Last few days in Ayacucho

I'm feeling sad as I now only have a day left in Ayacucho and it's hard to say goodbye! I've been rushing around (more than usual) trying to finish off things that I started here, but it's a bit frustrating as I realise that I can't sort everything! And it now feels like I've been here for such a short time, especially when there's so much to do! Here's a quick whizz through what I've been up to in my last week or so ...

Prison kids
Last Friday I finally managed to go along to the prison to take the prison kids out for the morning. It was a very satisying thing to do! They have their little routine - first we have to check into the prison and find all the kids in various cells with their mothers (this took a while). Then all into the van and into the centre and to the plaza to feed the pigeons, have an ice-cream, a short stroll around the plaza, and then back to the prison again. It's not a lot of time out in the real world, but I'm sure it makes quite a difference to their week! The ice-cream was certainly appreciated!



Los Gorriones
We had a second-hand gas cooker donated by someone in Ayacucho when we went round asking for help before Christmas, and we decided to give it to the special children's home, Los Gorriones. I also had a bit of money left from donations for my parents and their church, so I also bought a gas bottle to go with it, and we delivered the goods this week. I had been hoping to spend a bit of time with the children and take more photos this time, as when we took all the food and presents up before Christmas most of the children were at school. Unfortunately, neither Gil or Chantal were there (we should have phoned first) and as it was raining (again) not many of the children were around, though a few were outside making masks with some of the volunteers. I just left a note for Gil and Chantal - a bit of a shame, but I'm sure the cooker and gas will be much appreciated!

Orphanage
I've been visiting about once or twice a week, and Thursday was my last visit. I've been spending time mainly with the babies and toddlers and they weren't going to understand that this was my last day, so I didn't say anything to anyone - just treated it like a normal day - less upset (for me) that way! Some of the children I met 2 months ago have already left - some back to their parents, and others have been adopted. But most are still there and it was hard to give them one last hug!


Javier, Jimena, Leandro, and Julio


Enrique

I'd have put Eliseo in my suitcase if there had been room!

School
It's now the summer holidays, so I said my goodbyes to the children a few weeks ago. But I'm still battling on with the wall! As a result of the meeting after the last wall-building day, we've now got an agreement with the parents' association to contribute 200 soles towards more adobes if we contribute the other 500 soles - we even managed to get them to sign an agreement and we're not paying 300 soles until the wall is complete. Will be interesting to see if this works! We've also submitted a report to the Gobierno Regional and the new Mayor has agreed to support this, so again, will now have to wait and see what happens ...

I've also been battling with the shop that supplies the cupboards, but I don't really feel like writing about it as it's been way too tedious. Hopefully we'll have another cupboard later this week and someone at CCS will take it to the school when the new term starts in March.

Wawa Wasi
This has been the hardest place to leave! Friday was my last day and I took in a poster of photos of all the kids, which they really liked.



And we had a fiesta with music (I took in a battery-operated CD player), balloons (the most exciting things they have ever seen!), fizzy drinks and nibbles. We played pass the parcel, though several didn't really get the concept of what 'pass' meant, but it was fun anyway!

And a neighbouring Wawa Wasi joined in at the end too, so it then went a bit wild!

Saying goodbye was really tough, and I'm getting upset typing about it now, so you're not going to get much detail! The older ones understood that it was my last day, but the young ones were a bit oblivious and will probably be looking for me next Monday.

Claire and I also took our Mamas out for dinner on Friday night, which they really appreciated, and it was a lovely evening. Claire's Mama also brought her mother (the one in the hat) - don't think they go out much! And my Mama, Vilma, put her head on the table and started crying just after this photo was taken - it was all a bit emotional!



Friday wasn't goodbye to Vilma though, as at the weekend I went back to the Wawa Wasa with 2 m3 of stones, 1m3 of sand and some cement - paid for by donations from my parents and Callington Methodist Church - to build a concrete area outside the Wawa Wasi. Hopefully this will avoid the mud problems! I went to help on Saturday morning but it wasn't finished by the time I left, so I'm hoping to have time to pop back on Monday morning to see it before getting my bus to Lima. And then I will have to finally say goodbye ...