2011
It is our last day in Peru. We really appreciate all of the encouraging words and it has been inspiring to see the support from our friends back home. As you can probably tell, we have been humbled by this experience and I feel the question has been answered regarding why we came to Peru.
Every day here has been about discovery. This morning was certainly no different as we looked at our itinerary and loaded 3 more chairs into the van. After this weeks experiences it seems that each chair has their own unique story to tell…we just don’t know what they are yet.
After Cody got back from his daily walk to Starbucks (about 2 miles)… the man loves his Grande Americano’s …we were on our way to our last deliveries. The ride to our first stop was in a small district called Huaycan. We passed a beautiful park along the way. This part of Peru is very dry and the lack of rain limits the vegetation. If you see green grass and flowering plants it is because someone is watering them. We wove through bustling villages and death defying intersections until we found our destination. I am still a little baffled at how Sergio has been able to find all of the places we have been. There are no real street signs or address plaques. We drove straight to the community center…where we would find Fausto.
Fausto
Rebecca, one of the FWM assistants led us through yet another dark threshold into a room that looked somewhat like a warehouse. It was a brick storage building where the local community sometimes stored food. Today it is a temporary shelter for seventy-eight year old Fausto. As we walked in Fausto put his hands to his face and began sobbing. Joe was the first to sit beside him and take his hand. It was hard to tell if Fausto was sobbing from happiness or sorrow but the look on his face illustrated a man who didn’t expect to be in this situation near the end of his life. We gathered around his bed, which was propped up by buckets and milk crates. The interpreter began to ask Fausto questions about his condition. Apparently just four months ago, Fausto fell. He said after that …he could not walk. Then he tried and fell again. A member of the community helped us understand that Fausto had broken his hip in the fall. Untreated, his broken hip was obviously causing more serious complications and he could not move from the bed. He didn’t feel like he could sit in the wheelchair yet. As we talked, Fausto would periodically break down and cry. The wild and strained look in his eyes seemed to express disbelief. He had no home and no relatives and was completely dependent on the community…a community that struggles to feed and care for their own families. We inquired about the extent of his medical needs to see if there was more we could do, but the complications of making that happen were extreme. At the end of our visit Fausto seemed more relaxed and happy. We left him food and his chair, which I am starting to understand, represents more that just temporary relief. They really represent faith and hope. He smiled and waved as we walked back out the door.
Katrine
Fausto made my heart heavy. And a few blocks away twelve year-old Katrine really helped cheer me up. When we arrived her grandmother immediately placed her in the wheelchair and wheeled her outside where a few of her friends came by to see what was happening. The smile never left her face. She was beautiful. She had apparently suffered from Meningitis as a baby and the high fever sent her into a coma. The damage to her brain was serious and she cannot walk. Her grandmother watches her while her father is at work and she was very excited to now be able to take Katrine to Church. She said that Katrine was getting too heavy to carry. We chatted with her grandmother for a while. It seems that Katrines mother abandoned her, unable to cope with her needs. It is easy to judge and feel anger for Katrines mom… but just like a crippling disease, some people are simply not emotionally capable of handing the pressures of caring for a child with special needs. And then there is Veronica.
