Skip to Content Skip to Footer
Goshen College

Service visits in Arequipa: Brad, Achieng and Lane

November 16, 2016

Thursday – Friday, Nov. 3-4

Lane holds a "Happy Anniversary" poster with his students back in the gym.
Lane holds a “Happy Anniversary” poster with his students back in the gym.

Arequipa, the second-largest city in Peru, is home to 3 students for their service placements.  Located in southern Peru, it sits in the middle of a desert, making the air very dry, but at an altitude of 7,700 feet the climate is just right: warm, but not hot.  It’s often known as the “white city” because of a common white volcanic stone used in many of the oldest buildings.

On Thursday we visited Brad at his home for lunch and met his parents, including his father Julio who was a great conversationalist.  Later Brad took us to an old colonial building downtown where he works for a Catholic charity that runs an after-school program for children from low-income families.  He works with about 50 students, helping serve food, assist the children with their homework, and doing some English instruction.

Supper that night was with Achieng and her family, including her mother Dolly, father Juan Carlos, brother Johaquin, sister Valentina, and an uncle.  The following day Achieng took us to the hospital where she works in several capacities.  On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays she works with a doctor, assisting during consultations and checking on patients.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays she works in the “Topico” ward helping take patient histories, weights, temperatures, etc.  Her favorite work is with the babies that come to the hospital, and her dream experience was to see a birth before her time there ended (and this happened a week later).

Our visit with Lane began at his school, which, as we arrived, was lining up all the students for a parade around the neighborhood to celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary.  The non-denominational religious school is named after a prominent Protestant business leader who had made significant inroads for the acceptance of Protestants in the predominantly Catholic city.  In preparation for the big march the children had made a variety of posters and banners.  Once the kids returned to the school, classes began again, and we got to see Lane in action, teaching English in one of the classes.

Picture taken in October when Brad, Lane and Achieng were greeted by families upon arriving at the Arequipa bus terminal.
Brad with his parents, Julio and Nancy, and his aunt Frida.
In front of their house.
At the after-school program Brad helps students with their homework.
After lunch recess in the courtyard of the building where Brad works.
More of the students Brad works with.
Brad stands in front of his workplace, built with the tradition white stone of Arequipa.
Achieng at home with her host family.
Acheing talks with her supervisor in the room where measurements are taken of babies’ height, weight, etc.
Acheing shows us where she puts the babies to measure their height.
Unfortunately, there were no babies in the ward at this moment.
The best part of the job is holding the babies when they do come.
In this room Achieng takes the blood pressure and other vital signs of adults, as demonstrated on Maria.
Lane and his class prepare for the big anniversary march.
The march hits the streets around the school.
The banner says “We teach by example.”
Lane holds a “Happy Anniversary” poster with his students back in the gym.
Notice the arrow going from Lane’s last name to an important traditional food from his homeland.
Lane watches as one of his students gives a presentation on the “Pre-Inca Stage.”
Lane with host mother, Maria Cristina, and her son, Isac.
In front of the home in downtown Arequipa.
The cover photo for a serious new Arequipan musical group (as soon as they write a song).