Malaina and April are spending the service portion of their Study-Service Term in the coastal town of Chancay, a couple of hours north of Lima. Chancay is a port and verdant agricultural area along the Peruvian coastal desert. The town of 54,000 people boasts a castle, a bustling central plaza, a viewpoint and even a famous ghost who rings the bell of an old church, according to local lore.
The welcome sign to Chancay, which is 83 kilometers north of Lima on the coast.
During a service visit, SST Co-Directors Richard R. Aguirre and Judy Weaver were warmly welcomed by the municipality’s director of educational programs, Rosa Huarca Equizabal. She described the municipality’s ambitious programs to engage the area’s youth, including a large youth symphony, sports, and music, art and theater classes. The city also offers mental health services and a center for women. Before we (Richard and Judy) knew what was happening, we were being interviewed by reporters for the local TV station and then ushered in to meet Mayor Juan Alvarez Andrade. Later, Malaina and April also were interviewed, and their TV segment was the one aired locally. You can see the interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnPaqq_0WWs&feature=youtu.be
Mayor Juan Alvarez Andrade, an aide, and Peru SST Co-Directors Judy Weaver and Richard R. Aguirre.
Rosa supervises Malaina and April in their service assignments. April works in the small municipal library, where she puts the shelves in order, helps visitors find books or figure out the computers and takes over the desk to check in visitors whenever the librarian can’t be there. The library visitors are welcomed by April’s smiling face, friendly greetings and helpful attitude.
April has provided volunteer service in the Chancay library.
April enjoys the practices of the youth symphony, which take place in the library. In fact, all the municipal workers are accustomed to music practice throughout the building. The young musicians are permitted to practice in whatever offices are available until the city completes construction of a music building.
Malaina has been volunteering at the municipal museum in Chancay.
Malaina works in the municipal museum, which is dedicated to the ancient Chancay culture. She translates materials to English, assists with visitors and has even visited schools to invite students to the museum. The museum appreciates Malaina’s marketing knowledge and willingness to pitch in whenever her help is needed.
April with her Chancay host parents, Hortencia and Jan Dulanto Paniagua.
Rosa treated us all to a delicious lunch of ceviche, one of Peru’s national dishes. Afterward, we visited April and Malaina’s host families. April is living in the home of Juan and Hortencia Dulanto Paniagua. They have three grown children who return home on weekends. The Dulantos are Christians who are committed to evangelizing in their town and bringing new believers to their young church. April has jumped right into the life of this warm and loving family, including attending worship meetings.
Malaina with her Chancay host parents, Eduardo Duran and Kelly Hipolita Delgado.
Malaina’s host family also is involved in the same church. Malaina lives with Eduardo Duran and Kelly Hipolita Delgado. They have four children, two of whom are close in age to Malaina and two who are teen-agers. They have not hosted a Goshen student before and have really enjoyed getting to know Maliana.
April and Malaina stroll down Calle Lopez de Zuñiga, a pedestrian-only street in Chancay.
On weekends, April and Malaina have spent time with their families and church activities as well as exploring Chancay. They say they have had wonderful service experiences.
– Written by Judy Weaver
The welcome sign to Chancay, which is 83 kilometers north of Lima on the coast.The Plaza de Armas in Chancay.The colorful pavilion in Chancay’s Plaza de Armas.La Iglesia de Inmaculada Concepion, or the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Chancay.A mural beside the main Catholic church depicts Jesus watching over Chancay.A funeral procession moves past the Plaza de Armas in Chancay.Pedestrians move down a street in Chancay that has been closed to vehicles.A market in Chancay.The Municipality building in Chancay.A sign for the Municipality of Chancay.A small park in Chancay.A reporter interviews Juan Alvarez Andrade, the mayor of Chancay. The mayor was asked to discuss the positive impact of the two Peru SST students volunteering in Chancay.Mayor Juan Alvarez Andrade, an aide, and Peru SST Co-Directors Judy Weaver and Richard R. Aguirre.San Martin de Porres, a Catholic saint, is prominently featured in the courtyard of the Municipality of Chancay.The entrance to the municipal library of Chancay.A sign for the library.April at the library reception desk.April shows the registration book visitors to the library are asked to sign.The municipal library of Chancay.The library is still small, but officials hope to add more books in the coming months.Elementary school students take music lessons in the library.Music and reading co-exist in the library.A music teacher provides some extra instruction to a student learning to play the violin.Another view of the Chancay library, which has four computers with internet access.A sign hanging in the library features a paraphrase of a quote by Albert Einstein: “Never regard study as a duty, but as an opportunity to learn to know the beautiful and marvelous world of learning.”April has provided volunteer service in the Chancay library.April checks books in the library.April in the Chancay library.April with her supervisor, Rosa Huarca Equizabal, the municipality’s director of educational programs.The exterior of the municipal museum in Chancay.Malaina at the entrance to the museum in Chancay.Malaina has been volunteering at the municipal museum in Chancay.Malaina pauses near the colorful entrance to the museum.Designs from the ancient Chancay culture decorate a wall of the museum.A unique sculture on display in the museum.Carnival masks on display.Ancient pots on display in the museum.Malaina examines a unique Chancay culture sculpture in the museum.Malaina describes a display on the second floor of the museum.Malaina has been improving the English translation of museum displays.Malaina inside a boat on display at the museum with her supervisor, Rosa Huarca Equizabal, the municipality’s director of educational programs.April and Malaina prepare to leave the museum.Peru SST Co-Director Judy Weaver, Malaina and April enjoy ceviche for lunch.April has enjoyed her time in Chancay.Malaina has enjoyed new experiences in Chancay.April with her Chancay host parents, Hortencia and Jan Dulanto Paniagua.Malaina with her Chancay host parents, Eduardo Duran and Kelly Hipolita Delgado.Malaina outside her Chancay home with her host mother, Kelly Hipolita Delgado.April and Malaina stroll down Calle Lopez de Zuñiga, a pedestrian-only street in Chancay.