Veronica and Jhonny
Our last visit of the trip was a visit with Jhonny. Tim, Cody and I thought we had seen the most challenging conditions until we carried that last wheelchair thirty feet up a rocky dirt path to find Jhonny. Jhonny’s home was made of thin scrap wood with a roof of rusted tin and canvas pieces. Jhonny was alone in his bed when we arrived. He is obviously severely disabled with limited cognitive ability. We would later learn that as a baby he had injested amniotic fluid and developed Encephalitis. According to the neighbor, his mother had to leave him alone to go collect some food at the community center. Cody and I struggled to get the chair inside and once in, there was hardly much room for anything else. It wasn’t clear if he could understand anything we were saying or if he was aware of our presence. We just stood there watching him…occasionally he would thrash and jostle the fly’s that pestered him. I felt helpless and very small. After a few minutes we stepped out and decided to wait for his mother. I sat on the makeshift stone steps and looked out over the hillside at the rest of the neighborhood. It was all so unbelievable. Thirty minutes or so later one of the Tricycle taxis pulled up and out came a women moving hurriedly on one leg and a crutch. Meet Veronica, Jhonny’s mom. Veronica has Polio in one leg and it stays tucked under her skirt behind her. I stood there and watched as she climbed the hill. I clumsily reached to help and she just smiled and hustled past…almost embarrassed that we had come by in her absence. The next hour or so was spent visiting with Veronica. She was very excited that now she would be able to take Jhonny with her when she left the house because with only one working leg she could not carry him. She smiled the entire visit and talked about how thankful she was for everything. I will think about Veronica many times in life and I will wonder how she is doing. We have all heard it said that the eyes don’t lie. When you look in Veronica’s eyes you see a strength that betrays physical conditions. Her living situation is incredibly dire….but Veronica has chosen to get up in the morning. She has chosen to care for Jhonny who will never be able to do anything without her assistance. Six people live in her ten by sixteen foot house. Veronica could have changed her living situation and never returned home from that market, but she chooses to be here. Cody asked if he could take her photo. She smiled shyly and asked him to hold on while she went into the back room and changed her blouse. She wanted to have a clean blouse for the picture. Material wealth doesn’t buy pride or integrity or dignity. Veronica has as much of that has anyone I have ever seen. I don’t feel sorry for Veronica because she has what many others don’t. Yes, I want easier living conditions for her and Jhonny, but I don’t think she needs our pity. It was an honor to take her picture and her confident smile gave us back more than anything we could have carried up that dirt hill.
To close I want to give thanks and appreciation to the Free Wheelchair Mission, Don, and the amazing staff in Peru. They do this stuff everyday and I am in awe of what they accomplish. Those wheelchairs have so much impact and just having them in the room gave people hope for a better life. Before I left on this trip I met with many of the associates in Cranbury that are from Peru. I see now why they have so much pride for their country. The culture of the people was so positive and warm that I never felt like a stranger. Everyone was so open and welcoming. Last night we went to dinner at a beautiful large open-air shopping complex called Jockey Plaza. The beautiful sunset was perfect closure for this amazing opportunity. Tim, Cody and I have received so much more than we have given on this trip and it was an honor to represent our company, friends and family…Thanks for reading.
It is our last day in Peru. We really appreciate all of the encouraging words and it has been inspiring to see the support from our friends back home. As you can probably tell, we have been humbled by this experience and I feel the question has been answered regarding why we came to Peru.
Every day here has been about discovery. This morning was certainly no different as we looked at our itinerary and loaded 3 more chairs into the van. After this weeks experiences it seems that each chair has their own unique story to tell…we just don’t know what they are yet.
After Cody got back from his daily walk to Starbucks (about 2 miles)… the man loves his Grande Americano’s …we were on our way to our last deliveries. The ride to our first stop was in a small district called Huaycan. We passed a beautiful park along the way. This part of Peru is very dry and the lack of rain limits the vegetation. If you see green grass and flowering plants it is because someone is watering them. We wove through bustling villages and death defying intersections until we found our destination. I am still a little baffled at how Sergio has been able to find all of the places we have been. There are no real street signs or address plaques. We drove straight to the community center…where we would find Fausto.
Fausto
Rebecca, one of the FWM assistants led us through yet another dark threshold into a room that looked somewhat like a warehouse. It was a brick storage building where the local community sometimes stored food. Today it is a temporary shelter for seventy-eight year old Fausto. As we walked in Fausto put his hands to his face and began sobbing. Joe was the first to sit beside him and take his hand. It was hard to tell if Fausto was sobbing from happiness or sorrow but the look on his face illustrated a man who didn’t expect to be in this situation near the end of his life. We gathered around his bed, which was propped up by buckets and milk crates. The interpreter began to ask Fausto questions about his condition. Apparently just four months ago, Fausto fell. He said after that …he could not walk. Then he tried and fell again. A member of the community helped us understand that Fausto had broken his hip in the fall. Untreated, his broken hip was obviously causing more serious complications and he could not move from the bed. He didn’t feel like he could sit in the wheelchair yet. As we talked, Fausto would periodically break down and cry. The wild and strained look in his eyes seemed to express disbelief. He had no home and no relatives and was completely dependent on the community…a community that struggles to feed and care for their own families. We inquired about the extent of his medical needs to see if there was more we could do, but the complications of making that happen were extreme. At the end of our visit Fausto seemed more relaxed and happy. We left him food and his chair, which I am starting to understand, represents more that just temporary relief. They really represent faith and hope. He smiled and waved as we walked back out the door.
Katrine
Fausto made my heart heavy. And a few blocks away twelve year-old Katrine really helped cheer me up. When we arrived her grandmother immediately placed her in the wheelchair and wheeled her outside where a few of her friends came by to see what was happening. The smile never left her face. She was beautiful. She had apparently suffered from Meningitis as a baby and the high fever sent her into a coma. The damage to her brain was serious and she cannot walk. Her grandmother watches her while her father is at work and she was very excited to now be able to take Katrine to Church. She said that Katrine was getting too heavy to carry. We chatted with her grandmother for a while. It seems that Katrines mother abandoned her, unable to cope with her needs. It is easy to judge and feel anger for Katrines mom… but just like a crippling disease, some people are simply not emotionally capable of handing the pressures of caring for a child with special needs. And then there is Veronica.
Veronica and Jhonny
Our last visit of the trip was a visit with Jhonny. Tim, Cody and I thought we had seen the most challenging conditions until we carried that last wheelchair thirty feet up a rocky dirt path to find Jhonny. Jhonny’s home was made of thin scrap wood with a roof of rusted tin and canvas pieces. Jhonny was alone in his bed when we arrived. He is obviously severely disabled with limited cognitive ability. We would later learn that as a baby he had injested amniotic fluid and developed Encephalitis. According to the neighbor, his mother had to leave him alone to go collect some food at the community center. Cody and I struggled to get the chair inside and once in, there was hardly much room for anything else. It wasn’t clear if he could understand anything we were saying or if he was aware of our presence. We just stood there watching him…occasionally he would thrash and jostle the fly’s that pestered him. I felt helpless and very small. After a few minutes we stepped out and decided to wait for his mother. I sat on the makeshift stone steps and looked out over the hillside at the rest of the neighborhood. It was all so unbelievable. Thirty minutes or so later one of the Tricycle taxis pulled up and out came a women moving hurriedly on one leg and a crutch. Meet Veronica, Jhonny’s mom. Veronica has Polio in one leg and it stays tucked under her skirt behind her. I stood there and watched as she climbed the hill. I clumsily reached to help and she just smiled and hustled past…almost embarrassed that we had come by in her absence. The next hour or so was spent visiting with Veronica. She was very excited that now she would be able to take Jhonny with her when she left the house because with only one working leg she could not carry him. She smiled the entire visit and talked about how thankful she was for everything. I will think about Veronica many times in life and I will wonder how she is doing. We have all heard it said that the eyes don’t lie. When you look in Veronica’s eyes you see a strength that betrays physical conditions. Her living situation is incredibly dire….but Veronica has chosen to get up in the morning. She has chosen to care for Jhonny who will never be able to do anything without her assistance. Six people live in her ten by sixteen foot house. Veronica could have changed her living situation and never returned home from that market, but she chooses to be here. Cody asked if he could take her photo. She smiled shyly and asked him to hold on while she went into the back room and changed her blouse. She wanted to have a clean blouse for the picture. Material wealth doesn’t buy pride or integrity or dignity. Veronica has as much of that has anyone I have ever seen. I don’t feel sorry for Veronica because she has what many others don’t. Yes, I want easier living conditions for her and Jhonny, but I don’t think she needs our pity. It was an honor to take her picture and her confident smile gave us back more than anything we could have carried up that dirt hill.
To close I want to give thanks and appreciation to the Free Wheelchair Mission, Don, and the amazing staff in Peru. They do this stuff everyday and I am in awe of what they accomplish. Those wheelchairs have so much impact and just having them in the room gave people hope for a better life. Before I left on this trip I met with many of the associates in Cranbury that are from Peru. I see now why they have so much pride for their country. The culture of the people was so positive and warm that I never felt like a stranger. Everyone was so open and welcoming. Last night we went to dinner at a beautiful large open-air shopping complex called Jockey Plaza. The beautiful sunset was perfect closure for this amazing opportunity. Tim, Cody and I have received so much more than we have given on this trip and it was an honor to represent our company, friends and family…Thanks for reading.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Peru: FWM Day 3
Day 3: February 2, 2011
Planning the words to describe today seemed daunting. I just got back from dinner (incredible Sushi place adjacent to the hotel…and yes, for those keeping score…Tim loved the sushi). The day was full of jarring contrast and it has been somewhat over-whelming. Over dinner we were discussing our experiences. All day long I had noticed that Cody kept mentioning our first delivery and I could see a different look in his eyes when he spoke about it. I knew that it was special to him. The entire day was very emotional but that first visit was the one he would continue to reflect on…and I wanted to know why. So I asked the question. Again, I could see something in him change for a minute. He shared that when he walked into that first home today and presented Graciela with a wheelchair… two lives changed… hers … and his.
So those were the words I needed. I’m not going to be able to articulate it more profoundly than that. Our day started with a long ride to the village of La Victoria. We travel in a nice van owned and operated by our driver Sergio. Sergio has mad driving skills. He deftly navigates Peruvian streets with aggressive moves when needed, then with extreme patience and stealth. The trip was an hour or so, maybe longer. The area where we needed to be was up high on a hillside and the van would not be able to make the sharp turns, so we transferred to taxi cabs. We needed to haul two fully assembled wheelchairs, as well as some friends from the local Church, so we required three taxis. Finding taxis that were able to make the trip was a bit of an obstacle since they had to have manual transmissions to pull up the hill. We found three that were willing, then piled in with wheelchairs poking out of the trunks heading up the steep hill. As we climbed, the stone and concrete streets became more and more narrow, walled on both sides by the homes of the people who live there. At most points you could reach your hand out the window on either side and touch the front door of a living space. The road twisted and turned into an ever-darkening labyrinth of broken concrete structures with makeshift rooftops. We were gradually becoming aware that the area was deeply challenged economically and crime can and does happen as an act of simple desperation. The taxi drivers advised us to hide all electronics and anything of value. It is difficult to look out your window and see a child’s innocent face two feet away and imagine that crime exists in their neighborhood. But that is reality…here and everywhere there is human crisis. We found the address we needed and unloaded the first chair.
Graciela
Stooping to enter the dark concrete threshold we piled into a very small living area and were taken to a back room through a kitchen where Graciela’s sister was cooking. Adjacent to the kitchen was Graciela’s concrete walled bedroom, just barely big enough for a bed. Kids filled the tiny space at the entrance and Graciela looked up at us from her bed. Graciela is beautiful in a very unique way. It is hard to explain but there was a special glow inside her. She told us that she had paralysis from her waist down and that it happened four years ago. A year later her husband had died and she was left to care for two children, Antony and Shayumi…alone. Fortunately her sister lives near-by and comes over to help out. It was apparent that young Antony is also a huge help to his mother. I watched from the kitchen as Cody gently lifted her from her bed and into the wheelchair. Graciela explained to him in a soft voice how she just wanted to be able to take care of her children and how that was what she desired the most. How could that not change us? How could it not bring us a deeper understanding of basic need…to hold a frail mother of young children in your arms and by placing her in a sixty-dollar chair, enable her to do what she needs to do. Against these odds she just wanted to be a mom. She wanted to be able to watch her kids play and grow. She couldn’t do that from the confines of a concrete bedroom with no windows. Cody wheeled her through the kitchen and to the main living space. We visited for a while. We shared some candy with the children (who seemed to be everywhere) and took photos with the family. Then we reluctantly said goodbye and were off to the next delivery.
Diana Sofia
Our next stop was only a hundred yards or so down the winding street. One of our taxi drivers was also a policeman (with a gun) and he was very helpful in giving us advice and providing an extra level of security. You can imagine that the three of us could draw attention in these streets...Cody and Tim are well over 6 feet tall and me with a shaved head and goatee. We are either scary, comical…or both. We found Diana’s house, which also happened to be some sort of dining kitchen. The house was full of adults and children. We walked through the kitchen and saw Diana, very thin and with her legs curled on the bed. Diana is eleven and suffers from something called “West” syndrome, a condition none of us were familiar with. Diana is unable to walk and cannot straighten her legs. She also has some level of cognitive disability. Cody made the foot adjustments to her chair (he has become pretty good at that) and Tim lifted her onto the seat. What was immediately evident was Diana’s loving and supporting family. Her mother was cheerful and energetically described her life taking care of Diana in a very positive and re-assuring way. She was so happy to now have a way to take Diana outside and be with other kids. We were once again moved by the resilient spirit and self-assuredness of these families. The grandmother, an obviously amazing and strong matriarch…came out to thank us and tell us a bit about her family and their history. She carried herself with confidence and pragmatism and when we left I knew that little girl was born to the perfect family and one that could take care of her.
We were fairly quiet as we came back down the hill and switched back to our van. The morning had challenged us in many ways. While we were proud of the work and opportunity to do what we had just done...we were also in awe of the tenacity of the people we had just met. Enthusiasm, appreciation, determination and hope in the face of extreme adversity. It was “again” a very powerful experience.
And then there was lunch…
Yes…life-altering experience…then we have lunch. It’s a crazy existence isn’t it? We headed back toward Lima and met the rest of the FWM team at a large shopping complex in Lima called Metro Plaza and enjoyed roasted chicken and beef…hearts.
The second half of the day we delivered two more chairs in a district called Comas. At the first home a local community group who wanted to be a part of the ceremony joined us. In addition, the mayor sent a representative to speak on his behalf. We presented a chair to Carolina (thirteen) who suffers from Polio. Carolina was very brave and sat in the middle of the room as about twenty people circled her. Her father Jaime, explained that her mother had died and he was left to care for her alone. Carolina listened intently and blessed us with a smile…especially when Tim would do something goofy (she smiled quite a bit). Carolina’s home was in a small neighborhood and many of her neighbors came out to see what was going on. I think we created a bit of “an event” in Comas today and Carolina got lots of attention.
The final chair was just around the block and went to Juan Manuel. Juan is 18 and lives with his mom. He has Cerebral Palsy. Juan’s mom explained that Juan needs complete and constant care and is unable to eat any solid food. She explained that without the chair Juan either stays indoors or is carried outside. The chair will allow him the opportunity to be wheeled outdoors more often and sit with his best friend….a black and white dog that waits patiently outside the door.
So, three hours, screeching breaks, potholes and a million honking horns later, we arrived back at our hotel. I am physically a sturdy guy… but by the end of today I was drained…I think we all were. At the end of the day our friend and guide Joe, helped us understand and reconcile how our experiences today would change our lives forever. So, why are we in Peru? Today another part of the answer has to be awareness. Awareness of the difference between perceived need and real need…basic need. Awareness that some of the strongest and most amazing people live in places we could never imagine…dealing with things we would never conceive of … and doing it all … with indelible grace.
If you would like to see pictures try this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/WayneScott120563
Planning the words to describe today seemed daunting. I just got back from dinner (incredible Sushi place adjacent to the hotel…and yes, for those keeping score…Tim loved the sushi). The day was full of jarring contrast and it has been somewhat over-whelming. Over dinner we were discussing our experiences. All day long I had noticed that Cody kept mentioning our first delivery and I could see a different look in his eyes when he spoke about it. I knew that it was special to him. The entire day was very emotional but that first visit was the one he would continue to reflect on…and I wanted to know why. So I asked the question. Again, I could see something in him change for a minute. He shared that when he walked into that first home today and presented Graciela with a wheelchair… two lives changed… hers … and his.
So those were the words I needed. I’m not going to be able to articulate it more profoundly than that. Our day started with a long ride to the village of La Victoria. We travel in a nice van owned and operated by our driver Sergio. Sergio has mad driving skills. He deftly navigates Peruvian streets with aggressive moves when needed, then with extreme patience and stealth. The trip was an hour or so, maybe longer. The area where we needed to be was up high on a hillside and the van would not be able to make the sharp turns, so we transferred to taxi cabs. We needed to haul two fully assembled wheelchairs, as well as some friends from the local Church, so we required three taxis. Finding taxis that were able to make the trip was a bit of an obstacle since they had to have manual transmissions to pull up the hill. We found three that were willing, then piled in with wheelchairs poking out of the trunks heading up the steep hill. As we climbed, the stone and concrete streets became more and more narrow, walled on both sides by the homes of the people who live there. At most points you could reach your hand out the window on either side and touch the front door of a living space. The road twisted and turned into an ever-darkening labyrinth of broken concrete structures with makeshift rooftops. We were gradually becoming aware that the area was deeply challenged economically and crime can and does happen as an act of simple desperation. The taxi drivers advised us to hide all electronics and anything of value. It is difficult to look out your window and see a child’s innocent face two feet away and imagine that crime exists in their neighborhood. But that is reality…here and everywhere there is human crisis. We found the address we needed and unloaded the first chair.
Graciela
Stooping to enter the dark concrete threshold we piled into a very small living area and were taken to a back room through a kitchen where Graciela’s sister was cooking. Adjacent to the kitchen was Graciela’s concrete walled bedroom, just barely big enough for a bed. Kids filled the tiny space at the entrance and Graciela looked up at us from her bed. Graciela is beautiful in a very unique way. It is hard to explain but there was a special glow inside her. She told us that she had paralysis from her waist down and that it happened four years ago. A year later her husband had died and she was left to care for two children, Antony and Shayumi…alone. Fortunately her sister lives near-by and comes over to help out. It was apparent that young Antony is also a huge help to his mother. I watched from the kitchen as Cody gently lifted her from her bed and into the wheelchair. Graciela explained to him in a soft voice how she just wanted to be able to take care of her children and how that was what she desired the most. How could that not change us? How could it not bring us a deeper understanding of basic need…to hold a frail mother of young children in your arms and by placing her in a sixty-dollar chair, enable her to do what she needs to do. Against these odds she just wanted to be a mom. She wanted to be able to watch her kids play and grow. She couldn’t do that from the confines of a concrete bedroom with no windows. Cody wheeled her through the kitchen and to the main living space. We visited for a while. We shared some candy with the children (who seemed to be everywhere) and took photos with the family. Then we reluctantly said goodbye and were off to the next delivery.
Diana Sofia
Our next stop was only a hundred yards or so down the winding street. One of our taxi drivers was also a policeman (with a gun) and he was very helpful in giving us advice and providing an extra level of security. You can imagine that the three of us could draw attention in these streets...Cody and Tim are well over 6 feet tall and me with a shaved head and goatee. We are either scary, comical…or both. We found Diana’s house, which also happened to be some sort of dining kitchen. The house was full of adults and children. We walked through the kitchen and saw Diana, very thin and with her legs curled on the bed. Diana is eleven and suffers from something called “West” syndrome, a condition none of us were familiar with. Diana is unable to walk and cannot straighten her legs. She also has some level of cognitive disability. Cody made the foot adjustments to her chair (he has become pretty good at that) and Tim lifted her onto the seat. What was immediately evident was Diana’s loving and supporting family. Her mother was cheerful and energetically described her life taking care of Diana in a very positive and re-assuring way. She was so happy to now have a way to take Diana outside and be with other kids. We were once again moved by the resilient spirit and self-assuredness of these families. The grandmother, an obviously amazing and strong matriarch…came out to thank us and tell us a bit about her family and their history. She carried herself with confidence and pragmatism and when we left I knew that little girl was born to the perfect family and one that could take care of her.
We were fairly quiet as we came back down the hill and switched back to our van. The morning had challenged us in many ways. While we were proud of the work and opportunity to do what we had just done...we were also in awe of the tenacity of the people we had just met. Enthusiasm, appreciation, determination and hope in the face of extreme adversity. It was “again” a very powerful experience.
And then there was lunch…
Yes…life-altering experience…then we have lunch. It’s a crazy existence isn’t it? We headed back toward Lima and met the rest of the FWM team at a large shopping complex in Lima called Metro Plaza and enjoyed roasted chicken and beef…hearts.
The second half of the day we delivered two more chairs in a district called Comas. At the first home a local community group who wanted to be a part of the ceremony joined us. In addition, the mayor sent a representative to speak on his behalf. We presented a chair to Carolina (thirteen) who suffers from Polio. Carolina was very brave and sat in the middle of the room as about twenty people circled her. Her father Jaime, explained that her mother had died and he was left to care for her alone. Carolina listened intently and blessed us with a smile…especially when Tim would do something goofy (she smiled quite a bit). Carolina’s home was in a small neighborhood and many of her neighbors came out to see what was going on. I think we created a bit of “an event” in Comas today and Carolina got lots of attention.
The final chair was just around the block and went to Juan Manuel. Juan is 18 and lives with his mom. He has Cerebral Palsy. Juan’s mom explained that Juan needs complete and constant care and is unable to eat any solid food. She explained that without the chair Juan either stays indoors or is carried outside. The chair will allow him the opportunity to be wheeled outdoors more often and sit with his best friend….a black and white dog that waits patiently outside the door.
So, three hours, screeching breaks, potholes and a million honking horns later, we arrived back at our hotel. I am physically a sturdy guy… but by the end of today I was drained…I think we all were. At the end of the day our friend and guide Joe, helped us understand and reconcile how our experiences today would change our lives forever. So, why are we in Peru? Today another part of the answer has to be awareness. Awareness of the difference between perceived need and real need…basic need. Awareness that some of the strongest and most amazing people live in places we could never imagine…dealing with things we would never conceive of … and doing it all … with indelible grace.
If you would like to see pictures try this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/WayneScott120563
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Peru: Free Wheelchair Mission
Day 1: Monday, January 31, 2011
We are off to Peru! Tim, Cody and I met in Miami and boarded a 4:45 flight to Lima, the capital city of Peru. Our flight arrived around 11:00 p.m. and we navigated customs without issue. Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) had arranged for us to meet Adam, a young American who works and lives in Lima, as well as Joe, an experienced volunteer who speaks fluent Spanish and has visited Peru many times. Joe was due in on a flight from Los Angeles at around midnight. I was amazed at how many people filled the airport at such a late hour.... especially little kids. They were everywhere... and full of energy. I also noticed large families... many of them gathering to welcome home travelers. We sat and watched and waited. Joe got delayed in baggage claim so we didn't leave the airport until around 1:00 am. We were all pretty tired and ready for bed at 2 am when we reached our hotel.
Day 2 : Tuesday, February 1, 2011
So, why are we in Peru? It is a question I had not contemplated in depth when I first heard of the opportunity. I had spent the last few months working to promote FWM in my facility and to other councils, and I jumped at the chance... but why did I need to come to Peru? And why is the President and CEO of our company traveling all the way to Peru to distribute wheelchairs in the middle of a very busy time back at work? What is the motivation? What is the message and purpose? Okay, delivering wheelchairs is good... but it is more than that right? In honesty I didn't immediately have the answer. But it was worth exploring. Maybe the answer will come in the next three days...or maybe some time later...either way I am here and ready to begin this adventure.
Don, the founder of FWM... was on a vacation to Morocco when he watched a woman crawl across a street. Reality...right there in front of him. It inspired him to use his talents and education to build a low cost wheelchair that could traverse muddy streets and survive difficult conditions. He envisioned a way to fill a need, understanding that cost was a barrier that needed to be addressed. Cost would limit the amount of chairs that could be purchased and distributed with donated funds. Don designed and built a wheelchair that allows you and I the chance to take a little of what we have ... and totally and dramatically impact another human’s life. That is powerful. Sixty-dollars... changes everything... that is a compelling story.
I suppose Don experienced enlightenment...is enlightenment why we are here? I asked Tim Connolly the question this morning at breakfast. Those of you who know Tim also know he is passionate about giving and being a servant leader. So I pushed Tim a bit....because I knew his answer would be genuine and straightforward. Why did you travel to Peru to deliver wheelchairs? Without hesitation Tim explained that he is very fortunate in life. Like his father, he looks for ways to pay forward and this trip is an opportunity to see, first hand, how Free Wheelchair Mission dramatically impacts an individual life. He explained that he wants to be able to see it and feel it. He wants to be able to accurately communicate the direct impact that our associates donations have made on these individual lives. He wants to be able to carry those memories home and work even harder personally and professionally to make a positive difference and to enable others to do the same.
So... why did we come to Peru? Well Tim captured part of it. We came to see the direct impact a Wheelchair can have on an individuals life. We came to represent all of those associates who continue to support their councils as well as the Free Wheelchair Mission. But there is more. And I think the rest of that answer is buried in the next few days. It's easy to anticipate an experience....but we are going into difficult areas where everyday life is a struggle. Our world from suburban neighborhood to work and back doesn't really show us all we need to know. This trip is about understanding.
Assembly
Okay, I have proof... Cody can turn a wrench. In fact, he is pretty good at it. We traveled to a local Church today to assemble a few of the chairs that we will be distributing the next couple of days. To actually build the chairs... knowing we would be able to carry them into someone's home... was a thrill. With the help of our new friends Nancy and her team from church, we began assembly. If you have never built one, they are fairly simple, well designed.... and with a few mistakes and lots of sweat (seriously...it was hot) we managed to assemble 8 chairs in a short time. I was hoping for a photo of Cody with his hair hanging in his face or something similar... but the guy managed to stay looking smooth despite the heat. Tim however... well you can imagine...lol. Chair assembly was a success and we were ready. Now off to Ancon
Our First Visit
In Cranbury we have several associates from Peru. When I told them I was coming here I saw a change in their eyes. That sudden remembrance of home does that to us. I also saw tremendous pride... and I am beginning to understand why. Every Peruvian we have encountered so far has been incredibly gracious and pleasant. When you meet them they have a unique way of making you feel like you are part of their family. I think about how we might greet travelers back in the states and worry that we might often fall a little short in that regard. The people of Peru obviously value family. All along the bumpy trip North from Lima I saw lots of kids and many were with mom walking to market or huddled in the shade together. I had plenty of window time because the traffic is tough...wow...no kidding...my Peruvian friends had warned me with sly grins. Yes, Chicago... maybe even DC and LA... you might have traffic... but this traffic is not like traffic you have seen. It is random, no lines no lights no rules... bumper to bumper ... rubbing is racing kind of traffic. Buses, motorcycles, and homemade wagons... everything is on the road and you had better not flinch or you will go nowhere. As we traveled the landscape became more arid and the communities were starting to contrast with the modern characteristics of Lima. The living conditions were becoming noticeably more difficult. Two dusty hours later we reached the village of Ancon.
Ancon was very dry and almost like a town in an old west film. The vegetation was sparse and prickly. We walked along a six foot concrete wall and pushed through a metal door to a small open courtyard. Inside a dark doorway I could make out two light blue wheelchairs and the silhouettes of two people peering out at us. We were introduced to Manuel and Christina Are Urbena, an amazing couple, both of whom deal with the crippling effects of Polio. They were sitting in chairs given to them by FWM. These particular chairs were part of a Second Generation Chair that Dan had designed and we wanted to see how they were working out. Manuel explained how his wife had an aluminum chair once a long time ago. It had fallen apart so she took it to get it repaired. Since they had no money to pay for the repair, the chair was sold... leaving her with no chair and no way to get around independently. FWM had given them both mobility enabling them to live their lives together. Although his legs do not function well, Manuel’s upper body was muscular and he explained that he uses his chair in marathons in the village. He proudly showed us his trophy. Christina by contrast was very petite and explained that often times Manuel ties his chair to hers and pulls her around when she is too weak. Their love for each other seemed to radiate from them. They are able to earn some money by making greeting cards from paper and bird feathers. They sit in their wheelchairs pulled up to a tiny table and glue multi-colored bird feathers to card stock in elaborate and beautiful designs. They were perfect and I wished they had more for us to purchase. We visited with these new friends for a while and I found myself wanting to be able to see them again someday, knowing that I probably never would. Tim and Cody obviously felt the same way. We didn't want to leave these people. It was a connection. It happened in a few short minutes. And it was magical. Why did we come to Peru?
The trip back to the room was still long and bumpy...but we took a different route out along the coast. Longer but less traffic...I said less traffic... that is still lots of traffic. The coast was nice with big crashing waves and the occasional surfer. We stopped for a cold Inca Cola and returned to the hotel to rest and refuel. If today was any indication, the rest of the week will certainly continue to provide answers.
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